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Wembanyama’s late missteps cost Spurs despite brilliant second-half surge

Wembanyama’s late missteps cost Spurs despite brilliant second-half surge

06/Jun/26 05:35

victor-wembanyama-san-antonio-spurs — Adam Pantozzi/NBAE / Getty Images / Ideal Image

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Despite a brief lead for the San Antonio Spurs late in the fourth quarter, Victor Wembanyama’s late-game turnovers and a costly miscommunication allow Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks to a jump to a 2–0 series lead in the NBA Finals 2026

By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net

The New York Knicks extended their historic momentum into Game 2 of the NBA Finals 2026 on Friday, riding a 12-game postseason winning streak to secure a dramatic 105–104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at the Frost Bank Center. With the win, they jumped out to a commanding 2–0 lead in the best-of-seven championship series of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google.

The contest was a heavily calculated, intense battle featuring only five lead changes. The Spurs came out strong early, but completely dropped their 12-point first-half lead to a relentless New York squad. The visitors appeared to lock up the game in the final frame, pulling ahead by 14 points with just over six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but San Antonio refused to go quietly and erupted with a staggering 14–0 run to tie the game at 97–97.

The final minute delivered a chaotic, heart-pounding finish defined by rapid lead changes and a costly late-game miscommunication. With 57 seconds remaining, Dylan Harper found Victor Wembanyama on a fast break, and the French superstar converted a heavily contested and-one layup to give San Antonio its first lead of the second half at 104–102. Out of a timeout with 39 seconds left, Jalen Brunson countered by driving right and hitting a clutch, one-legged fadeaway jumper from 13 feet over Julian Champagnie to tie the game at 104. Wemby missed a go-ahead jumper in isolation versus Mitchell Robinson on the ensuing possession, giving New York the ball back, but the Spurs managed a defensive stop when Brunson missed a jumper of his own.

A critical error followed with 7.5 seconds remaining. After grabbing the defensive rebound, Wembanyama attempted a quick outlet pass, but the ball bounced directly off Stephon Castle’s back, and he went on to foul 29-year-old Brunson, who made his first of two free throws to shape a 105–104 lead for the Knicks with 9.5 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Despite the late-game drama, the visitors’ poised defensive execution on Wemby ensured they secured the final stop to lock down the one-point win.

With the team coached by Mitch Johnson suffering its second straight home defeat, the Le Chesnay native ended up a game-high 29 points, with 22 coming in the second half, alongside nine rebounds, four blocks, two steals, and two assists across 40 minutes. His efforts were frequently disrupted as the physical Knicks defense managed to fluster him for large stretches, with 28-year-old Robinson dominating this assignment in crunch time. Off the court, Wemby’s massive influence on the franchise was also on display as the Spurs debuted a revamped concession menu item for the Finals called the Alien Dog, named in honor of his famous nickname.

On the winning side, British starter OG Anunoby produced an incredibly versatile stat line, tallying 17 points, four rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and two steals in 37 minutes on the floor. Meanwhile, France’s Pacome Dadiet and Mohamed Diawara, Poland’s Jeremy Sochan, and Germany’s Ariel Hukporti all did not see game action under Mike Brown’s short rotation.

The series now shifts locations, with the trailing Spurs looking to respond on the road when Game 3 tips off at Madison Square Garden in New York on Monday.