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Karl-Anthony Towns is outplaying Victor Wembanyama, Knicks are two wins from title because of it

SAN ANTONIO — If the vote took place after two games, Karl-Anthony Towns would be the NBA Finals MVP.

It's not just me saying that.

"The MVP of the Finals is gonna be Karl-Anthony Towns. That man earned his flowers," Charles Barkley said on Inside the NBA Friday night.

That nod to Towns is with all due respect to Jalen Brunson, who has lived up to the Captain Clutch nickname in two straight games. It's with all due respect to Mikal Bridges, who has played his best basketball in the Finals.

Without Towns playing at this level, New York is down 0-2 in this series.

Towns scored a team-high 21 points with 13 rebounds on Friday night, but his counting stats don't do his impact in this series justice. His physical defense on Wembanyama has kept the Spurs star off balance and in relative check for most of the first two games. On the other end of the court, Towns is a matchup nightmare because he can bully his way to the rim for a bucket or knock down a jumper. His threat as a 3-point shooter who must be accounted for has pulled Wemby out of the paint — opening the path for Knicks drives and offensive rebounds in a way the Thunder or no other team has been able to against the Spurs.

"He's been great. I think he's been pretty phenomenal on both sides of the ball," Jalen Brunson said of Towns' effort. "The things he's been able to do throughout this entire playoffs but obviously here now, he's been great..."

Then Brunson threw out the line that defines these Knicks this postseason:

"But we need more."

"I think he's made some shots and he's a really good player..." Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. "He played two good games. We have to make it tougher on him. We've had some coverage breakdowns."

Towns’ Journey wasn’t smooth

The Timberwolves traded Towns to New York in a deal that was far more about Minnesota's salary cap outlook than production on the court. However, there also were persistent questions around the Timberwolves about whether Towns was enough alongside Anthony Edwards to get the team over the hump.

It's because of those years that Towns relates to what the Spurs are going through in these Finals, but the hard lessons he learned then are paying off now.

"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, and I think that for us, we keep leaning on experience and we keep leaning on the word 'execution,'" Towns said.

Towns' play in New York has not been consistent over the past two years — there are times it has felt he is not doing enough, and there are times when it feels like he is trying to do too much. Rarely has it felt like a natural fit.

Mike Brown seemed like a coach who could change that — his style of play should have been a hand-in-glove fit with Towns. It was not. Or at least not instantly. It took most of the season, and even into the playoffs, for Towns and Brown to find a balance in the offense that worked for both.

"I came in with a great plan. Maybe the plan doesn't work. Who adjusts, him or me? Me. I adjust," Brown said of how the season went with Towns. "The adjustment's not enough. Every once in a while we're not on the same page. We talk about it. We talk about it. I adjust again. A little bit better. He's feeling good. We talk about it. We talk -- maybe we take a couple of steps backwards because what I did, he doesn't like, which is fine....

"And we finally got to a point where he was comfortable, I was comfortable, Jalen (Brunson) was comfortable, OG (Anunoby) was comfortable, Mikal (Bridges) was comfortable, and to me that's what the regular season is about. The regular season is about finding your way so you can prepare for this time of the year."

Towns looks prepared.

He looks like a Finals MVP. And, in what matters most to Towns himself, he looks like an NBA champion.

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Spurs’ rally ends in heartbreak as Knicks escape with Game 2 win

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 5: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 5, 2026 at Frost Bank Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

For five minutes on Friday night, it looked like the San Antonio Spurs were on their way to completing one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the NBA Finals. Instead, they are facing a harash reality: being in an 0-2 series deficit.

Despite rallying from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter and taking the lead in the final minutes, the Spurs suffered a heartbreaking 105-104 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 2 of the NBA Finals at the Frost Bank Center, putting San Antonio in an 0-2 hole as the series shifts to Madison Square Garden.

“We weren’t playing good enough,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said. “We weren’t consistent enough in the phases of the game. It felt like we chased the game a little bit and they [Knicks] made some tough shots at the end of the shot clock. I thought that affected our approach at times and took away from trying to play our brand of basketball.”

After a strong first quarter, the Spurs were outscored 31-18 in the second quarter thanks to the play of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. Victor Wembanyama, who said he needed to be better after Game 1, had just seven points on four shot attempts in the first half.

