Coming off a tough Game 1 loss in this NBA Finals, the Spurs looked to even the series in Game 2 versus the New York Knicks. The Spurs started hot, outscoring the Knicks 34-25 in the first quarter. However, their offense turned ice cold. They had their worst statistical shooting quarter of the season, and got outscored 31-18 by New York. Facing a four-point deficit, the Spurs came out flat in the third quarter and got outscored again. This time, they were outscored 28-23 and faced a nine-point deficit heading into the final frame. In the early part of the fourth quarter, the Knicks managed to build a 14-point lead with over five minutes remaining. The Spurs countered with a 14-0 run and tied a game that was slipping away.

The last couple of minutes were back-and-forth buckets, but with one minute remaining, Victor Wembanyama took the lead with an and-one layup. The Spurs were now up by two, but Jalen Brunson countered with a tough midrange jumper over Devin Vassell. After the Spurs’ timeout, Wemby missed a midrange jumper, and the Knicks called timeout. Brunson missed a jumper on the other end, and Wemby got the rebound. Unfortunately, Wemby took a dribble and threw the ball to Stephon Castle, whose back was turned. Brunson got the steal and was fouled by Wemby. After splitting the free throws, the Spurs had one last chance to cement their comeback. The final play was a De’Aaron Fox and Wemby pick and pop, which resulted in a missed midrange jumper. The Spurs ultimately lost 105-104, and now face a 0-2 deficit for the first time since 2018.

Victor Wembanyama led the way with 29 points (11-21 FG), nine rebounds, four blocks, two steals, and two assists. After a lackluster Game 1, Wemby struggled in the first half of Game 2. After halftime, he dropped 12 points in the third and had key buckets in the fourth. The key was aggression and not settling for contested jumpshots. As for several times this season, youth and inexperience would leak out. It unfortunately happened late in the game for Wemby. That turnover, immediate foul, and missed game-winner will haunt him unless he and the Spurs can find a way to win this series.

Downhill jam! Wemby catches the dump off pass from Keldon Johnson, and he jumps in for a one-handed slam!

Not in his house. Wemby rejects Jose Alvarado’s layup into the stands!

AREA 51 ALERT. Another drive, another dump off pass to Wemby for a slam dunk!

Too much space! Wemby knocks down the three-ball from the wing!

De’Aaron Fox dropped 20 points (8-12 FG), five assists, three rebounds, one steal, and a block. After a forgettable Game 1, Fox bounced back in Game 2. He shot 66% from the field and got others involved with his playmaking. His 20 points are also the most he’s scored in a playoff game since Game 6 vs Minnesota (May 15th). Hopefully, this lights a fire for his next two performances in New York.

D3’AARON! Fox drains the rainbow three in the first quarter!

AND-ONE! Fox drives into the paint and finishes through contact for the and-one!

Dylan Harper dropped 15 points (6-12 FG), six rebounds, three assists, and a steal. It has been said multiple times during this postseason, but Dylan is playing like a seasoned veteran. The way he finds a way into the paint with his handles and finishing ability has to make Spurs fans excited for what’s in store for his career. He was also huge during the 14-0 run. He already became the youngest player in NBA history with double-digit points in a Finals game, and he just broke the record for most points scored in a single postseason by a rookie.

NASTY! Dylan crosses over Landry Shamet and detonates at the rim with a two-handed slam!

Reverse, reverse! Dylan drives in from the corner and finishes with a reverse layup!

Stephon Castle dropped 14 points, four rebounds, four assists, and a steal. Steph was tremendous on defense, especially when guarding Brunson. However, he was struggling on the offensive end. He shot 35% from the field and had some key turnovers. During the 14-0 run, Steph was on the bench. Presumably, he looked hurt before he was subbed out, but came back in late to guard Brunson. The 21-year-old will have to stay poised on both ends in a loud Madison Square Garden crowd.

ST3PH! Castle knocks down the corner trey early in the second quarter!

What a move! Steph fakes out Brunson and steps in for the easy layup!

Devin Vassell dropped 14 points (3-7 3PT, 3-3 FT), nine rebounds, five assists, and a block. Dev had a nice bounce-back game by shooting 42% from three-point land. He had the same amount of rebounds as Wemby and got into his playmaking bag. Dev has played like a playoff riser this entire postseason, and he will look to provide the x-factor cushion for Games 3 and 4.

D3V! Dev gets the Spurs on the board first with an open three from the top of the key!

AND-ONE! Dev knocks down the three while getting fouled for the four-point play!

Here’s another look at the miraculous 14-0 run late in the fourth. The momentum was all on the Spurs’ side.

For the first time in franchise history, the Spurs face a 0-2 deficit in the Finals. Even though the way this team fumbled at the end, you have to be encouraged by the way they battled back after being down 14 with around five minutes left. They looked dead in the water, they were getting outplayed, and still they managed to take a two-point lead with under a minute left. Even though it looks bleak, this series is not over yet. Even though it is not an elimination game, Game 3 is a do-or-die game for this young team. On Monday night, Spurs fans will see what this team is made of.

Finally, here are the full game highlights.

The Spurs have their work cut out for them as they travel on the road to Madison Square Garden, down 0-2. Game 3 is this Monday at 7:30 P.M. (CST) on ABC.

It was a tough day at Murrayfield in the URC semi-final as Glasgow threw away an 18-point lead to lose to the Bulls. Here's what some of the pundits had to say...

Former Warriors flanker John Barclay: Glasgow ripped the Bulls to shreds in the first 30 minutes. They were scrambling. In the second half, Glasgow threw the same pictures at them, but they defended so much better. It's problem-solving.

Huge credit to the Bulls, for problem solving on the hoof. But Franco Smith will be desperately disappointed.

At 21-3 up, they shouldn't lose that game.

Ex-Scotland back-row Johnnie Beattie: I'm struggling to figure out if it was a vastly-improved second-half by the Bulls, which it probably was, or whether Glasgow just fell away entirely.

When Glasgow were on their game, they shredded them. In the second period, when they dropped off by 10-15%, the Bulls were easily allowed back into the game.

They didn't have to do much. Handre Pollard missed nine points from the tee.

Lots of questions for Glasgow, and their season comes to an end with a damp squib. They had the game in their hands and they've let it slip.

Former Glasgow scrum-half Colin Gregor: You've got to credit the Bulls. They were ripped to pieces in the opening 25 minuts but they didn't panic, they backed themselves.

They showed the quality they have, the physicality their game brings. The scrum creaked, the Bulls showed more dominance.

The pressure was too great and the Bulls had enough to get through. The Warriors couldn't get in position to fire the final shot.

Ex-Springbok Jean de Villiers: We always knew the Bulls would be good enough to win this game and second-half they got it right. Strategically, really good.

Glasgow didn't score a single point in the second half. Defensively, the Bulls were much better. It was a well deserved win, although they made it difficult for themselves at times.

