This blunder will be featured in Victor Wembanayama “motivation” packages for years to come.
The Spurs’ phenom made an inexplicable mistake in the final 10 seconds Friday that led to the Knicks’ game-winning free throw in San Antonio’s 105-104 home loss to fall in a 2-0 NBA Finals series hole.
With a chance to hold for the final and potential game-winning shot, Wembanyama instead made an unforced error that led to a turnover and compounded his poor decision with a foul.
“I threw that one away. I messed up,” Wembanyama said. “We didn’t play great as a team. We needed to win that game. This game was ours. But at this point, it’s done.
“Am I going to regret it? Yes, of course. Am I going to use that to fuel me and to fuel me and fuel us next game? Absolutely.”
After Jalen Brunson missed a jumper with roughly 13 seconds remaining, Wembanyama corralled the rebound and attempted to pass to Stephon Castle, but the guard was looking up court.
The ball bounced off Castle’s back and went right to Brunson, and Wembanyama bumped into the Knicks’ guard for the foul to send him to the free throw line with 9.5 seconds remaining.
It appeared that Castle expected Wembanyama to dribble up the court or to take his time since the Spurs would likely be holding for the final shot.
There may have also been confusion about whether the Spurs would use their final timeout.
Wembanyama’s pass hits Castle in the back. @TheHoopCentral/X
Brunson hit one of two free throws to give the Knicks a 105-104 lead before Wembanyama had a chance to redeem himself and be the hero.
However, he missed a 20-foot jumper over Mitchell Robinson with two seconds remaining and the Spurs are now officially in massive trouble.
Wembanyama also missed a 16-foot jumper after the Knicks tied the game at 104-104, and he finished 0-for-2 with a turnover in the final minute.
He finished with 29 points on 11-of-21 shooting, although this final minute will plague him.
Victor Wembanyama reacts after his costly mistake. @TheHoopCentral/X
Wembanyama has yet to take over this series as expected despite averaging 27.5 points through the first two games, and with his nightmarish final minute Friday night at Frost Bank Center, it’s looking more and more likely that this series will be the one that fuels him for years to come.
Jun 5, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) goes in for a shot against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the first half during game two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Despite having two chances to finish ahead of New York for good, San Antonio was unable to complete its ferocious fourth quarter comeback and lost game 2 of the Finals. In the waning seconds, Victor Wembanyama committed an unforced turnover trying to feed Stephon Castle in transition, and then missed a buzzer-beating 17-footer. New York extended its playoff win streak to 13 on the power of audaciously accurate shooting in many of the moments that mattered. With the two home losses, San Antonio dug itself a 0-2 hole that will require wins in four of the next handful of games – with three of them at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks erased yet another first half Spurs lead behind the shooting exploits of Karl Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges during some really wretched offensive futility by San Antonio in the second quarter.
San Antonio could not find their well-defended superstar Wembanyama (29 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks) over countless first half possessions, but after a heated huddle conversation in the third quarter, Wembanyama finally took the game into his hands in that late comeback attempt. De’Aaron Fox (20 points and 5 assists) came on late, while Castle (14 points and 4 assists) had his most uneven performance in some time. Devin Vassell (14 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists) contributed mightily, while Dylan Harper (15 points and 6 rebounds) made the only impact of the reservers.
New York took control of the game in the second period with timely shooting from their vetera players. Towns (21 points and 13 rebounds) nearly got the better of his Spurs counterpart again, while Bridges (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Landry Shamet (13 points) had answers for over 3+ quarters. Jalen Brunson (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) was carried by his teammates on a somewhat muted evening by his standards.
An intense first quarter saw the Knicks’ Brunson and Anunoby generate all of their offensive output over the first half of it. On the way to putting up 20 points over that same period of time, San Antonio only put up one questionable outside shot (Wembanyama had an open lane to drive and settled for a missed triple). Towns’ three broke the Brunson/Anunoby scoring streak and brought New York within four. The Hack-a-Mitchell-Robinson strategy commenced in the waning minutes of the frame generated mixed results as the center hit 3-for-6. Fox found better lanes late in the frame and put up a rapid seven points. Harper, known for his offense, helped forced two unforeced turnovers on the perimeter. An longer than usual first quarter ended with San Antonio ahead 34-25.