Wembanyama turned things around in the second half as he finished the game with 29 points, nine rebounds and four blocks while being a key cog in San Antonio’s comeback effort on both ends of the floor. De’Aaron Fox bounced back from a poor outing in Game 1 to score 20 points as the Spurs chipped away at New York’s lead.

With the Spurs trailing 97-83 with 6:03 remaining, San Antonio’s defense tightened, shots started to fall, the crowd came alive, and the Spurs began getting stops that turned into transition points. Wembanyama gave the Spurs the lead when he was fouled on an attempt, hitting the free throw to put his team up one. When it appeared momentum had shifted, New York responded.

“I threw that one away. I messed up. We needed to win that game. This game was ours,” Wembanyama said of his turnover at the end of the game. “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.”

Jalen Brunson delivered in the game’s biggest moments, which is why he’s earned the nickname “Captain Clutch”. Wembanyama passed the ball, but it went off the back of Stephon Castle. Wemby fouled Brunson who dived to the court for the ball, sending him to the free throw line. Brunson knocked down the go-ahead free throw with 9.5 seconds left, giving New York the 105-104 lead.

“We showed tremendous desperation, urgency, and competitive response,” Johnson said of the Spurs’ fourth quarter rally. “Hopefully we can try to bottle that up so we don’t have to be down to play at that same level.”

The Spurs still had one final chance. Wembanyama’s shot attempt hit iron as time expired, sending the thousands of Knicks fans who made the trip into a frenzy. Anthony-Towns led the way for the Knicks with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Bridges added 20 points, six rebounds and six assists. Brunson chipped in 20 points despite a difficult shooting night, going 7-for-25 from the floor.

“I’m still very blurry, and that’s the whole problem,” Wembanyama said of the final moments down the stretch. “I need to have more poise, more control over the game.”

The loss stings for San Antonio because they were so close. After struggling offensively for long stretches and having the Knicks control much of the game, the Spurs nearly tied the series up at one game apiece and sent their fans honking into the night.

The comeback will be remembered, but so will the heartbreaking ending. Now, the Spurs are in unfamiliar territory: needing to win on the road at Madison Square Garden to get back into the series.

While things seem daunting, the Finals are far from over. But for one night in June in San Antonio, a rally became a heartbreaking reminder of how thin the margin for error can be on basketball’s biggest stage.

Game Notes

  • Through two games, Jalen Brunson is 19-for-56 from the field against the Spurs. We can’t chalk it up to Brunson having a bad shooting night. This is more credit for the swarming defense that the Spurs have played on him.
  • Keldon Johnson played 15 minutes and was 1-of-4 from the floor. Not exactly the numbers the Spurs need from their sixth man of the year.
  • Julian didn’t have the best night, but his rebounding made up for the poor shooting night.
  • The series is not over, but it has gotten harder with two games in New York and down 0-2.
  • If the Spurs can play like they did over the final six minutes in Game 2 to start Game 3, they will get themselves back in the series.
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Jalen Brunson explains why Knicks 'can't be comfortable' returning to MSG with 2-0 NBA Finals lead

The Knicks take a 2-0 NBA Finals lead back to New York after Friday's 105-104 Game 2 win at the Spurs, swiping both of the series' first two matchups in San Antonio and setting the stage for a chaotic MSG as Mike Brown's team could close out the championship chase on its home court.

Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns put the Knicks' two-game advantage into perspective following New York's near collapse in which it trailed 104-102 with 57 seconds left and was a Victor Wembanyama shot away from a 1-1 tie.

"Every single day, we try to chip away, trying to be the best team we can be," said Brunson, who scored the Knicks' final five points, tying and ultimately taking the one-point lead along the way. "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."

New York overcame Brunson's 20 points on 7-of-25 shooting with Towns' 21-point, 13-rebound double-double and play against Wembanyama -- the game-high scorer with 29 points -- to fend off the Spurs, who trailed 97-83 with six minutes left after OG Anunoby's dunk assisted by Towns.

"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," Towns said. "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."

Monday's 8:30 p.m. Game 3 at The Garden awaits with the Knicks expecting the Spurs' best.

"Knowing them, there's definitely another level," Brunson said. "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."