Former South Africa legend Schalk Burger: What a turnaround. The Bulls were in real trouble, but all of a sudden Glasgow get Cummings sent off, and what a difference that made.

Glasgow had pretty much no 22-metre entries in that second half. The Bulls got width on the ball, had such nice rhythm, kept it simple.

It was heads-up rugby. The Glasgow defence couldn't set. The physicality of the Bulls was so dominant.

The term most frequently used to describe Knicks fans is “long-suffering.”

One Chicago sports talk radio host has a new suggestion.

“I think Knicks fans are the most obnoxious fans in American sports,” Laurence Holmes declared to co-host Matt Spiegel on their 104.3 The Score afternoon show on Friday.

It’s a rich take coming from Chicago, a city whose NBA team caused the Knicks fan so much pain in the 1990s.

Of course, the Bulls haven’t been back to the NBA Finals since the last of Michael Jordan’s six titles in 1998 and are in the thick of irrelevancy, so they are doing some suffering of their own.

Spiegel immediately disagreed with Holmes.

“Wow, I don’t believe that’s true,” he said.

Spiegel suggested MLB’s Cardinals for the title of “most obnoxious,” which makes sense given the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry.

“The St. Louis Cardinals actually have some jewelry of recent vintage that backs some of their piety,” Holmes said. “But, Knicks fans, y’all ain’t won nothing since the Ford administration.”

Holmes said “good” when told that the Knicks had more losses than any NBA team in the 21st Century entering the 2021 season.

“I’m hoping for four more,” he added.

Perhaps sensing that he was making headlines – like this one – in New York, Holmes said, “I cannot wait for this to be played on WFAN when they lose in six (games).”

The whole cast of the program then broke into what sounded like Joe Beningo imitations, mentioning how their program once borrowed WFAN studios for some reason.

Finally, the show’s producer mentioned the Cowboys, who certainly would be a popular choice in a poll of the most-obnoxious fan given their moniker of “America’s Team” and their Bulls-esque drought of no championships since 1995. Yankees fans might place ahead of Knicks fans, too.

The Knicks lead the NBA Finals, 2-0, after back-to-back wins in San Antonio.

Jeremy Lin and Carmelo Anthony appear to be inching closer to a resolution.

In an exclusive interview with The Post, Lin said his team and Anthony’s are in talks to “clear the air” with a podcast appearance, with one important caveat.

“I know our teams are in contact,” Lin said after being invited by Anthony to appear on his podcast. “My desire is still the same. I’d like to have a private conversation before having a public recorded conversation. That’s my goal right now — to be able to have that private conversation. Would love, of course, to go on the podcast and talk about those things. And talk about things publicly afterward.”

Lin added that he wasn’t sure exactly what the issues were with Anthony, or whether it was related to how they played together.

“I can guess [what the issues are], but I don’t think it would do Melo justice for me to guess what I think he might mean,” Lin continued.

Anthony had said he wanted Lin to come on the podcast to “come speak the truth.”

“Let’s have a conversation, let’s clear the air on a lot of bulls–t that’s out there, please,” Anthony continued. “And I love what you’re doing right now, man.”

Lin signed with ESPN as an analyst in recent days to cover the NBA Finals.

“I do think a private conversation would go a long way in terms of being able to work through, talk through, go back and hash things out about how things ended,” Lin added. “I think that would be super healthy, so I think that would be amazing. You can sense and tell that there’s not that hostility or ill will. Or not rooting for the other person. It’s just something that we can go back and have that discussion about.”

Lin’s exit from the Knicks was a bit controversial, as he ignited New York for a few weeks during the 2011-12 season while Anthony was out with a groin injury before the Knicks season fell apart, leading to a first-round playoff exit.

Lin departed from the Knicks in free agency when he signed the infamous “poison pill” three-year $25 million contract with the Rockets, which was backloaded to be worth $15 million in year three.

At the time, Anthony called the contract “ridiculous.”

Lin added that he will return to Madison Square Garden for the first time in 14 years as a spectator for Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals, at the Knicks’ invitation.

More than two dozen people were arrested and a New York City Police Department officer was assaulted after a watch party outside of Madison Square Garden, as thousands of fans celebrated the New York Knicks' Game 2 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals on Friday, June 5.

According to authorities, an officer was punched while trying to stop a fan who refused to leave the area. The woman jumped a barricade and ran into a restricted area.

Nearly 7,000 fans showed up to the World's Most Famous Arena to celebrate New York's 105-104 victory, bringing them two wins closer to their first championship since 1973. But authorities said 26 of those fans left the area in handcuffs, as 17 people were arrested and charged and nine others were issued criminal court summonses for disorderly conduct and released.

More: Knicks keep winning — games and fans. Now, New York City is about to get wild

The Knicks are really nailing the finals.

A superfan who works as a nail technician paid homage to New York’s basketball team by painting its players on her nails — and the results are All-Star adorable.

The talented tech, who goes by Tamami, painstakingly drew the faces of Jalen Brunson, Jordan Clarkson and Karl-Anthony Towns with polish — down to even the details of their facial hair — on one hand.

Then, she painted each of their jerseys — home white, blue away and black alternates — on the same fingers of her other hand, so when she placed her two hands together, their entire bodies were formed.

During Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Friday, she posted her impressive artwork on Instagram — and it won the hearts of fellow Knicks fans — who rushed to the comments section, calling them “iconic.”

“You slayed these,” one gushed.

“THESE ARE EVERYTHING,” another added.

Even a Knicks hater shared her admiration of the nail art, saying:

“Ok these are TOO good! Sincerely, a Celtics fan!”

The pre-series narratives painting the Knicks as pushovers were bizarre. New York had been a juggernaut, entering the Finals with a record-shattering +271 point differential, the highest ever by any team in a single postseason prior to the Finals. After their gutsy Game Two road win in San Antonio (105-104), that margin now sits at +281 across 15 playoff games, good for an absurd +18.7 points per game. 

No one who actually watched them bulldoze through the East should have bought the underdog hype. Whether it was betting market manipulation, conference bias, or recency skepticism after a couple of hiccups against the Hawks, the disrespect was real, dumb, and thoroughly debunked. The oddsmakers are finally getting wise, too. As of this writing, New York stands at -490 to win the series on FanDuel.

For Spurs fans, there’s still plenty to draw encouragement from. Wemby is gaining invaluable championship experience that will pay dividends soon enough. This young core (bolstered by the veteran Fox and the rest of the supporting cast) has already shown it belongs on this stage. Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell are solid pieces. Dylan Harper is a 20-year-old rookie in name only.

For the Knicks, this is their golden opportunity. Their core vets are in their prime, and maybe a season or two away from developing chronic aches and pains (no jinxes). Their main five guys are all around the thirty mark. Meanwhile, the competition in the Eastern Conference will improve this offseason. Cade Cunningham just needs a reliable secondary scorer + better play from Jalen Duren to put the Pistons right there. Tyrese Haliburton will return to the Pacers. Giannis Antetokounmpo may take his talents to South Beach after all. Charlotte gave us hives at the end of the season. And can the Magic be magical? Maybe, with the right adjustments. What about Cleveland and Philly? Meh, we don’t take them too seriously.