At the start of the second period, Towns, as Brunson rested for a protracted amount of time, pieced together his own 9-0 run to slice the New York deficit to five. Wembanyama, meanwhile, sat at four field goal attempts 1 1/2 periods in. New York received clutch shot after shot from Bridges, while San Antonio could not find a consistent contributor after Castle went to the bench with three fouls. A alarmingly tentative Wembanyama committed a pair of turnovers late in the half, and New York capitalized to surge ahead 56-52.
New York’s confidence in its outside shooting continued to grow coming out of the half. Castle, playing with three fouls, stabilized the Spurs’ offense in some tenuous moments in the meaty part of the third period. San Antonio benefitted from Hart and Towns picking up their fourth fouls, too. Johnson made his first meaningful impact this series with his presence on the boards. While San Antonio cut into the considerable deficit and prevented a New York runaway, they still left it down nine.
Observations
I keep on reading that, for many of the Spurs’ rotation players, this is the worst that they ever will be. I wish there was an accelerant somehow for them.
That agile and girthy stretch-4 will come in handy next playoff run.
Devin’s Deeds: If he continues his stalwart two-way presence, he could very well end up awarded on the top defensive teams next season.
Sequence of the Game #1: Stuck deep in the paint halfway through the first period, Johnson ‘found’ Wembanyama cutting through the lane for a dunk.
Sequence of the Game #2: Late in the first quarter, Harper caught the ball, eluded a Landry Shamet reach-in by switching hands, and powered home a dunk over Towns.
Game Rundown
A well-executed first possession ping-ponged from Wembanyama (top) to Castle (bottom) to Vassell for a straightaway three. Though Brunson hit his first attempt, Champagnie drew a quick foul on him at the other end. Champagnie hit two triples – the first a traditional one, and the second resembled the off-the-glass three Deuce McBride hit the other night. On a transition attempt, Brunson thought he’d drawn the foul on Vassell, but the guard swatted away the shot cleanly. Threes from Anunoby and Brunson kept it a one-possession game. Castle drew Hart’s second foul in transition, but missed both freebies. Towns committed a boneheaded foul to put the Spurs into the foul bonus with 5:45 left. Towns had a personal 5-0 run while Wembanyama sat, and San Antonio started settling for jumpers. Fox’s first basket came 8 1/2 minutes in, and his catch-and-shoot three moments later put the Spurs up eight. San Antonio exited the quarter up nine.
Castle’s corner three matched Towns’ three to start of the second. Tony Brothers’ crew missed an obvious foul by Shamet on Castle, and Towns received a friendlier whistle at the other end. Fox – very likely double-dribbling during a later possession – willed home an and-1. Castle was maddeningly whistled for his second foul (third overall) closing out on a three-point attempt. A Bridges three brought the Knicks within three. After Harper missed a transition lay-up, Bridges hit from three again. Hart was called for his third foul when he tripped Vassell on a loose-ball situation. Bridges’ third three of the quarter brought the Knicks within one. Right after a Shamet lay-up gave New York their first lead, Vassell knocked down a 4-point play. The Spurs’ offense sputtered over the remaining minutes, and after two Wembanyama turnovers, Bridges’ fourth three put the Knicks up four at the half.
New York continued to shred the Spurs defense to start the third period with Anunoby and Brunson knocking down deflating threes. Over the Knicks’ opening 8-2 salvo, San Antonio’s offense consisted of a lone Wembanyama fadeaway jumper. Fox drew Hart’s fourth foul, and his and-1 was answered by yet another Bridges three. Towns picked up his 3rd and 4th fouls in succession. Johnson’s offensive rebound and putback and Castle’s three brought the Spurs within five. San Antonio found it’s first consistent offensive execution since the first quarter, but the Knicks made just enough plays to stay comfortably ahead. McBride and Bridges’ shotmaking created separation near the end of the period, and the Spurs went to the fourth down 75-84.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns leaves the court after his team’s Game 2 victory.Photograph: Eric Gay/AP
The white-hot New York Knicks moved within two wins of their first NBA championship in more than half a century on Friday night, edging the San Antonio Spurs 105-104 in a Game 2 thriller to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the NBA finals before the series shifts to Madison Square Garden.
