Victor Wembanyama’s dream start to the NBA Finals has quickly given way to frustration as the San Antonio Spurs fell 105-104 to the New York Knicks in Game 2, slipping into a 2-0 series deficit. After struggling in the opener and disappearing for much of the first half on Friday, the Spurs star produced a strong second-half response, only for crucial mistakes in the closing moments to overshadow his comeback performance.
San Antonio fought back from a 12-point deficit and appeared poised to steal a victory before a costly turnover and a missed buzzer-beater allowed New York to head home with complete control of the series.
Spurs’ rally falls apart in decisive moments
The Spurs appeared to have all the momentum late in Game 2 after erasing a significant deficit and drawing level in the final seconds. Following a strong defensive possession, Wembanyama forced a miss from Jalen Brunson and secured the rebound with fewer than 12 seconds remaining.
Although San Antonio still had a timeout available, the team elected to play on. As Wembanyama pushed the ball forward, Stephon Castle began sprinting up the sideline. The pass arrived at the wrong moment, striking Castle in the back and resulting in a turnover that handed possession back to New York.
The error became even more damaging moments later when Wembanyama fouled Brunson. In a matter of seconds, the Spurs went from having a chance at a game-winning possession to sending the Knicks’ star guard to the free-throw line.
Even after Brunson missed one of his attempts, San Antonio received another opportunity. Wembanyama popped free after setting a screen for De’Aaron Fox and found space for a clean midrange jumper at the buzzer, but the shot struck the back rim as the Knicks escaped with a one-point victory.
Star center takes responsibility
Following the defeat, Wembanyama did not shy away from accepting blame for the critical turnover.
He acknowledged that the giveaway was his mistake and admitted that the Spurs had failed to perform at their best collectively. While disappointed by the missed opportunity, he also stressed that the experience would serve as motivation heading into the next game.
His comments reflected the frustration surrounding a contest San Antonio nearly stole despite spending much of the evening on the back foot. While the Spurs briefly held a late lead and appeared ready to complete the comeback, New York controlled large portions of the game and repeatedly put pressure on its opponent.
Still, the Spurs had a genuine opportunity to even the series, making the late collapse even harder to accept.
Clutch struggles extend beyond one turnover
The decisive giveaway was not Wembanyama’s only problem during crunch time. Despite scoring 22 of his 29 points after halftime and helping fuel the comeback, several late-game decisions proved costly.
With less than two minutes remaining and San Antonio trailing by three, he hurried behind the three-point line despite ample time left on the shot clock and launched an attempt that missed everything.
Later, with 39 seconds remaining and the score tied at 104-104, he settled for a long midrange jumper that failed to connect. The shot came despite his struggles from that area throughout the playoffs and ended a possession that could have produced a higher-quality opportunity.
Questions also linger from Game 1, where late offensive possessions produced similarly disappointing results. During one sequence, Wembanyama hit the side of the backboard twice, including on an uncontested corner three-pointer. On another possession in the final minute, he lost control of the ball while attempting to attack Karl-Anthony Towns.
Afterward, Wembanyama admitted that he must play with greater composure and exert more control over key moments as the series continues.
Knicks’ physical edge creates growing concern
While Wembanyama’s mistakes have drawn the spotlight, the series has also highlighted New York’s ability to dictate terms physically.
Despite his unique combination of size and skill, the Spurs star has struggled to consistently reach his preferred spots on the floor. He continues to produce impressive numbers, and San Antonio even outscored New York during his minutes in Game 2, but much of his work is coming under difficult circumstances.
The pressure has also exposed a broader issue for the Spurs. Although the turnover totals themselves have not been overwhelming, many of the mistakes have occurred at pivotal moments. Wembanyama committed 10 turnovers across the first two games, while Castle has frequently played at a pace that sometimes drifts beyond control.
San Antonio’s youthful roster has repeatedly displayed maturity throughout the postseason and has delivered several clutch performances along the way. Yet against a Knicks team that appears stronger and more composed, the margin for error has become razor-thin.
Both teams prefer to play quickly, but New York looks far more comfortable in those situations. The Spurs, by contrast, often appear rushed, as if trying to keep pace with an opponent that has consistently dictated the flow of the series.
In the biggest moments of Game 2, that urgency proved costly, and Wembanyama was unable to slow the game down when it mattered most.