A few months back, team owner James Dolan said that a Finals appearance was expected. He was right (much as I hate to admit it, given how often he’s wrong). This is New York’s window. It’s very possible that the NBA will crown a ninth straight new champion next year. But this year . . . two more wins . . . and our minds will melt with joyous delirium that the fanbase hasn’t experienced in 53 years.

See you Monday night. And Go Knicks!

San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama could barely remember the details of the late-game miscues that cost the Spurs in their agonizing 105-104 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 2 of the NBA finals on Friday.

The Spurs used a 14-0 scoring run to erase a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and briefly took a one-point lead before it all fell apart.

Related: ‘The whole of New York is stressed right now’: how Knicks finals fever reached Rikers Island

Wembanyama keyed the comeback, but two crucial misses – including a potential game-game winner – and an inexplicable turnover with a pass into teammate Stephon Castle’s back doomed the Spurs’ rally bid.

“I’m still very blurry,” he said of the plays. “That’s the whole problem. I need to have more poise, more control over the game.”

The score was knotted at 104-104 with 9.5 seconds left when Wembanyama threw the pass that Castle never saw coming.

“I was looking at him when he first got the rebound,” he said. “I just started to take off to try to give him some space to dribble up the court. I didn’t see him throw it to me.”

“That’s the most frustrating thing, to throw it away after putting in all this work,” Wembanyama added. “Urgency at this point. It’s like body reacts quicker than mind.”

San Antonio still had a chance to win it, but Wembanyama’s final jump shot bounced off the rim.

He said he got the shot he was looking for on the inbounds play but couldn’t get it to drop.

“Of course I liked the shot,” he said. “I feel like in this moment you need to shoot to score.”

Related: NBA finals: Knicks within two wins of elusive title after holding off Spurs in Game 2

And Castle said there was no other player the Spurs would want to see taking that shot than Wemby.

“He’s made that shot a thousand times,” Castle said. “He has a game-winner with that shot this year.”

The Spurs now need an unprecedented comeback as the series shifts to New York for Games 3 and 4.

“We’re digging ourselves a hole. That’s been the theme so far,” Wembanyama said.

No NBA team has lost the first two games of the finals on their home floor and come back to lift the trophy.

“We needed to win that game,” Wembanyama said. “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 us next game? Absolutely.”

“Yeah, I threw that one away. I messed up,” he added.

Stephen A. Smith doesn’t want to see President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden for the NBA Finals.

The scene there is already expected to be crazy enough with the Knicks two wins away from winning their first NBA championship since 1973.

The ESPN star believes the presence of the Commander-in-Chief will only unnecessarily add to it on Monday night, with Trump planning to attend at least Game 3 against the Spurs.

I don’t want him there,” Smith said on his SiriusXM radio show Friday.

He insisted it has “nothing to do with politics,” but believes that Trump’s being there could only make an already circus-like atmosphere worse. Knicks have been filling the city streets with wild postgame celebrations outside the Garden, in Times Square and other places during the run.

“It has everything to do with him disrupting and contributing at the same time to the chaos that’s going to be existing at Madison Square Garden,” Smith said. “If it were Barack Obama coming to the Garden, I would say, ‘Stay home. Stay at the White House.’

“I have been covering sports for over 30 years. And I’m telling you right now, come Monday, for Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, I expect to see an environment I have never seen in my entire career covering sports. You don’t understand. You don’t understand.”

Trump, like Smith, is a native New Yorker and has a long history of attending high-profile Knicks games long before his political aspirations. He has become a regular at UFC events at MSG and Prudential Center and attended the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans and U.S. Open men’s tennis final that same year.

Trump planned on attending Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals, but the Knicks swept away the Cavaliers.

“I was invited to. I was going to go on Wednesday [Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals], but they closed it out very quickly. They’re great, and Jim Dolan’s a great guy — he’s, as you know, owns and in charge of Madison Square Garden. He’s having a good year,” Trump told The Post’s Emily Goodin on May 27.

“Boy, what a team! They win all their games. They really have some great players. I think I’ll be going to one of the games, yeah. I was invited by numerous people, and Jim, and I think it’s great. Great to see it. The Knicks have really, they’ve really suffered for years and they’re doing right now very well.” 

The Knicks hold a 2-0 lead over the Spurs in the series after a nail-biting 105-104 win in Game 2 on Friday night. The team has won 13 straight playoff games and needs just two more wins to claim its first championship in 53 years.

Hey guys, pay no attention to the other thing happening in the NBA right now…trust me…not worth your time. Your Brooklyn Nets are just 17 days away from the NBA Draft! We’ve talked about almost every prospect Nets prospect on here except for one…Scott Richey of the News Gazette is here to help us take a look at him!

In this episode of The Brooklyn with Pooch & Collin, we touch on:

• Drafting for talent vs position
• Keaton Wagler’s fit with the Nets
• How he stacks up against Ament, Acuff, Mara, and Brown Jr.

You can also check out this episode on Apple Music or Spotify. Follow us on X, Instagram, and Tik Tok.

We also recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers on YouTube. Thank you to everyone who has supported us thus far!

• Bulls to face Leinster or Stormers in URC final after beating Glasgow Warriors in Murrayfield semi-final
• Bulls moved into narrow winning lead with converted Klopper score
• Papier and Grobbelaar with earlier tries for visitors
• Penalty try awarded to Warriors after two Steyn scores in first half

Reaction as Glasgow lose URC semi-final to Bulls at Murrayfield

FeltonX

What’s the difference between an offense centered around Brown and an offense centered around Tatum?

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the best X’s and O’s guy. Thankfully there are lots of great minds writing for this site. However, my feel for it is that Tatum is better at distributing the ball (including setting up the play, bending the defense, and taking advantage of what the defense gives him). The downside is that he is sometimes a little too deliberate, holding onto the ball instead of making decisive decisions. Brown is a bit more decisive but that can get him in trouble if he guesses wrong and while he’s improved as a distributor, he’s not as adept at it as Tatum is.

Some have defined it as Brown being a play-finisher while Tatum is more of a play-maker. That might sound dismissive, but you need both and they’ve obviously had success together. So why not feature both?

Hurdler17

Would it be worth it to use a TPE and picks for Dort at 18mil or Hartenstein at 28 million. OKC has to start paying JDub and Chet, and these bench guys have a team options and are paid way more than they would get in the open market probably.

From OKC’s perspective I could see Dort being a cap casualty, so he’ll be on the market. With that said, I don’t think he addresses the Celtics needs. Hartenstein would be exactly what we’re looking for, but I find it hard to believe that OKC will let him go. Especially after Chet’s most recent impression in the playoffs. Also, does OKC really need more picks? I guess they are good currency if they are in the future, but at some point you have to trade them or use them.