After stealing Game 1 with a furious fourth-quarter comeback, the Knicks once again turned to Jalen Brunson when the game hung in the balance. The All-NBA guard sank the go-ahead free throw with 7.5 seconds remaining after a costly turnover by Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. Moments later, Wembanyama’s clean look from the elbow at the buzzer caromed off the back rim, allowing New York to become only the third team to win the first two games of an NBA finals on the road after the 1993 Chicago Bulls and 1995 Houston Rockets.
The victory also extended the Knicks’ remarkable postseason run to 13 consecutive wins, matching one of the longest single-season playoff winning streaks in NBA history and fueling belief that a franchise still chasing its first title since 1973 may finally be on the verge of ending decades of frustration.
Brunson, who scored 30 points in Wednesday’s opener despite battling a sore knee and ankle, finished with 20 points on 7-for-25 shooting but once again provided the composure New York needed in the biggest moments. Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 21 points and 13 rebounds and delivered several crucial baskets down the stretch.
Wembanyama looked determined to atone for a frustrating finals debut in which he shot just 6 for 21 and committed six turnovers. The 21-year-old French star responded with 29 points on 11-for-21 shooting in 40 minutes, but his late giveaway and narrowly missed jumper ultimately defined a heartbreaking finish for San Antonio.
No team has lifted the trophy after dropping the first two games of the finals at home.
San Antonio trailed by 14 points midway through the fourth quarter but used a run of 14-0 behind Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox to tie it at 97-97 with 3:00 remaining, then took their first lead of the half with less than a minute to go.
Brunson responded immediately, knotting the game at 104-104 with a driving basket. Wembanyama came up empty on San Antonio’s next trip and Anunoby gathered the rebound before New York called timeout.
The Spurs briefly seemed to catch a reprieve when they forced a miss, only for Wembanyama to throw the ball away on the ensuing possession. Brunson capitalized, drawing a foul and sinking the free throw that ultimately won the game.
Now the series shifts to New York, where anticipation has reached levels unseen in a generation. Game 3 is scheduled for Monday night at Madison Square Garden, with Donald Trump planning to attend and secondary-market ticket prices approaching $9,000 for the worst seats in the house.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 05: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks celebrates with his father Karl Towns Sr. after the 105-104 victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 05, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Knicks are headed back to Madison Square Garden with the opportunity to bring home the franchise’s first championship in 53 years without leaving the city. The Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs, 105-104, in Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals to become the third team in league history to win the first two games of the championship round on the road, joining the 1993 Chicago Bulls and 1995 Houston Rockets.
The Knicks have now won 13 straight playoff games, with 11 of those victories coming by double-figures. The Spurs were a 2-1 favorite in the betting markets entering the series, but the Knicks have out-classed a young San Antonio team on both ends to take complete control in the matchup so far.
The Knicks took a 97-83 lead with six minutes remaining on a driving dunk by OG Anunoby. From there, the Spurs went on a 14-0 run to tie the game. The end of the fourth quarter featured a wild sequence where Jalen Brunson missed a mid-range jump shot with 13 seconds left, Victor Wembanyama grabbed the rebound and tried to throw an outlet pass to teammate Stephon Castle. Only problem: Castle wasn’t looking for the ball, so it hit him in the back and resulted in a turnover. Brunson was fouled after the Knicks recovered the possession, and he split two free throws to give New York the lead. The Spurs had one last chance, but Wembanyama missed an attempt at the game-winning jumper at the buzzer:
KNICKS GET THE HUGE DEFENSIVE STOP TO WIN GAME 2 🚨
For long stretches in this game, it felt like the Knicks had mastered basketball. After the Spurs ended the first quarter with a nine-point lead, New York roared back in the second quarter with what’s quickly becoming their signature blend of selfless ball-movement, skilled shooting, and tough defense. The Knicks have a true five-out offense, and the threat of their shooting is putting San Antonio’s defense in constant rotation. New York has immaculate spacing and an entire lineup that all dribble, pass, and shoot.
It all came together on this possession where all five players touched the ball before Mikal Bridges walked into an opener corner three, which he drilled.
The Knicks have so many weapons offensively that it would be easy to overlook their defense, but their dedication to the other end of the floor is what’s given them such a strong grip on this series. Victor Wembanyama looked like the best player in the world after leading the Spurs to a 7-game Western Conference Finals victory over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. The Knicks are flustered Wembanyama through two games in the NBA Finals by pushing him out to the perimeter, getting into his dribble when he puts the ball on the floor, and making him defend out on the perimeter to pull him away from the paint.
