New York is buzzing after the Knicks took a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals. They beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-104 in a thrilling Game 2 on Friday night. The Knicks are now just two wins away from their first championship in generations.
Knicks Take Game 2 in San Antonio
Jalen Brunson sealed the win with a go-ahead free throw with 9.5 seconds left. This came after Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs turned the ball over. Wembanyama then missed a jumper at the buzzer, securing the Knicks' victory.
Knicks coach Mike Brown called it "What a ballgame."
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Brunson and Mikal Bridges each added 20 points. The Knicks have now won 13 straight games, which is the second-longest streak in NBA playoff history.
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Start Your News DetoxTowns praised the fans, saying, "New York City showed up. The fans showed up. The energy showed up. And we found a way to get it done."
The Knicks are only the third team ever to win the first two games of the NBA Finals on the road. The other two teams, the 1993 Chicago Bulls and the 1995 Houston Rockets, both went on to win the championship. The Knicks are aiming for their first title since 1973.
Wembanyama had a quiet first half but finished with 29 points for the Spurs. De'Aaron Fox scored 20 points. Wembanyama is already looking ahead, saying, "We can't change the past. We're already thinking about Game 3."
Series Heads to New York
The series now moves to Madison Square Garden in New York for Game 3 on Monday night. Ticket prices for the game are soaring, with some seats reportedly going for nearly $9,000. Former President Donald Trump, a New Yorker, plans to attend.
The Spurs made a strong comeback in Game 2. They were down by 14 points in the fourth quarter but scored 14 straight to tie the game. Wembanyama's three-point play gave San Antonio a 104-102 lead with 57 seconds left.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson noted, "We showed tremendous desperation, urgency and competitive response. Hopefully we can try to bottle that up ... and try to play to that same level."
However, the Knicks scored the final three points. Brunson, who was also the hero in Game 1, tied the game with a basket. After an offensive rebound by OG Anunoby, the Knicks called a timeout.
The Spurs got a defensive stop, but Wembanyama turned the ball over. Brunson was fouled and made the free throw, giving the Knicks the lead. With 7.5 seconds left, Fox set up Wembanyama for a potential game-winning jumper, but it bounced off the rim.
Towns emphasized the importance of their final defensive effort. "We had to get a stop. We hadn't gotten a stop all quarter," he said.
The Knicks got the stop they needed. Now, the team is heading home, just two wins away from an NBA title.