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Mets' Luis Torrens 'finally' hits first home run of season as part of big night

Luis Torrens had gone 101 at-bats to begin the regular season without a home run this season, but he unloaded a 413-foot blast to straightaway center field for a two-run shot in his 102nd at-bat that put the Mets up 4-0 against the San Diego Padres on Friday night.

Although Torrens isn’t necessarily a power hitter, he’s a backup catcher after all, he does have some pop, even hitting 15 homers one year as the everyday catcher for the Seattle Mariners in 2021.

In his third season in New York Torrens has been playing regularly as of late with Francisco Alvarez on the IL recovering from a meniscus tear in his right knee. The veteran has always been a defensive whiz behind the plate, but he’s had some big hits this year for the Mets -- none bigger, or at least farther, than Friday’s home run.

“Finally I got my first homer,” he said after the 5-0 win. “It’s always good when you’re available to help the team win games and tonight was one of those times.”

Not only did Torrens go deep for the first time this year, he also had a double, drove in two and scored two all from the No. 9 spot in the lineup. He also caught Christian Scott’s 5.2 scoreless innings as well as the following 3.1 scoreless innings from the bullpen.

“It was good to see the offense, especially Luis, have a really good game there,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “Not easy to hit that ball to dead center on a night like that in San Diego. Overall, I thought we played a pretty good game.”

As for Scott’s performance, Torrens attributes the great start to executing their game plan against the Padres who entered the game losers of nine of their past 10 games and an offense that has been reeling.

“Tonight was a great example of execution of a game plan,” Torrens said of Scott. “We attacked the zone, threw all the pitches.”

Scott’s fastball, in particular, had San Diego uncomfortable all night and he used it to set up his other pitches like the sweeper, cutter and changeup.

“I thought I did a good job with my fastball in the strike zone,” Scott said. “I thought LT called a great game. I didn’t have my best stuff today but [just to] go out there and compete with the fastball and fastball location was huge for me today and I thought the defense played great, too.”

“He kinda set the tone there, attacking hitters,” Mendoza added. “I like how he moved the fastball around the plate. The sweeper was a good pitch for him.”

Scott has been on an incredible stretch recently, allowing one earned run over his last three starts and lowering his ERA to 2.50. But Friday’s gem was the first of the last three starts that Torrens has behind the plate.

In fact, entering Friday, the right-hander owned a 5.40 ERA in six starts with Torrens, the worst mark with any catcher but also the most starts with any catcher. With Torrens an important part of the team, it’s imperative he and Scott get on the same page and it looked like on Friday they were finally able to do that.

“He was able to command pretty much all of his pitches and he’s been able to attack the zone kind of with the same type of game plan that we’ve prepared with,” Torrens said. “But also he’s been able to just prove the type of pitcher that he is.”

“He’s a really nice guy to catch,” Torrens added. “He’s easy and the fastball is different and when he’s [able] to throw it for strikes it’s special.”

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What The No. 2 Pick Means For Utah’s Long-Term Cap Sheet

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 4: Kevin Love #42, Lauri Markkanen #23 and Jaren Jackson Jr. #20 of the Utah Jazz look on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 4, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David DowNBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The NBA can be pretty simple. There’s one ball and five players. If you have one of the best players in the league handling the ball the majority of the time, your team is going to win a lot of games. The issue that teams run into is the salaries. Teams rise and fall with the balance of contracts that fit into a team’s timelines and windows.

How many teams have fizzled because a team had no cap room to improve? That’s every team, actually. As teams fill their rosters, typically in the draft, those players eventually run out their contracts and will demand the most possible. The best teams in the league will make sure they’re constantly replenishing their team with young players from the draft. If teams run out of draft picks, it’s inevitable that the cap or age catches up to them. The best example of this came from the Jazz four seasons ago. Utah had gone all in on a Mike Conley trade as they tried to maximize on their two-man core of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell. With the picks gone from the Mike Conley trade, and with some bad drafting (looking at you, Udoka Azubuike), the Jazz maxed out their potential and had no way to improve because they were capped out.

Beyond the potential of being the best prospect in Jazz history, the #2 pick is valuable for what it does for the Jazz cap as well. Having a player like AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson is incredibly valuable. But having them on your team, secured on a rookie contract, means the Jazz can also maximize every other position.