The key for the Knicks on both ends has been Karl-Anthony Towns. He should be Finals MVP if the series ended today.
Towns’ defense has been questioned through his career. He’s completely turned it around defensively during this playoff run. Towns looks comfortable pressuring Wembanyama out on the perimeter defensively, and he has the strength to keep him away his spots around the elbow or inside the paint. He’s also an elite defensive rebounder who has been cleaning up on the glass and allowing New York to win the possession game. Offensively, Towns’ knockdown shooting ability means Wemby can’t hang around the rim. When he sees an opening, KAT is also consistently attacking off the dribble to put pressure on the rim and finish through Wembanyama and other Spurs defenders.
Jalen Brunson took the Knicks home with clutch shot-making down the stretch in Game 1, but for the most part San Antonio has done an excellent job defending him. It’s been the other Knicks who have picked Brunson up. New York’s offense felt way too dependent on Brunson to create everything in previous years. The Knicks no longer feels like a one-man show on offense, and it’s making them so much harder to defend.
Brunson has 50 points on 56 shots so far in this series. He’s still been emptying the clip when the Knicks really need a bucket, but it’s players like OG Anunoby, Bridges, Hart, and reserve guard Landry Shamet have kept the offense humming.
Wembanyama ended the game with 29 points on 11-of-21 shooting. The late turnover looking for Castle at the end of Game 2 might haunt the Spurs for a long time.
The Knicks are now up 2-0 in the 2026 NBA Finals. Game 3 is Monday in Madison Square Garden. It’s going to be incredible. The series just keeps getting better and better.
Karl-Anthony Towns was the best player on the floor, continuing his dominance of Victor Wembanyama. Whether New York pushed ahead against San Antonio or ended the Spurs' momentum -- the Knicks faced a largest deficit of 12 points, 37-25, after Stephon Castle's triple at the second quarter's 11:32 mark -- Towns was a common denominator on both ends. Towns scored 17 of his 21points in the first half, including a corner trey with 10 seconds before halftime to give New York a 56-52 lead at the break. He was the X factor, bringing physicality and energy from the jump while Wembanyama struggled to get going until the second half.
Alongside Towns, Mikal Bridges stepped up in a development that especially mattered while Towns hit foul trouble and Jalen Brunson struggled shooting. Bridges blossomed after nine points two days ago, scoring 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting and a 4-for-6 clip from deep. Among other moments, Bridges' jumper at the third quarter's 1:15 mark pushed the Knicks ahead 82-73 and assisted an alley-oop dunk to Mitchell Robinson on the ensuing New York possession to create an 8-1 run into the 35-second point. Wembanyama ended the spurt on a field goal with 19 seconds left to keep the Knicks' lead at single digits, 84-75, entering the fourth quarter but not before New York's momentum was apparent.
As mentioned, Brunson was not himself from the field, posting a 7-of-25 mark. He found his spots for timely buckets, but the Spurs were physical with him early and kept the Knicks' leader out of sorts. For Brunson to have that type of game and New York still dominate San Antonio on the road speaks volumes about where the team is at entering Games 3 and 4. Brunson's five points in the final two minutes of the game, including the decisive free throw on a 1-of-2 trip to the line, should also not be discounted.
Landry Shamet's return to the Knicks for the 2025-26 season is perhaps the move of the past offseason. Shamet, as he has been in spots throughout his second year with the franchise, was nails for New York off the bench. Shamet scored 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting in 30 minutes, including two triples to start the fourth quarter and maintain the Knicks' 12- and eight-point leads, 87-75 and 90-82.
Who's the MVP?
Towns, whose 21-point, 13-rebound on 8-of-12 shooting and a 3-for-5 clip from deep while delivering on both ends went far in 33 minutes.
The Knicks return to MSG for Monday's 8:30 p.m. Game 3. New York has not played a home game since May 21 when it notched its 109-93 Game 2 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Knicks took their fans through every possible emotion. The result was something special.
It didn’t have to be pretty. It didn’t have to be straightforward.
All that matters is that the Knicks are halfway there.