ArmenianCeltsFan123

Would you be open to trading Sam Hauser, a pick, and another player (maybe a sign and trade with Vucevic) in exchange for Myles Turner who would fit into our TPE? You’d be doing right by Hauser to send him back to his hometown and you’d open up some room for the younger core to get more rotation minutes. I also like the idea of a veteran, playoff-tested center who can spread the floor and is a decent rim protector. Of course this only works if Milwaukee is heading for a rebuild.

Mindful we’d be taking on some additional money in that deal but with some maneuvering I think you’d still be able to pull it off and stay below the luxury tax without breaking up the Jays or trading D White. Welcome your thoughts.

First of all, Turner fits right into the TPE, so you technically don’t have to include any other salaries going the other way. Of course, the Celtics would probably want to cut costs, so they might end up sending out Sam Hauser and/or other assets in a hypothetical trade.

I think the consensus on Turner is that his best days may be behind him. He has theoretical value as a stretch big that should be able to defend, but I don’t know if that’s the guy the Celtics need. He certainly isn’t going to solve the “attack the rim with layups and dunks” issue.

Good, creative thinking though. I might prefer someone like Nic Claxton if he’s available. Or preferably someone a little cheaper.

overseasfansince1984

I’ve posted this before and would appreciate your opinion. It seems to me that the era of dominant big wings is over in the modern NBA. Every contender is now built around a skilled guard and a shooting big, with wings relegated to being 3-and-D players. I don’t have a definitive answer to this question, but is it wise to double down on having two big wings as your best, and most expensive, two players, or should we consider following the new trend?

It is an interesting question. I would pose a question back: Is it more of a guards/bigs era, or is the shortage of elite big wings creating a situation where other positions have to step up? The Celtics won a title 2 years ago with two big wings. OKC’s title was based on a point guard and a very high quality wing (and an elite defense).

I still think that having elite wings is something that all 30 teams would prefer to have. The Celtics have 2 of them and we shouldn’t overlook that or overthink it. The next objective is to build the roster around them.

The more challenging thing (and not really part of your question) is how do you build a roster around two wings making close to $60M each? There’s the rub.

The Next Banner

The best thing that ever happened to the 29 teams chasing the Oklahoma City Thunder may have been the rise of the San Antonio Spurs.

That sounds great for San Antonio, but how does it help everyone else, especially the Boston Celtics?

I think of it like Final Jeopardy. If the leader has $20,000 while second place has $9,000 and third has $8,000, the game is essentially over. The leader can play conservatively because no one is close enough to force a difficult decision. But if second place has $15,000 instead of $9,000, the leader is suddenly forced to take risks. Those risks create opportunities for everyone else.

The NBA is obviously more complicated than a game show, but the principle is similar. My theory is that the Thunder and Spurs may push each other into making roster moves and strategic adjustments designed specifically to beat one another. In doing so, they could become more optimized for that matchup while becoming slightly less optimized against the rest of the league.

If that happens, the existence of a true rival could create opportunities for every other contender.

Thoughts?

Really creative question, thanks for this. I think I follow your logic. In short, by pushing OKC to “solve” the Wemby problem, they may expose weaknesses that non-Spurs teams can exploit. I’ll add that the Aprons and Tax Threshold will have a say in that process as well. The Celtics were forced to make strategic cuts and Boston is a big market. I can only imagine what kinds of financial decisions the Thunder need to make now. Granted, they have the picks to help make things happen and a great GM. So we’ll see.

It is, perhaps, a little easier in the East since you know that you’ll only have to face Wemby if you reach the Finals and (cue the cliche) “anything can happen in a 7 game series.”

All that said, these things evolve quickly. Just 11 months ago everyone assumed that OKC was the major puzzle to solve for the next 5 years. Now we’re on to the next thing. I tend to think that (ironically, given Brad’s comments) the key to solving the Wemby problem is elite outside shooting. But I guess we’ll see.

Katahdin

What are your thoughts on a trade with Detroit for Stewart? The Celtics need another center and toughness. Detroit needs shooting. Hauser plus picks with Stewart coming into the trade exception?

Great minds think alike. I’ve proposed the same (or a similar) deal in the past. I don’t remember if I wrote about it in an article or whatever, but it makes sense. Beef Stew is certainly a guy that puts pressure on the rim. The Pistons could use some more shooting. Both teams win? Same logic could apply to several bigs that could be on the market.

CelticsWest

What are realistic developmental targets in 26-27 for the students/grads of Celtics University? All of em: Neemi, Walsh, Baylor, Hugo, RHJ, Amari, Shulga, and even John Tonje.

Ok, let me put on my best fortune teller outfit and gaze into my crystal ball.

Queta: You can’t teach size, and Neemi has the dimensions of an old-school center with enough athleticism to play in the modern NBA. I’m done doubting him, he’s a legit starting center for a contender right now. I don’t think he’ll develop into an All Star, but then again he doesn’t need to.

Walsh: I worry about his offensive feel, but you can’t argue with his defensive impact. I’m sure he’s putting up thousands of 3 pointers a day in his offseason workouts. If he can master that skill, he could have a long career as a 3-and-D wing.

Baylor: Oh man, what’s Baylor’s upside? In his mind it is probably Michael Jordan. I would settle for Aaron Neesmith. Don’t read into that comparison too much, I was just trying to think of level-of-impact, not necessarily play-style. He’s probably a good enough Hauser replacement (less shooting % and more playmaking) if they decide to move on from Sam.

Hugo I refuse to put a ceiling on, if only because I have no idea what his upside is. He certainly trends more defensive, but he’s got some good feel for the offensive end as well. I think he has the talent to be a starting wing but in Boston he’ll likely be stuck behind the Jays for the foreseeable future and that’s ok.

The rest are all in the “roll of the dice” category. Any of them could be a rotational player next year with starter upside down the line. Any of them could be out of the league just as quickly. We’ll see. I think Harper is my favorite, but I’m also rooting for Amari because of his size.

357Dust

Who can they realistically get for DWhite? Tweaking around the edges isn’t good enough. AND if they are not breaking up the Jays then the most valued piece around the league has to be DWhite even with slippage – no one really wants to trade DWhite but they broke him with this Chuck a Three and by not allowing him to play the best version of himself they have diminished his impact.

The last 2 playoff exits should not be dismissed, ignored or just brushed aside. So the real question is what is the playstyle they want to move forward with. Are they on the same page? Is it we prefer dunks or is it chuck a three or finding 2 on 1’s and creating 2 on 1’s and seeking out 2 on 1’s – if we want to do this chuck a three thing – then go acquire more shooting and really commit to this. Otherwise cut the crap and play the right way – but the problem is Tatum prefers to play 30 feet from the basket which really doesn’t fit what Brown and White do best which is play in midrange or at the basket……so pick a lane and figure it out.

