The New York Knicks are two wins from their first NBA title in 53 years. After a Game 1 that seemed impossible to surpass, Game 2 on Friday matched it — and then some — as New York held off a furious San Antonio Spurs rally to win 105-104 and take a 2-0 series lead. The victory extended their postseason win streak to 13 straight, the second-longest in a single Playoff run in NBA history, behind only the 2017 Golden State Warriors (15). The series now shifts to MSG for Game 3 on Monday (8:30 ET, ABC).
Another Classic: How Game 2 Unfolded
For 48 minutes, two heavyweights traded blows. The decisive moments came in the final minute, where the Knicks answered a 14-0 Spurs run in the 4th quarter that had tied the game at 97-97 before San Antonio briefly took the lead at 104-102 with 57 seconds left.
The game featured a Karl-Anthony Towns masterclass (21 pts, 13 reb, 4 ast, 8-12 FG), Victor Wembanyama (29 pts, 9 reb, 2 stl, 4 blk) and Jalen Brunson (20 pts, 5 reb, 6 ast, 5 stl) trading clutch buckets, plus two double-digit rallies and endless star shotmaking across all four quarters.
The 4th Quarter — Minute by Minute
With 6:45 remaining and the Spurs down 12, Wembanyama called a players-only huddle. It ignited something. De’Aaron Fox (20 pts, 5 ast, 8-12 FG) scored five straight points to trim the deficit to seven, then rookie Dylan Harper (15 pts, 6 reb) extended a 12-0 run with a tough runner to level it at 97-97. The Spurs had scored 14 unanswered in exactly three minutes.
Brunson ended New York’s 4-minute field-goal drought with a big bucket to push the lead to 102-99 with 1:56 left. Wembanyama answered with an and-one — flying through defenders to put San Antonio ahead 104-102 with 57 seconds remaining, their first lead of the half.
Brunson did not blink. After hitting the Game 1 dagger with 37.8 seconds left, he splashed a game-tying jumper from nearly the exact same spot with 39.3 seconds left, then came up with a massive steal off an errant Wemby pass and drew a foul. He split the pair with nine seconds to play to put New York up 105-104.
The final stop fell to Mitchell Robinson, who contested a Wembanyama jumper that clipped the back iron as time expired.
“What a ballgame,” said coach Mike Brown. “It was a fantastic ballgame. They made a run. We made a run. They made a run. We made a run…”
“I ain’t got no words,” said Karl-Anthony Towns. “That’s a hardwood classic.”
“When it comes down to winning the game,” said KAT postgame, “Number 11 can’t be messed with.”
Towns’ Turning Point: Inside KAT’s Game 2 Performance
After San Antonio seized their biggest lead, 37-25, early in the 2nd quarter, Towns took over. He opened his scoring spree with a 3-pointer, poured in 9 points in a three-minute span, and closed the quarter with another triple that gave New York a 56-52 halftime lead. He finished the 2nd quarter with 12 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast, and 1 blk, changing the game’s direction entirely.
Across the first two Finals games, Towns is averaging 19.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists, shooting 55.6% from the field, 42.9% from three, and 100% from the line — all while defending Wembanyama on the other end. His DefRtg (99.1) in the postseason has improved by double digits from his regular-season mark (111.8). His offensive rating of 123.9 in the Playoffs ranks 3rd among all players (min. 7 GP).
KAT is one of just three players in these Playoffs to average 15+ pts, 10+ reb, and 5+ ast, alongside Nikola Jokić and Jayson Tatum.
“He’s been pretty phenomenal on both sides of the ball,” said Jalen Brunson. Said Charles Barkley: “He has played two of the best games I’ve ever seen a big man play.”
Postgame, with his team up 2-0, Towns looked to the sky — feeling the presence of his late mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns.
“It builds you up, and it strengthens you beyond measure,” he said. “But I take [Game 2] as a sign my mom is here with me, so I appreciate her so much.”
“I do it for everyone in the city that welcomed my mother when she immigrated over.”
Bridges Shines, Depth Delivers: A Team Win
The Knicks’ 13-game Playoff win streak has not been powered by one star or even two. Game 2 was the latest proof.
On a night where Brunson started cold and Towns faced foul trouble, Mikal Bridges steadied the offense. At one point making eight straight shots, Bridges joined Walt Frazier (4x) as the only Knicks in franchise history to record 20+ pts, 5+ reb, and 5+ ast while shooting at least 60% in an NBA Finals game.
- Landry Shamet posted his second straight 13-point game with 3 triples, all in the 2nd half
- OG Anunoby delivered on both ends: 17 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk, matching Brunson with a team-high 10 points in the 2nd half
- Mitchell Robinson added 7 points and contested Wembanyama’s last two jumpers in the game’s defining possessions, including the potential game-winner
The Knicks have now won eight straight road Playoff games, tying the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers for the longest such streak in a single postseason. New York is also just the third road team to open the NBA Finals with a 2-0 lead, joining the ’93 Chicago Bulls and ’95 Houston Rockets — both of whom won the championship.
No Quit: Spurs Fight Back, Eye Game 3
Down 14 points deep in the 4th quarter, San Antonio did not fold. Wembanyama called the players-only huddle, Fox hit a 3 from the top of the arc and converted a driving layup on the next possession. Wembanyama, Devin Vassell, and Dylan Harper added buckets to level it at 97-97 with under three minutes remaining.
Wembanyama shot 52.3% from the field in Game 2, a significant jump from his 28.5% mark in Game 1, finishing with 29 pts, 9 reb, 4 blk, and 10 points in the 4th quarter. Harper — still a rookie — scored 15 after posting 16 in Game 1, becoming just the third player 20 or younger to log consecutive 15+ point games in the Finals.
“I messed up… am I going to regret it? Of course. … Am I going to use that to fuel me, to fuel us, next game? Absolutely,” said Wembanyama.
“We showed tremendous desperation, urgency and competitive response,” said coach Mitch Johnson. “Our guys are made of the right stuff.”
On the Ground: Behind the Scenes in San Antonio
The atmosphere inside Frost Bank Center was electric from the moment both teams arrived. Rookie Derik Queen served as Game 2 Player Correspondent, calling the assignment an “opportunity of a lifetime.” Celebrity row included Timothée Chalamet — a visible Knicks supporter — while San Antonio welcomed former Spur Chris Paul and comedian Shane Gillis. Before tip, Wembanyama casually drained a flat-footed heave from the opposite foul line in warmups — on the first attempt.
Back at MSG, the jumbotron crowd erupted when the final horn sounded. The Knicks are 13 wins into one of the most remarkable postseason runs in NBA history, and Game 3 on Monday is next. Follow TipsGG for full coverage, analysis, and betting insights as the series moves to New York.
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