Karl-Anthony Towns reacts during Game 2 of the NBA Finals on June 5. Charles WenzelbergThe Knicks now have a 2-0 series lead. Jason Szenes for The New York Post
They saw a 14-point fourth quarter lead evaporate. But it didn’t matter. They made enough plays down the stretch to take home a 105-104 Game 2 win over the Spurs on Friday night to take a commanding 2-0 NBA Finals series lead.
“We gotta do a good job of staying composed in those situations,” Jalen Brunson said. “It’s a credit to the character this team has. Not being able to fold in situations like that is key.”
After the Knicks took the 14-point lead with 6:04 left in the game, the Spurs rattled off a 14-0 run to tie the game with 2:59 left. Brunson missed three straight shots in that stretch. A few moments later, the Knicks were trailing by two.
It looked like a heart-wrenching collapse was on.
But Brunson responded with a bucket to tie the game with 39.3 seconds left. Victor Wembanyama missed on the other end.
Jalen Brunson looks to move the ball during the Knicks’ June 5 game against the Spurs. Charles Wenzelberg
After a timeout, Brunson missed a midrange jumper over Wembanyama. But Wembanyama turned it right over, throwing his outlet pass to Stephon Castle, who wasn’t looking. It hit him in the back and the ball was corralled by Brunson. Wembanyama then fouled him. Brunson made one of two free throws to put the Knicks up by one as the Spurs called timeout with 7.5 seconds left.
Wembanyama would have another chance for his signature moment. Everything lined up for him to create the lasting memory.
And he failed. De’Aron Fox got the inbounds pass. Wembanyama set a screen for him, and Fox passed it to him. Everyone knew who would end up taking the last shot.
But Wembanyama’s 20-foot jumper over Mitchell Robinson hit off the side rim and missed. The abundance of Knicks fans in the arena rejoiced. An incredible 13th straight win was secured.
Wembanyama had vowed that he would be better in Game 2. In the biggest moments, however, he came up empty, missing the Spurs’ final two shots and turning it over in between.
“I’m still very blurry,” Wembanyama said. “That’s the whole problem. I need to have more poise, more control over the game.”
And just like that, the Knicks are heading home in complete control of the Finals. Just like that, the Knicks are within touching distance of a championship.
Just like that, a near collapse was made to be irrelevant.
Mikal Bridges celebrates during the Knicks’ June 5 game against the Spurs. Charles Wenzelberg
Only two teams had ever lost the first two games of a Finals as the home team — the 1993 Suns and the ’95 Magic. Both lost the series.
The Spurs just became the third. Overall, teams that take a 2-0 lead in the Finals are 32-5 in the series.
History is certainly on the Knicks’ side. They are just the second team to win 13 straight in the postseason, joining the 2016-17 Warriors, who won 15 straight.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” coach Mike Brown said, “as a coach to know how mentally tough your team is no matter what the situation is in front of them.”
Brunson shot a brutal 7-for-25 from the field and had four turnovers. But he hit the biggest shots when they were needed.
A key moment also halted that 14-0 Spurs run.
The Knicks, who have been excellent with their challenges all year, delivered yet again. They challenged a missed OG Anunoby 3-pointer and won, resulting in a foul and giving him three free throws instead of what would have been a turnover. He drilled all three to give the Knicks a 3-point lead with 2:37 left in the game.
Mitchell Robinson slams the ball over San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama during the third quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Knicks trailed by as many as 12 points early in the second quarter, but Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges helped carry the Knicks offense and sparked the comeback in the middle two quarters as Brunson struggled. Towns had 12 points in the second quarter and was cooking Wembanyama. Bridges had a combined 20 in the second and third quarter and went 8-for-8 from the field.
Landry Shamet added 13 points and made three 3-pointers. All three went missing down the stretch, though.
And Josh Hart fouled his way to the bench and was largely a nonfactor. At the moment, though, who cares? The Knicks came into the Alamo City and punched the Spurs in the mouth. They overcame a 14-point deficit in Game 1 and a 12-point deficit along with a blown lead of their own in Game 2.
“At this stage of the season, things aren’t gonna be pretty,” Brunson said. “It’s gonna be ugly, it’s gonna be grinded out. It’s as simple as that.”
They just seem to keep figuring it out. The Finals are firmly in their hands.