They cater to Tatum and they are a prisoner of his DNA and as long as this is who he is – we will have 2024 and that is about it. Toss in the new ownership group more concerned with the bottom line and taxes (mostly avoiding them that is) then it really will be hard to look like we did in 2024. Brad has his work cut out for him and anxious to see how this all unfolds.

This reads more like a statement than a question, but I’ll take the first question and start there. I think the Celtics could get a lot for Derrick White if they decided to trade him. I wrote about this earlier and submitted De’Aaron Fox as an option, though that might be less realistic with them in the Finals. White is basically a fringe-All Star level player, who’s worth is nearly impossible to measure with stats. We already lost Jrue Holiday and Al Horford, two critical glue type pieces to our title. I think the dropoff from losing White would be noticeable if not easily defined or measured.

With all that said, the team is going to need to make difficult decisions with the cap and tax and if they aren’t breaking up the Jays, the next biggest salary to look at is White’s. So nothing can be dismissed out of hand.

Mitchs Dad

Do we take statements of ownership and management at face value or do we read between the lines? In other words are the Celtics prepared to spend (if so, when?)

Actions always speak louder than words. We have yet to see the new ownership group have a chance to show their actions as Wyc and the previous group did. I tend to think that they’ll follow the same gamplan. If the team is good enough to contend, and there’s a reasonable pathway to that goal, I do think they’ll spend. But I wouldn’t expect them to go deep into the tax for marginal upgrades or questionable salaries.

If Brad can present them a plan that makes sense, I think they’d be willing. But time and actions will tell.

MPLBaller

I don’t understand why the Celtics have to avoid the repeater tax in the 2026-27 season, can’t they do that in the 2027-28 season. It seems to me, this would a be a wasted year under the premise of saving $$. They have a 27 million dollar TPE to use, tradable contracts in White, Hauser and any other the young players out side of Hugo. Plus they will need to pay Pritchard if the Celts want to keep him. Why not swing for the fences this year and worry about the 27 season to be under the cap.

Good question, and I’ll once again stress that I’m not a cap expert, but I do love reading and listening to Keith Smith, so I’ll give this a shot. Keep in mind that if the team wants to avoid the repeater tax, they have to be below the tax line in 3 out of 4 years. Since they were tax payers the previous 2 years, this past year is year one of that scenario. If they blow through the tax this year, then that would put a lot of pressure on the team to either contend immediately (not out of the question) or drop below the line for the following 2 years.

I think everyone assumes they’ll try to duck the tax based on their actions of the past year (dipping below the line with all the offseason and trade deadline moves). However, as stated above, if the team is convinced that they are ready to contend, I would imagine that they’ll at least be willing to entertain options to pay the tax going forward.

poindexterregan

There’s talk OKC might be looking to move Chet Holmgren. We need a bone-fide big, any interest here if we can’t get Giannis?

Chet didn’t exactly cover himself in glory in the Spurs series. Of course, playing against an alien can do that to you. That said, he’s still an elite level defensive big with upside on the offensive end. If he’s available, the price will be high. And speaking of price, keep in mind he’s set to be paid a lot on the extension that is set to kick in this summer, starting at $41M per year.

If he’s really available, he’s an interesting option to consider. I just wouldn’t hold my breath that he’s available at a reasonable price.

RyderRanger

There seems to be a glut of wings on the team. A good thing in some ways but not realistic for all to develop and fit. So who goes and who stays? I got the impression Brad REALLY likes Hugo, and at 20 years old I see them wanting to develop him for sure. But then you’ve got Walsh, Scheierman, Harper jr etc. If they keep 2 of them, which other guy sticks with Hugo? My guess is Scheierman, what is yours?

I think Scheierman seems to have the most well-rounded game, so I think he has a leg up. I’m not ruling out the other two though, especially when you factor in their ages. As I mentioned elsewhere, Walsh has a way to go on offense, but his defense makes him work keeping around. Decisions become harder on guys like that when they approach their next contract. At some point you have to either commit or give his spot to someone else with better upside. For that reason, I think Walsh is the most likely to be included in a trade if they need to make salaries work.

c’s the day

Are we too excited (and biased) about our young bench? Who truly projects to be a contributor, journeyman, or out of the league?

We covered some of this ground in some of the other questions above, but briefly I think Hugo can be a starter (or high level sub behind the Jays), Scheierman can be a contributor, Walsh and Harper have to show more if they want to be more than a journeyman. Garza has value as a 3rd string center, but shouldn’t be the first big off the bench (at least in the playoffs).

BirdStealsTheBall

I still believe in this team. We’ve got two elite wings in JB and JT. Tatum is going to come back this year better than ever. We’ve got an All NBA 1st team defensive player in D. White whose shooting is likely to return to the mean next year. We’ve got former sixth man of the year Pritchard and a whole bunch of young guys with huge upside. Queta is a solid back up center. We are one decent center away from being contenders. I have faith.

Preach on. At a minimum this team needs to address the center position, but we’ve known that for the past year. I think we also need some depth at point guard. We know that Brad wants to attack the basket more and I think that will require some roster management, but can also be a point of emphasis for the core of the team right now.

I think ultimately we overachieved a bit in the regular season and found out in the playoffs just how valuable guys like Jrue Holiday, Luke Kornet, and Al Horford were to the playoff success of this team. That’s not easy to replicate, in particular with a younger bench. However, our young wings will grow from this year’s experience and we’ll see how the rest of the roster fills out. It should be an interesting offseason and a fun season coming up.

Thanks for the questions everyone!

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Dylan Harper hasn’t looked like a rookie on the NBA Finals stage, and he certainly didn’t sound like one after the San Antonio Spurs fell behind 0-2 in the series against the New York Knicks.

After scoring 16 and 15 points in the first two games, Harper remained unfazed, telling reporters, “It's not the first to win two. We can’t really hang our heads on that.”

Now, with the series shifting to Madison Square Garden, the New Jersey native gets a homecoming of sorts. The Spurs enter Game 3 as 2-point underdogs, but my Spurs vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks expect Harper to rise to the occasion in front of a familiar crowd.

Additionally, Douglas Farmer's got a trio of Spurs vs. Knicks props for Monday, June 8.

Spurs vs Knicks Game 3 prediction

Who will win Spurs vs Knicks Game 3?

Knicks: There were plenty of patches of orange and blue in San Antonio the past two games. You can only imagine just how nuts MSG is going to be for Game 3. New York continues to show its veteran composure in this series, playing its best in the crunch while watching the wheels come off the young Spurs.

The extra day off helps those aging legs recharge, including Jalen Brunson’s tender knee, and the Knicks will once again win the war when it comes to hustle points.

Spurs vs Knicks best bet:  Dylan Harper Over 12.5 points (-112)

Dylan Harper went from rookie to floor general in Game 2. He recorded his most minutes and his third-most FGAs of the playoffs – save for OT in Game 1 against OKC.

