SAN ANTONIO. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 105-104 in Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals and will return to Madison Square Garden with a 2-0 series lead. Jalen Brunson, who scored 20 points, hit the decisive free throw with 9.5 seconds remaining, while Victor Wembanyama missed the game-winning shot at the buzzer in a dramatic night in Texas.
The victory extends New York's playoff winning streak to 13 consecutive games and puts the Knicks just two wins away from capturing their first NBA championship since 1973.
The game started with an intense pace and constant battle between two teams fully aware of the stakes. The Spurs, stung by their loss in Game 1, showed a much more aggressive version from the opening tip, while the Knicks once again relied on their depth and ability to stay competitive even when their offense wasn't flowing smoothly.
San Antonio managed to contain Victor Wembanyama for much of the game despite a quiet first half from the French star. However, New York found offensive production through Karl-Anthony Towns, who dominated on the boards and kept the visitors in the game throughout.
The center finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds, serving as one of the Knicks' biggest pillars on a night when Brunson didn't find the same offensive efficiency he had in Game 1.
The game remained tight for much of the contest until New York appeared to deliver the knockout blow in the fourth quarter. The visitors built a 14-point lead with just minutes remaining and seemed to have the victory in hand.
But then came the Spurs' comeback.
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Fueled by their home crowd and led by a much more aggressive Wembanyama after halftime, San Antonio rattled off a spectacular 14-0 run to completely erase the deficit. The comeback was capped with 57 seconds remaining when the Frenchman converted a three-point play to put the Spurs up 104-102, giving them their first lead in nearly two full quarters.
The Frost Bank Center was roaring and everything seemed to be going San Antonio's way.
However, the Knicks answered in the crucial moment. Brunson, who finished with 20 points alongside Mikal Bridges, hit the tying basket on the next possession despite a difficult shooting night, finishing with just seven makes on 24 attempts.
After Wembanyama missed a subsequent three-point attempt, OG Anunoby grabbed a crucial rebound that allowed New York to set up the final possession of the game.
The Spurs initially defended the possession, but the decisive moment came on the next play. Wembanyama turned the ball over under pressure and Brunson was fouled, sending him to the free throw line with 9.5 seconds left. The point guard converted the free throw that ultimately gave the Knicks the victory.
San Antonio still had one last chance. After a timeout, De'Aaron Fox received the inbound pass and found Wembanyama for the final shot. The Frenchman's attempt looked good off his hands, but it hit the rim and bounced away, allowing New York to celebrate a hugely valuable victory.
Wembanyama finished the night with 29 points after a brilliant second half, while Fox added 20 for a Spurs team that came agonizingly close to stealing the game after an extraordinary comeback.
For the Knicks, Towns led the way with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Brunson and Bridges each added 20 in another collective performance that showcases the New York team's extraordinary form.
The victory also carries enormous historical weight. The Knicks become just the third team to win the first two games of an NBA Finals series on the road, following in the footsteps of Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls in 1993 and Hakeem Olajuwon's Houston Rockets in 1995. Both teams went on to win the championship.
Now the series shifts to New York. Madison Square Garden will host Game 3 next Monday with the Knicks just two wins away from ending a 53-year drought without an NBA championship.