Down two games to zero, the San Antonio Spurs are playing not only against the New York Knicks, but against history. Only five teams in NBA history have come back from a 0-2 defecit in the NBA Finals: the 1969 Boston Celtics, the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers, the 2006 Miami Heat, the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers, and the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks. None of those teams did it after losing the first two home games.
It may seem like there is no hope, but the Spurs don’t feel that way.
“The key is acceptance… taking
a step back and realizing the journey that is behind us and ahead of us,” Victor Wembanyama told the press before Game Three. “At the end of the day, this is everything that I wished for, so there is no reason to overthink it. This is what I am built for.”
It was a mature answer for a team that has, for the first time in the postseason, looked immature. Errors on both ends have built this hole for the Spurs. Both games seemed like ones that San Antonio could have won if they cut down on the types of mistakes that most young teams are prone to making. Now, they’ll have to play with their backs against the wall in historic Madison Square Garden, and a rabid fan base that is eagerly awaiting it’s first championship since 1973. It won’t be easy, but Wembanyama seems to think this group is built for it.
The Spurs will once again look for answers to New York’s stars. Both Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson have been tough to stop. Towns and the Knicks have created big problems while the Spurs are on offense. Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper seemed to find their footing a bit in Game Two, and will hope to carry that momentum into MSG.
San Antonio has been in tough spots before. This is by far the toughest. A win in enemy territory would be the exact type of response this team needs to turn things around. Game Three could turn out to be a pivotal moment in the series if the Spurs can eliminate their mistakes and get a win on the road.
San Antonio Spurs (0-2) vs. New York Knicks (2-0)
June 8th, 2026 | 7:30 PM CT
Watch: ABC / ESPN | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Injuries: No injuries to report.
Knicks Injuries: No injuries to report.
What to watch for:
Guarding Brunson
San Antonio switched up their strategy guarding Brunson a bit in Game Two, and for the most part it worked. The Spurs stopped throwing quick doubles at Brunson, and instead guarded him mainly one-on-one with Stephon Castle, and switching pick-and-rolls so Wembanyama matched up on Brunson in space. If a bad switch came, the Spurs would sometimes send another defender at Brunson to get the ball out of his hands. The result was some poor decision making from Brunson, who shot 7-25 from the field and had 4 turnovers. Yes, he hit a clutch shot down the stretch, but the defensive approach worked for the most part. If the same defensive strategy is working in Game Three, the Spurs could have a slight edge in guard play.
Playing fast
It’s a worn out saying at this point, but the Spurs play their best when they play with pace. San Antonio mounted it’s big fourth-quarter comeback in Game Two when it started to push the ball in transition to catch the Knicks in disadvantageous cross matches. In front of a raucous New York crowd, the Spurs should be looking to land haymakers by playing fast in transition whenever they have the chance. That may mean playing the “four-guard” lineup that includes Fox, Harper, Castle, Wembanyama and Devin Vassell. This group can hold their own on the perimeter and push quickly with a surplus of ball-handlers to beat the Knicks in transition.
Defensive rotations
San Antonio’s help defense and overall attention to detail on the defensive end has been lacking in The Finals. It’s been where they’ve looked the most inexperienced. Too many times a Knicks player is overplayed for a blow by or left alone for an open shot as the Spurs scramble to help on drives to the paint. New York is going to shoot the ball incredibly well at home. San Antonio has to tighten it’s defensive rotations to get good contests on shooters, or else the Knicks’ lead will balloon quickly.