More importantly, he was the catalyst for the San Antonio Spurs’ late run, scoring nine of his 15 points in the fourth quarter by attacking the rim and drawing fouls. His mix of speed and strength is a handful for even the New York Knicks’ stingiest defenders.

Mitch Johnson is now trusting Harper in crunch time, and his Game 3 projections hover around 14 points, given a similar workload.

COVERS INTEL: Harper’s usage climbed from 17.9 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals to 20.8 in Game 2. He was second on the team behind only Victor Wembanyama when it came to usage and points percentage in graded clutch time (final five minutes).

Spurs vs Knicks Game 3 same-game parlay

The Knicks just won’t die. Or better yet, the Spurs don’t have the killer instinct to put them away. New York is locked in from the starters to the bench, fighting for every 50/50 ball and thriving under pressure.

San Antonio, on the other hand, sees its wheels wobble in the clutch, as evidenced by careless turnovers and poor offensive rebounding. 

New York is not dependent on Jalen Brunson to carry the team, as long as he’s there to hit those backbreakers. Madison Square Garden gives the Knicks a hefty home-court edge, and the bright lights of Broadway blind San Antonio’s youngsters.

Mikal Bridges was huge in the second half of Game 2. With the Spurs blitzing Brunson, Bridges’ mid-range stroke was the Spurs’ kryptonite. He was steady on 8-for-13 shooting and anchored a third-quarter surge with Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns on the bench. 

His Game 3 models flirt with 15 points.

Spurs vs Knicks SGP

• Knicks moneyline
• Dylan Harper Over 12.5 points
• Mikal Bridges Over 13.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Brunson Burner!

Bridges continues to pick up the scoring slack with Brunson under fire, but the Knicks’ point guard still does damage from outside.

The Over 2.5 triples has been my "white whale" prop in this series, as Brunson has had plenty of open looks from long range but can’t get past two makes.

Home cooking helps in Game 3. Towns had four dimes on seven potential assists in Game 2, and his ability to stretch the floor and pass over smaller defenders helps him repeat that feat in Game 3.

Spurs vs Knicks SGP

• Knicks moneyline
• Mikal Bridges Over 13.5 points
• Jalen Brunson Over 2.5 threes
• Karl-Anthony Towns Over 3.5 assists

Spurs vs Knicks betting trend to know

New York is 28-15 ATS as a home favorite on the year, including 5-2 ATS in the playoffs. The Knicks are 11-2 SU and 8-5 ATS as home chalk hosting Western Conference foes. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Knicks.

Spurs vs Knicks odds for Game 3

• Spread: Spurs +2 | Knicks -2
• Moneyline: Spurs +110 | Knicks -130
• Over/Under: Over 215.5 | Under 215.5

How to watch Spurs vs Knicks Game 3

Spurs vs Knicks latest injuries

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There have been 80th NBA Finals to date, including the 2026 edition of the title series.

Only three times in history has a road team gotten them started by going up 2-0.

The Knicks are part of that group, and reading the golden pages of the Association about those two prior cases, it’s guaranteed they’ll end up winning the chip. Ooh-weeeee!

Mike Brown

On Mitchell Robinson’s late-game defense on Victor Wembanyama:

“Wemby is iconic. There is nobody like him. He can score from all three levels. He wants the ball. Two big possessions at the end of the game, we put Mitch on him. What I’m proud about more than anything else, Mitch defended him the right way. Wemby is iconic. If he makes a shot, he makes a shot. You’re not blocking his shot. You make him work, you lead with your chest. You show your hands and you embrace those details while trying to guard him and then box out. It started with Mitch and it ended with the other four guys boxing out. So just a heck of a job by Mitch guarding the most iconic player in the world on two possessions to possibly win the game. Phenomenal.”

On Robinson’s steadiness in those late-game moments:

“It’s just how he’s built, man. He doesn’t seem like he ever gets too high. Doesn’t seem like he ever gets too low. We play him for 30 seconds and pull him out. We play him for seven minutes and pull him out, and he’s the same all the time.”

On Robinson doing his job in crunch time:

“He just went and did his job. But that country music probably had something to do with it. I’m a huge fan of country music. So, I think when he listens to country music, he gets the chill vibes, because I know I do.”

On the feeling of the Knicks’ 13-game postseason run:

“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.”

On the back-and-forth battle in Game 2:

“What a ballgame, a fantastic ballgame. They made a run, we made a run. They made another run, we made another run. Lots of back and forth. We could’ve folded a few times but our guys just kept fighting.”

On the Knicks’ resilience and the joy of coaching this group:

“It’s an amazing feeling as a coach to know how mentally tough your team is no matter what the situation is in front of them. To see them continue to fight and fight and fight and fight, no matter what the score is, no matter how much time is on the clock, it’s just a fantastic feeling. The NBA is tough. You don’t experience what I’m experiencing with this group a ton, and it is a freaking joy to be around.”

On adjusting his coaching approach to fit his players and situations:

“It’s supposed to be like it is. I came in with a great plan. Maybe the plan doesn’t work. Who adjusts, him or me? Me. I adjust. The adjustment’s not enough. Every once in a while, we’re not on the same page. We talk about it. I adjust again. It’s my job as a coach to fit whatever scheme we have on both sides of the floor to all of our players, and if you’re a great player, I’ve got to make a little bit more adjustments or I’ve got to give a little bit more than you do.”

On the team refusing to fold during San Antonio’s comeback attempt:

“We could have folded a few times. But our guys just kept fighting. They kept fighting. And the one thing I told them that you work on connectivity throughout the course of the year for moments like these. And no matter what run they went on, no matter what time of the game, our guys just kept uplifting one another, not just the guys on the floor but the guys on the bench. They just kept uplifting one another throughout the course of San Antonio’s runs.”

On the impact of Knicks fans taking over road arenas:

“It’s huge. During these games against good teams, especially on the road, you want to find places where you can get energy or a little boost of energy at any given time. To have the type of fans that we do that not only bring the energy in the city of New York, on the streets, at MSG, but to have them come and take over a town, take over a hotel, take over an arena and hear them chant ‘Let’s go Knicks!’ or Jalen shooting a free throw, ‘MVP!’, that gives you a boost that you know you have people here supporting you at a pretty high level.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ defensive tools and presence:

“KAT is smart. He’s got a good feel. He’s got better feet than what you think. He’s long and he’s strong. Those combinations bode well for a guy defensively. It’s just about embracing it and staying present while understanding the small details of what your job should be.”

Jalen Brunson

On grinding out a gritty Game 2 win:

“We had to do a good job of staying composed in those situations. It’s a credit to the character that this team has. Not being able to fold in situations like that is key to winning games like this. At this stage of the season, things aren’t going to be pretty. It’s going to be ugly. It’s going to be grinded out. It’s simple as that.”

On his late-game steal:

“I saw he wasn’t looking so I just tried to go get it.”

