Knicks Edge Spurs to Gain 2-0 Lead in NBA Finals

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama left the court as the New York Knicks celebrated their victory during the NBA Finals. The Knicks secured a 105-104 win over the Spurs on Friday night in San Antonio, taking a 2-0 lead in the series. The decisive moment came when Jalen Brunson made a crucial free throw with 9.5 seconds remaining, following a Wembanyama turnover. Wembanyama missed a potential game-winning jumper at the buzzer.

Knicks coach Mike Brown praised the intensity of the game. Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 21 points and 13 rebounds, while both Brunson and Mikal Bridges scored 20 points. The Knicks achieved their 13th consecutive victory, marking the second-longest winning streak in NBA playoff history.

“New York City showed up,” Towns remarked. “The fans brought the energy, and we found a way to win.” The Knicks joined historical teams like Michael Jordan’s 1993 Chicago Bulls and Hakeem Olajuwon’s 1995 Houston Rockets by winning the first two games of the finals on the road. Both earlier teams went on to secure championships, setting a hopeful precedent for New York.

Wembanyama led the Spurs with 29 points after a slow first half, supported by De’Aaron Fox’s 20 points. Despite the loss, Wembanyama focused on the future, declaring, “We’re already thinking about Game 3.”

The series shifts to Madison Square Garden on Monday, with high ticket demand hinting at anticipation from Knicks fans eager to see a championship, their first since 1973. President Donald Trump, a native New Yorker, plans to attend the game. Secondary market ticket prices for the cheapest seats were near $9,000.

San Antonio rallied from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game. Wembanyama’s three-point play put the Spurs ahead 104-102 late in the game, yet New York responded with a determined finish. Brunson tied the game with a basket, followed by a missed attempt from Wembanyama. After OG Anunoby secured the rebound, Brunson was fouled and made the go-ahead free throw.

Though the Spurs had another chance, Wembanyama’s last-second jumper missed its mark. After the game, Towns noted the importance of getting a final stop, propelling the Knicks closer to their championship goal as the series moves to New York.