Tonight the Knicks return to the court at Frost Bank Center to face the San Antonio Spurs in Game Two of the NBA Finals. In the opening contest, New York fell behind by 14 points in the third quarter before Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart led them on a 24-point turnaround to win 105-95. Joy was felt throughout the land! (Except in The Land, where they’re still ruminating about the result of the Eastern Conference Finals.)
Victor Wembanyama was the biggest reason San Antonio lost Game One. The Knicks had
played eight games in 23 days, and while they were rusty after the break (just like at the start of the Eastern Conference Finals), they were rested. Wembanyama, a massive talent in many respects, showed fatigue after multiple grueling rounds to get here. The Defensive Player of the Year watched Karl-Anthony Towns drive past him repeatedly and was seen with his hands on his knees during breaks in the action.
Wembanyama can spur a better outcome by attacking more decisively instead of holding the ball or lobbing bombs from the perimeter. Coach Mitch Johnson said in one of his pressers that his team needs to touch the paint more. Expect that tonight.
Keldon Johnson (the 2026 Sixth Man of the Year), Devin Vassell, and De’Aaron Fox laid a collective egg in the opening tilt, combining for 19 points. A high-ankle sprain is limiting Fox, so his lackluster effort can be forgiven. Odds are good that Vassell will play better through the rest of the series. Johnson, though? He certainly hasn’t looked like the NBA’s best sixth man in the playoffs.
For the good guys, Jalen Brunson missed a bunch of shots but came up huge when it counted, as usual. Captain Clutch forever! Have we totally overlooked the fact that Josh Hart is Dennis Rodman with an offensive upgrade? Someone here should write a piece about that. While New York lost the battle on the boards overall, they secured the most important rebounds, particularly through Hart (14 rebounds!!) and Towns in crucial moments. Karl carried the team through the middle of the game and has won over even the grinchiest of the KAT haters. Mikal Bridges had a quiet night offensively, but his defense is a big reason for his +11. And OG Anunoby was flat offensively, but when he got going—with eight straight points in the second half—he swung the momentum back New York’s way.
What else can be said about Game One? San Antonio’s Julian Champagnie sizzled in the first half, dropping 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting from deep, but Mike Brown schemed up solutions at halftime. After intermission, the sharpshooter from Brooklyn—who traded verbal barbs with fellow borough native Jose Alvarado—managed just a single point, and the Spurs as a whole managed just 40 points. Meanwhile, on the subject of Alvarado, he was great in his minutes, especially when injuries kept Jalen Brunson out of the game for extended periods.
History behooves the ’Bockers to win tonight. Only five teams have ever recovered from a 0-2 Finals deficit, and none has lost the first two Finals games at home and come back to win the championship. ESPN.com likes the Spurs to win at 57%. Fine. We like to be the underdogs. Dismiss New York at your peril, foolish bettors.
Wemby is a challenge even when exhausted. New York wisely made hay whenever he sat, and they will continue to exploit those stretches tonight. The French delight may have underwhelmed in Game One but has a habit of alternating his performances. Look for him to bounce back hard tonight, and for Jalen & the Justice League to be ready. Each team is capable of shooting better than it did in Game One, so get your popcorn ready and prepare for some fireworks. This is a dynamite series so far, and it shows no sign of slowing. Our prediction? Knicks by 10, naturally.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (1-0) at San Antonio Spurs (0-1)
Date: Friday, June 5, 2026
Time: 8:30 PM ET
Place: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
TV: ABC
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