On the Knicks’ nightly resilience:

“That’s who my teammates are, night in and night out. They come and bring it.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ impact in the Finals:

“Throughout this run, obviously he’s been playing great [defensively]. I think KAT playing defense, knowing that we have his back, no matter what happens when he’s on the ball or off the ball, to be able to cover for each other, even when mistakes happen, it’s all about not pointing fingers, it’s all about coming together and figuring out what we got to do better the next possession. He’s been pretty phenomenal on both sides of the ball, the things he’s been able to do throughout this entire playoffs. But obviously, here now, he’s been great. But we need more.”

On keeping a 0-0 mindset despite the 2-0 lead:

“Every single day, we try to chip away, trying to be the best team we can be. I think our mindset was 0-0, not being up 1-0. Even with what the series is now, next game, mindset has to be 0-0 again. It’s just how it has to be. You can’t be comfortable, you can’t be satisfied with anything. You’ve just got to continue to push forward.”

On preparing for the Spurs’ next level in Game 3:

“Knowing them, there’s definitely another level. We’ve got to be prepared and ready to match it, be ready to play for 48 minutes and, no matter what goes on throughout a game, just having each other’s back, regardless of what’s going on – who’s on a run, who’s not, who’s up, who’s down. Just making sure that we’re playing together for 48 minutes is really important.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On leaning on experience and execution to beat the neophyte Spurs:

“I have been on the other side where you’re a young team and you’re trying to do a lot to win the game. I think that, for us, we keep leaning on experience and we keep leaning on the word ‘execution’ and I think we did a good job when we needed to, executing, but we didn’t do as well as we wanted to. So, when we get back to New York, we’ll get back to work, we’ll get back to the gym and try to correct the mistakes we made tonight.”

On Mitchell Robinson’s final defensive stand:

“I feel like that last play was a culmination of the game, just downloading information as the game went on and Wemby throughout the game. On the last possession, I think it’s the best defense he’s played on him all day. There was no better time for him to do that. But Mitch is a hell of a defensive player and you expect him to make the best effort defensively. And it just speaks to his resiliency, too, going out here, playing with the injury and coming up with the biggest play of the game.”

On Mitchell Robinson’s uniqueness:

“He’s one of a kind. I don’t know if there’s maybe another Mitch Robinson in the league, I only think there’s only Mitchell Robinson. There’s only one of him. We’re honored and blessed to have him.”

On Brunson’s clutch reputation showing up once again in Game 2:

“For JB, you call it rough shooting nights, I see him hitting the free throw to give us the game. The last game, he hit some of the craziest shots I’ve seen to give us the game … I see Captain Clutch doing what he’s always been doing since I got here … No. 11 can’t be messed with.”

On praying to his mother before the final possession:

“I needed a stop. If you lose a parent…you just look for signs, and I’ll take any sign I could get, and I prayed to her strongly before that possession. A great player got a great shot, but it just didn’t go in. It’s great defense, but I take it as a sign my mom was there with me, so I appreciate her so much. When you go through something like that, other than losing a child, there’s nothing worse you can go through. It builds you up, and it strengthens you beyond measure. That’s why I’ve got Phillipians 4:13 on my neck. ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,’ but I was strengthened on April 13th, when I lost my mother. I’m just grateful to be in this position because I know a lot of friends of mine who are not here to see this moment. So, I’m doing this for them.”

On how the team leans on each other:

“Yeah, each other, this team leans on each other. I think that’s why we’ve gotten here. That’s why we had the success we had during the regular season, even when things weren’t going great because at the end of the day when things do get tough, and the trials and tribulations do present themselves, this team doesn’t disband. They don’t go away from each other. We lean into each other even more. We trust each other even more to get out of the rut. That’s what special teams do.”

On focusing only on winning:

“For me, I’m just happy to be finding ways to win. I’m just worried about the team result, which is winning. … This team leans on each other. I think that’s why we’ve gotten here. That’s why we had the success we had during the regular season, even when things weren’t going great because at the end of the day when things do get tough, and the trials and tribulations do present themselves, this team doesn’t disband. They don’t go away from each other. We lean into each other even more.”

On Knicks fans and the NYPD throughout this postseason run:

“It shows the love our fans have for us, and the passion that they have. I gotta give a shout, too, to the NYPD. All the men and women out there that are not only protecting people, but on the flipside as well. In my personal experience, who are huge fans of the Knicks and support the Knicks fans in their ability to show how much they love the Knicks and being as lenient as possible without causing chaos.”

Mikal Bridges

On maintaining a desperate 0-0 mindset heading into Games 3 and 4 at MSG:

“We’re going to fight until the end. [It’s] 0-0. Stay desperate at all times.”

On why he levels up in the postseason’s biggest stages:

“That desperation of trying to be the last team standing, I’m trying to do whatever it takes to help my team to win. Just trying to give it all I got.”

On handling a 2-0 series lead with experience after reaching the same point in 2021:

“Same situation, 2-0, just got to keep level-headed and keep playing desperate. Being here before, knowing how it was gonna be and how much effort you need to give at every single moment.”

On the team’s mental toughness and resilience in the Game 2 win:

“I think the mental — I think that’s what I feel, when we’re resilient, how mentally tough we are. Being up in the fourth by a good amount, and then they made a run and take the lead, and staying resilient, that’s all about the mental focus. We can all get caught up in the crowd and them making that run because they are a really good team, but we just weather the storm, stay together and found a way to win at the end.”

On the Knicks’ defense leading them to a Game 2 win:

“I think it started just defensively getting stops. I think that’s the biggest thing, us getting stops and getting out.”

On Towns’ standing up to physical playoff defense:

“He’s shown me personally — and obviously the team — but he’s shown me personally last year leading up to the playoffs, that first round against Detroit, I think a lot of their goals was trying to punk him. He didn’t let down. He showed that he can do it on both ends at all times. It’s just go time. It’s winning time. It’s that season. I’m trying to go out there and give it all I’ve got for this team, my teammates, the coaches, for the organization, fans.”

Josh Hart

On what the 2-0 lead really means:

“It’s 0-0 at this point, as far as we’re concerned. Being up 2-0 means, really, nothing. This team’s going to come out on, what, Monday with an unbelievable amount of energy and desperation and we’ve got to be better.”

On the Spurs’ physicality in Game 2:

“Obviously, for me, too much physicality.”

On his initial reaction to Game 2:

“That was a crazy game… it was an all-around team effort… we gotta be better in terms of execution, we’ll watch film and learn from that.”

Miles McBride

On what to expect from Madison Square Garden in Game 3:

“Hectic. I’m sure it’s going crazy right now. We heard New York here, down in San Antonio, so … I don’t even know what I’m expecting, honestly. It’s going to be great. I’m excited.”

On the Knicks’ defense being rooted in a team-wide effort:

“Everyone’s capable of playing at a high level defensively because it’s nothing but effort. For him to really lock-in and not just take on the challenge guarding Wemby but being up in the pick and roll, being able to go get rebounds, being able to guard in transition, those things are big.”