What's an NBA Finals series without a good stare down?
We got one on Friday night during Game 2 of the championship series when De'Aaron Fox and Jalen Brunson faced off in a heated moment during the fourth quarter.
Fox was guarding Brunson, who was dribbling in place. When the New York Knicks guard tried to move downcourt, he tripped after Fox seemingly put an arm in his way. The Spurs guard walked up to him, toward the sideline, and the two stared each other straight in the face.
Mikal Bridges and referee Josh Tiven came over to break it up and a few Spurs players came over to try to tussle in defense of their teammate. Knicks coach Mike Brown yelled at Tiven from the sideline, calling for a technical, but no foul was called.
As the Knicks and Spurs turned up the physicality at Frost Bank Center, Jalen Brunson and De’Aaron Fox went from going toe-to-toe to face-to-face in a heated fourth quarter moment.
Fox defended Brunson hard as the Knicks star tried to get away along the sidelines with 9:35 on the clock in the quarter and the Knicks up 87-80, being forced out of bounds.
In response, Brunson stared down his Spurs foe — who was happy to oblige, getting face-to-face in a wordless showdown.
Teammates and officials came in to quickly break things up before they crossed a line — though Brunson’s dad, a former Knick and current assistant coach, got involved, racing down the court and appearing to admonish Fox.
“You don’t do that,” the elder Brunson seemed to say, according to The Post’s amateur lip-reading. “That’s enough.”
Game 2 has gotten increasingly physical as players seek any edge they can find — the Spurs trying to avoid a 2-0 hole and the Knicks looking to head back to the Garden in command of the series.
Fat Joe was having a moment where he was so excited before Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Friday night.
The rapper and huge Knicks fan joined the “Inside the NBA” crew’s ESPN pregame show before the Knicks beat the Spurs 105-104 in San Antonio, and he made his voice heard and felt.
He went right up to Shaquille O’Neil and defiantly said, “You don’t believe, Shaq,” while holding the basketball Hall of Famer’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry what I be doing,” O’Neil said before Fat Joe went on about Newark, N.J. being close to New York, leading to some laughs from the panel.
Fat Joe then said the Knicks fans have made their presence felt at Frost Bank Center.
“We here, we here,” the rapper said. “We are not playing. Shoutout to San Antonio, great guys, great basketball program. Tim Duncan my favorite power forward of all time.”
But then Fat Joe made clear that while he respects the Spurs and what they’re doing, he believes this is the Knicks’ time.
“But this, this is our year,” he said. “New York City, this is our year.” Fat Joe then asked about Charles Barkley’s opinion before saying he wanted that “street meat.”
All Barkley could do was laugh and nod.
Rapper Fat Joe reacts before the start of Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Spurs and the Knicks on June 5, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Fat Joe dapped up Shaq before the segment was over.
He’s not the only Knicks fan feeling excited by this NBA Finals run, as New York is now two wins away from taking the title for the first time since 1973.
Plenty of other celebrity fans made the trip to the Lone Star state, with celebrity row mainstays Timothée Chalamet and Ben Stiller taking in Game 2.
For those who couldn’t make the trip down, plenty of fans packed outside Madison Square Garden for a watch party for what turned into an all-time classic.
If the Spurs had played defense on Shaquille O’Neal like security staffers did Friday night, they may have prevented that Lakers dynasty in the early 2000s.
O’Neal encountered some difficulties entering Frost Bank Center ahead of Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Friday night in San Antonio, although the Hall of Famer laughed it off.
A video circulating on social media showed O’Neal, sporting a relaxed fit with a blue shirt and blue pajama pants, had to re-enter the metal detector for a second walkthrough.
They really stopped Shaq multiple times at security
Due to his 7-foot-1 stature, O’Neal had to duck under the top to get back to the other side, which elicited a chuckle from ESPN analyst Richards Jefferson.
O’Neal then re-entered, but the red lights went off again.
He eventually flashed a smile while the staffer took out the wand and scanned him, even making O’Neal turn around to truly make sure he had nothing on him.
O’Neal later shook hands with the individual before proceeding further into the arena.
It made for a lighthearted scene ahead of a pivotal Game 2, with the Knicks holding a 1-0 series lead after their 105-95 Game 1 win.
