The New York Knicks clinched a 2-0 lead in the 2026 NBA Finals with a 105-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night, capping a dramatic fourth quarter that included a Victor Wembanyama buzzer-beater miss and Jalen Brunson’s clutch free throws. The win sends the Knicks back to Madison Square Garden with two games to go in their quest for a championship that would end a 53-year drought.
How the Knicks survived a Spurs late-game onslaught
The Knicks’ survival hinged on two moments: a defensive stop and a mental edge. With 9.5 seconds left, Wembanyama—who scored 29 points—threw the ball off Stephon Castle’s back, handing it to Brunson. The Spurs’ star then crashed into Brunson, sending him to the free-throw line for the game-winning shots. On the next possession, Wembanyama’s 20-foot jumper over Mitchell Robinson missed, sealing the Knicks’ 13th straight playoff win—the second-longest streak in NBA history.
“A great player got a great shot. It just didn’t go in… I take it as a sign my Mom is here with me,” Karl-Anthony Towns said after the game. The Spurs, who led by 12 points in the second quarter, rallied from a 14-point deficit in the fourth to force overtime-like tension. But the Knicks’ experience and clutch performances—Brunson’s 20 points, Towns’ 21 and 13 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges’ 20 points—proved decisive.
According to NBA.com, the Knicks’ OG Anunoby’s dunk on Wembanyama with six minutes left—assisted by Towns—sparked the Spurs’ late surge. But New York’s depth and execution in the final minutes sealed it. “The grit, the resiliency—New York City showed up,” Towns added.
Brunson’s mindset: Why the Knicks refuse to relax
Jalen Brunson’s postgame remarks revealed the Knicks’ wariness ahead of Monday’s Game 3 at Madison Square Garden. Despite the 2-0 lead, he insisted the team’s mindset must remain “0-0”—as if every game is a must-win.
“Every single day, we try to chip away, trying to be the best team we can be,” Brunson said. “You can’t be comfortable, you can’t be satisfied with anything. You’ve just got to continue to push forward.”
For more on this story, see NBA Finals 2026: Knicks vs. Spurs Game 1 Live Updates.
His warning echoed Towns’ frustration over the Knicks’ early mistakes. “I think that, for us, we keep leaning on experience and the word ‘execution,’” Towns said. “We didn’t do as well as we wanted to. So, when we get back to New York, we’ll get back to work.”
The Spurs, who entered the game 5-1 in the series, nearly pulled off an upset. But the Knicks’ ability to absorb pressure and answer every Spurs rally—including a 14-point fourth-quarter comeback—proved their mental toughness. As Yahoo Sports noted, the Knicks’ bench (De’Aaron Fox’s 20 points, Dylan Harper’s 15) matched the Spurs’ firepower.
The Spurs’ struggle: Wembanyama’s missed shot and the weight of expectation
Victor Wembanyama’s missed buzzer-beater was the emotional climax of a game where the Spurs’ season hung in the balance. The 7’4” center, who dominated with 29 points and 9 rebounds, had a chance to force overtime. Instead, his turnovers and missed shot symbolized San Antonio’s frustration.
“I have been on the other side where you’re a young team and you’re trying to do a lot to win the game,” Towns said, referencing the Spurs’ inexperience relative to the Knicks’ veteran core. Wembanyama’s 11-of-21 shooting in the second half reflected his struggles against New York’s defense, while Towns’ 17 points and 7 rebounds in the first half set the tone.
The Spurs’ collapse—from a 12-point second-quarter lead to a 14-point deficit—mirrored their series trajectory. They entered Game 2 down 0-1 after losing Game 1 in New York, and the loss deepened their hole. As The New York Times observed, the Knicks’ ability to capitalize on late-game pressure has been a defining trait of their playoff run.
What’s next: Game 3 at MSG and the Knicks’ path to history
The Knicks return home with a 2-0 series lead, but the Spurs are far from eliminated. Teams leading 2-0 in the NBA Finals are 32-5 in series outcomes—a statistic that underscores the Knicks’ challenge. Yet, as coach Mike Brown noted, “I’m not that smart. You got to have good players that carry you.”
Game 3 tips off at 8:30 p.m. Monday at Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks’ home-court advantage and crowd noise could be decisive. The Spurs, however, will bring their best effort. “Knowing them, there’s definitely another level,” Brunson said. “We’ve got to be prepared and ready to match it.”
The Knicks’ path to a championship now hinges on two more wins. Their 13-game playoff winning streak—the second-longest in NBA history—has set the tone, but the Spurs’ resilience in Game 2 proves they’re not out of the fight. If the Knicks can maintain their focus and execution, they’ll be two steps closer to ending their 53-year title drought.
As NBA.com called it: “An NBA Finals classic.” The drama isn’t over—just beginning.