Mitchell Robinson

On his mindset ahead of the final play of the game and guarding Wembanyama at it:

“I knew we needed stops and I had picked up a few fouls on him. I think, what, three, like early on? So in my mind, I was just like, ‘Defend without fouling.’ So that was kind of like how it went. Just great contest, and just kind of how it went.”

On the feeling of the moment after the final miss:

“It was crazy. Just crazy.”

On reaching the Finals after eight years with the franchise:

“It was crazy. Been here for eight years, now here we are in the Finals. I can truly say I done seen it all. It’s wild.”

On his musical advice for his teammates:

“I love my country music. That’s all I listen to. Dealing with these guys, they don’t listen to it. So that’s why, you know, I got my headphones now. Maybe if they listened to it, they’ll understand, but they’re silly.”

On dealing with Hack-a-Mitch:

“It seems like they just want me off the court. So in my eyes, I feel like I’m a threat.”

OG Anunoby

On being part of a 13-game playoff win streak:

“It’s special. We have a great team, we’re very connected.”

Landry Shamet

On earning a tough Game 2 win:

“They make you work. They make you earn everything. We weathered their storm. We found a way.”

On the 13-game playoff win streak:

“We got Game 3 in Madison Square Garden, that’s what we’re worried about. All those other games are in the past.”

On staying even-keeled after giving up the lead late in Game 2:

“It’s a resilient group. Can’t react too high or low, especially on the road.”

On what to expect from Knicks fans at MSG:

“All bets are off. I don’t know. I keep telling myself I’m going to stop being surprised by Knicks fans and what they do and how they show up, so I’m sure it’ll be an unbelievable atmosphere.”

Jose Alvarado

On what Towns is bringing defensively:

“We’re gonna need him to do what he’s doing to win games. He’s doing an amazing job. He’s being a leader and stepping up and doing what we need him to do defensively.”

Mitch Johnson

On Wembanyama’s unacceptable shot volume in the first half of Game 2:

“We’ve had that discussion before and I understand the discourse around it. It’s a little bit of both, but I have to make sure that there’s environments that the ball finds him. I think he’s got to make sure that he can’t rely on that to get shots as well and there are times when I think when he was open on rolls and around the paint and his teammates have got to give him the ball. So I think it’s a combination of all that. But yeah, four shots in a half on this stage is not acceptable.”

On the Spurs’ confidence heading into Game 3:

“We don’t feel like we’ve played well or up to our standard, at least, in the last two games. New York’s played very well and they’re a part of that. We’re gonna go into Game 3 and if we play our brand of basketball, up to our standard, we’ll be just fine.”

On the need for making life tougher for Towns:

“I think he’s played two good games, we’ve still got to make it tougher on him. We’ve had some coverage breakdowns and just keep trying to make great players work for everything they get.”

Victor Wembanyama

On his Game 2 performance:

“I’m still very blurry, and that’s the whole problem. I need to have more poise, more control over the game. I’m not going to go through the whole possessions, but that’s the general image.”

On missing the potential game-winner:

“I liked the shot. I feel like in this moment, you need to shoot to score. In moments like this, it’s like results matter more than process.”

On gifting the Knicks Game 2 with a careless turnover:

“I threw that one away. I messed up. 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 us next game? Absolutely.”

On still feeling high from the WCF win over the Thunder:

“Personally, I think I could’ve been better in recovering from the high of the conference finals, but here we are. We can’t change the past now. We’re already focused on Game 3.”

On facing Karl-Anthony Towns:

“What I think of it? It’s very different from previous series. It’s bringing us into difficult areas because they’re good players. He’s a good player. Yeah, I mean, we just need to figure it out, we need to keep working at it… We can do a little bit better; we can do better defensively.”

On his emotions after Game 2:

“Lots of emotions of every type. I mean, not every type, only the negative type.”

On the Spurs’ tendency to dig them into early holes:

“I think we need to put ourselves in better conditions. We’re digging ourselves a hole, that’s been a theme so far.”

Stephon Castle

On the late Wembanyama turnover:

“I was looking at him when he first got the rebound. I just started to take off to try to give him some space to dribble up the court. I didn’t see him throw it to me.”

On the difference between guarding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson:

“They’re very similar in ways. I think Shai is more of a threat to get all the way downhill, all the way to the basket. I think Jalen likes to use angles a lot more, uses probably a little bit more pump fakes than Shai. Mostly it’s angles, trying to get to his spots, not really trying to draw fouls as much, but trying to get to his mid-range and get to spots to where he likes.”

On switching and trusting teammates defensively:

“Obviously, yes, I want to stay on the ball, guard my matchup. At the end of the day, I have nothing but confidence with my teammates on that side of the floor. I don’t want to try and make up things on the spot. We’ve switched that ball screen with me on the ball all year. It’s been successful for us.”

De’Aaron Fox

On shadily fouling Jalen Brunson on a play-to-play basis:

“We’re just trying to make it difficult on him. I think we’ve done a good job in both games. He’s made big shots at the end of games. He’s a hell of a player.”

On Victor Wembanyama’s second-half adjustment:

“We came in and we’re like, ‘we need you to be aggressive.’ That is what it is. He came out in the second half and obviously, he was much better for us.”

On Wembanyama’s final shot:

“He makes that shot nine times out of ten, so I think we had a great possession.”

On guarding Karl-Anthony Towns:

“Obviously, having somebody like KAT is a difficult cover. That’s what everybody tries to do, is to pull Vic away from the basket.”

Julian Champagnie

On his trash talk with Jose Alvarado:

“Yeah, I think it’s just friendly banter, honestly and truly. Obviously, I’ve known Jose for a while. Yeah, he makes one, he talks. I make one, I talk. That’s just how New York is. That’s how it goes.”

On how New York playground basketball shaped him:

“Figuring out how you can play on those courts, definitely I feel like it translates into playing on the NBA court. Obviously the talent is different and stuff like that. But you take little tidbits, the trash talk, the physicality, perseverance and how to get through and actually win a game. You take those things with you throughout your whole career.”

Charles Barkley

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ Finals performance:

“The MVP of the Finals is gonna be Karl-Anthony Towns. That man earned his flowers.”

On Towns answering critics and haters:

“He’s been criticized in Minnesota. He’s been criticized in New York. The MVP of the Finals is going to be Karl-Anthony Towns. He has played two of the best games I’ve ever seen a big man play. He was great in Game 1. He was great in Game 2. That man earned his flowers.”

On Victor Wembanyama’s Game 2 performance:

“Wemby’s in shock right now. 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.”

Shaquille O’Neal

On Towns’ all-around play in the series:

“He’s playing with pace. He’s playing smart. He’s playing inside. He’s outside. He’s controlling the offense with the pass sometimes. And listen, he is just playing unbelievable basketball right now. And I agree with you. If it ended today, he would definitely be the Most Valuable Player.”