O’Neal having issues with security. @thescore/X
This edition of the Finals is slightly different for O’Neal since he’s analyzing games under the ESPN umbrella, although still as part of the critically acclaimed “Inside the NBA” show.
Friday’s halftime show featured a spirited discussion between O’Neal and Charles Barkley discussing the slow start from Victor Wembanyama, with the pair surprised by his play.
Barkley mentioned how O’Neal’s first trip to the Finals in 1995 did not go well, with the Magic being swept by the Rockets.
O’Neal being scanned. @thescore/X
O’Neal is no stranger to San Antonio at this time of year both as a broadcaster and player, having battled the Spurs six times during his illustrious career.
His teams went 3-3 against Gregg Popovich-led squads.
Charles Barkley went back to his high school days to remember a time when, as a young basketball star he was unexpectedly dominated by another player. The feeling was shocking, the Hall of Fame forward said.
Barkley said that San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama was "in shock" after the first half of Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals, which the visiting New York Knicks led 56-52 after 24 minutes of play.
"It's probably been a long time since he got his ass kicked like this."
The physicality that Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks played with clearly took Wembanyama off his game in the first half, as he tallied only 7 points of 2-for-4 shooting to go with 5 rebounds at the half.
Meanwhile, Towns poured it on to lead the Knicks, scoring 17 points before halftime, including a trio of key three-pointers.
A masterful performance by Towns and the Knicks shouldn't be shocking to anyone at this point as New York looks to extend its undefeated streak in these playoffs.
Charles Barkley didn’t hold back with his criticism of Victor Wembanyama during halftime of Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Friday night in San Antonio.
“Wemby’s in shock right now,” Barkley, the Hall of Famer and “Inside the NBA” analyst, said before the Knicks won 105-104 to take a 2-0 series lead over San Antonio. “It’s probably been a long time since he got his ass kicked like this.
“But right now, big KAT is taking his ass to the woodshed.”
"It's probably been a long time since he got his ass kicked like this."
Victor Wembanyama reacts during the first half of Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs on June 5, 2026 in San Antonio. Imagn Images
Barkley said Wembanyama looked flustered during the first half and was throwing the ball all over the place.
He finished the half with seven points and ended the night with 29 points on 11-for-21 shooting.
But Wembanyama had a critical turnover and foul that helped give the Knicks the lead for good in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. He then missed the game’s final shot at the buzzer.
“Personally, I think I could’ve been better in recovering from the high of the conference finals, but here we are,” Wembanyama said after the loss. “We can’t change the past now. We’re already focused on Game 3.”
Towns had 21 points and 13 rebounds as the Knicks took a critical win to move two wins away taking the NBA Finals.
Game 2 between the Knicks and Spurs on Friday night has seen a marked increase in physical play by both teams as they seek an edge at the Frost Bank Center.
It’s the Knicks, however, getting most of the attention from the officials.
In a span of just 16 seconds of gameplay, Josh Hart was hit with a Flagrant 1 foul and Mitchell Robinson got a technical for his troubles.
Robinson, no stranger to foul trouble, was the recipient of a dubious and one-sided call as he got into a shoving match with Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, with the French center selling his end of things a little better to the official.
“I don’t like that call,” ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson said on the broadcast. “They’re both being physical… Wemby pushes him, and then they push each other back, and that’s where the technical occurs on Mitchell Robinson.”
“That should be a double technical,” play-by-play man Mike Green opined.
Bringing some attitude to the proceedings seem to be working for the Knicks, who trailed by as much as 12, but ended the first half leading 56-52.
The San Antonio Spurs are in a must win situation in Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals after blowing a 14-point lead in their Game 1 loss. The Spurs responded by turning up the ball pressure in the first half of Game 2, and it caused one Knicks player loose his cool enough for a flagrant foul.
New York forward Josh Hart was called for a flagrant-1 with under six minutes left in the second quarter when he grabbed Devin Vassell’s leg as the Spurs wing tried to race off with a loose ball. Vassell was pressuring Hart as he attempted to bring the ball across halfcourt, and he poked it free just before the 8-second rule could have been called. Vassell had a beat on the ball, but Hart grabbed his ankle to trip him before he could get a breakaway layup.
The refs reviewed the play, and determined it should be a flagrant-1 for Hart. Watch the play here:
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