SAN ANTONIO — It didn’t have to be pretty. It didn’t have to be straightforward.
The Knicks are halfway there.
They saw a 14-point fourth quarter lead evaporate. But it didn’t matter. They made enough plays down the stretch to take home a 105-104 Game 2 win over the Spurs Friday night to take a commanding 2-0 series lead.
After the Knicks took a 97-83 lead with 6:04 left in the game, the Spurs rattled off a 14-0 run to tie the game with 2:59 left in the game. Jalen Brunson missed three straight shots in that stretch. It looked like a heart-wrenching collapse was on.
Mikal Bridges was blocked by Dylan Harper, Victor Wembanyama went down on the other end, finished and was fouled by Karl-Anthony Towns. He hit the free throw to give the Spurs a two-point lead with 57.3 seconds left with Frost Bank Arena was at full volume. It felt like this was finally Wembanyama’s coming out party in these Finals.
But Brunson responded with a bucket to tie the game with 39.3 seconds left. Wembanyama missed on the other end.
Then after a timeout, Brunson missed a midrange jumper over Wembanyama. But Wembanyama turned it right over, throwing it to Stephon Castle, who wasn’t looking. It hit him in the back and was corralled by Brunson, who was then fouled by Wembanyama. The Knicks guard made 1 of 2 free throws to put the Knicks up by one with 7.5 seconds left.
Wembanyama would have another chance for his signature moment — and he failed.
The Spurs called timeout and passed to De’Aron Fox on the inbounds. He passed to Wembanyama, who missed a 20-foot jumper over Mitchell Robinson.
Wembanyama vowed that he would be better in Game 2. On the biggest stage, though, he came up empty.
And just like that, the Knicks are coming home in complete control of the Finals. Just like that, the Knicks are within touching distance of a championship.
Just like that, a near collapse was made to be irrelevant.
Only two teams had ever lost the first two games of a Finals as the home team – the 1993 Suns and the ‘95 Magic. Both lost the series.
Now, the Spurs just became the third. In total, teams that take a 2-0 lead in the Finals are 32-5 in the series.
History is certainly on the Knicks’ side.
Brunson shot a brutal 7-for-25 from the field and had four turnovers. But he hit the biggest shots when they were needed.
A key moment also helped halt that 14-0 Spurs run.
The Knicks, who have been excellent with their challenges all year, delivered yet again. They challenged a missed OG Anunoby 3-pointer and won, giving him three free throws instead of what would have been a turnover. He drilled all three to give the Knicks a 3-point lead with 2:37 left in the game.
Towns and Bridges helped carry the Knicks offense in the middle two quarters as Brunson struggled. Towns had 12 points in the second quarter and was cooking Wembanyama. Bridges had a combined 20 in the second and third quarter and went 8-for-8 from the field.
But both went missing down the stretch.
Josh Hart fouled his way to the bench and was largely a non-factor.
At the moment, though, who cares?
The Knicks came into the Alamo City and punched the Spurs in the mouth.
The Finals are firmly in their hands.
