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Spurs Trail 0-2 as Wembanyama Misses Game-Winner

6/8/2026

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Summary

Wembanyama Falters

San Antonio Spurs trail 0-2 and will open Game 3 Monday at Madison Square Garden.
Victor Wembanyama missed a game-winning jumper and became the first since 1997-98 to record a turnover, foul and miss in the final ten seconds.
The Spurs have lost six straight games at Madison Square Garden, last win there in November 2019.
Knicks Jalen Brunson praised his team’s composure after the Spurs blew a 14-point lead in Game 2.

Summary

Towns Odds Surge

Karl-Anthony Towns’ MVP odds fell from +600 at halftime to +165 on Sunday, tying Victor Wembanyama (+165) and beating Jalen Brunson (+115).
No NBA team has ever rebounded from a 0-2 home loss in the Finals, a historic hurdle for the Spurs.
Dylan Harper posted double-figure points in both games, shooting 54.5% with two turnovers in 60 minutes.

Summary

Wembanyama Stifled

Knicks coach Mike Brown implements a plan that limits Victor Wembanyama by forcing jump shots.
Mitchell Robinson guards Victor Wembanyama, while Karl-Anthony Towns contests Victor Wembanyama’s shots.
Shaquille O'Neal criticized Victor Wembanyama’s effort on ESPN’s Inside the NBA.
Charles Barkley defended Victor Wembanyama as young and inexperienced.
Kenny Smith compared Victor Wembanyama’s struggles to Nick Anderson’s missed free throws in the 1995 Finals, noting pressure on players.

Summary

Knicks Overwhelm Spurs

Analysts say Spurs' emotional fatigue and limited playoff maturity may disadvantage them against Knicks' veteran core.
Spurs' rotation averages 24.4 years, while Knicks' core averages 28.8 years.
New York entered the Finals on a 13-game playoff winning streak, the second-longest in history, after sweeping the 76ers and Cavaliers, while the Spurs survived a seven-game series against Oklahoma City.

History

Historical Context

In 1999, after a lockout-shortened 50-game season, the San Antonio Spurs captured their first NBA title, beating the eighth-seed New York Knicks 4-1; Tim Duncan earned Finals MVP and Gregg Popovich won his first ring. That upset launched a dynasty that added championships in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014, framing today’s renewed Spurs-Knicks showdown.

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Wembanyama Falters

San Antonio Spurs trail 0-2 and will open Game 3 Monday at Madison Square Garden.
Victor Wembanyama missed a game-winning jumper and became the first since 1997-98 to record a turnover, foul and miss in the final ten seconds.
The Spurs have lost six straight games at Madison Square Garden, last win there in November 2019.
Knicks Jalen Brunson praised his team’s composure after the Spurs blew a 14-point lead in Game 2.

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