Next season, Utah will be giving $49M to Jaren Jackson Jr., $46M to Lauri Markkanen, and they’ll likely be giving somewhere between $25M and $30M to Walker Kessler, and Keyonte George is going to get paid soon too. That’s a situation that doesn’t leave anything for signing players in free agency, outside of exceptions like the mid-level exception.

But that’s what makes the #2 pick even more valuable. That core of George, Kessler, Markkanen, and Jackson, with Ace Bailey on a rookie contract, is great. Now? The Jazz will add another rookie contract in either Dybantsa or Peterson. And what if Dybantsa or Peterson are as good as people hope? Having a tier-1 prospect making $13M over the next four years is incredible. Down the road, Utah will have to make decisions on their contracts, but for now? They’re sitting pretty and can keep this current roster together as long as they’re willing to pay the tax.

With the draft just weeks away, Utah has to be excited about the chance to add not only a generational prospect, but one that will also fit into a rapidly rising cap situation for the Jazz. Currently, FanDuel has the odds of AJ Dybantsa at -450 so it seems likely that Darryn Peterson is likely going to be on the Jazz.

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New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs timeline: How New York won NBA Finals Game 2

The New York Knicks managed to thwart the San Antonio Spurs’ fourth-quarter rally, taking a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals on Friday, June 5.

The game saw both teams hold leads as large as 12 points. The Knicks trailed the Spurs 34-25 at the end of the first quarter and did not see their first lead of the game until the final minutes of the second quarter.

New York went back to the locker room at halftime with a 56-52 lead after outscoring San Antonio 31-18 in the second quarter and carried its momentum into the third quarter.

The Knicks led the Spurs 84-75 after three quarters ... before the game’s final quarter helped the contest live up to the standard set for the series.

9:35 left: Tension began to rise when De’Aaron Fox of the Spurs and Jalen Brunson of the Knicks had a stare down. Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson, Jalen Brunson's father, was visibly unhappy with the situation and was briefly held back by Knicks head coach Mike Brown on the bench.

9:11 left: The Spurs began to pick up the pace in the final frame, cutting the Knicks' lead down to five after Dylan Harper made a shot under the basket. New York led San Antonio 87-82.

2:59 left: San Antonio managed to gain some momentum late in the quarter after Dylan Harper scored under the basket to tie the game with the Knicks at 97. San Antonio went on a 14-0 scoring run to even the score.

57.3 seconds left: Victor Wembanyama had previously made a layup off an assist from Dylan Harper to give the Spurs a 103-102 lead with 57.3 seconds left in the quarter. Karl-Anthony Towns was called for his fifth foul on the play, sending Wembanyama to the line before a successful free-throw attempt.

13.6 left: With the game tied at 104, Wembanyama grabbed the defensive rebound after Jalen Brunson missed a jump shot. The Defensive Player of the Year attempted to pass the ball toward point guard Stephon Castle, who wasn't looking. Brunson then swooped in and stole the ball before colliding with Wembanyama, who was called for a foul.

7.5 left: Brunson made just one of his two free-throw attempts to give the Knicks a 105-104 lead.

0.0 left: Wembanyama had a clean look for a potential game-winner but missed the shot on the final possession as time expired. The Knicks won 105-104 and will return to New York with a 2-0 lead and a chance to sweep the series and capture their first title since 1973.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Knicks vs Spurs timeline: How New York won NBA Finals Game 2

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The Spurs’ magical run has been reduced to fantasy

A dejected Victor Wembanyama walks off the court after the Knicks' Game 2 win over the Spurs.
A dejected Victor Wembanyama walks off the court after the Knicks' Game 2 win over the Spurs.

Welp, the Spurs had a good run.

Heading into Game 2 of the NBA Finals, it was obvious what was on the line.

If they fell to the Knicks 2-0, their season would be over. There was no coming back from that against a team that had won 13 playoff games in a row.

Not with the next two games at Madison Square Garden.

Not with a city so excited to see their team in the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years that the average asking price for Game 3 had soared past $10,000.

Not with Karl-Anthony Towns playing some of the best basketball of his career. Not with Jalen Brunson en route to establishing himself as a household name.

For the Spurs, Game 2 was equivalent to Game 7. It was do or die.

The Spurs essentially flatlined in a 105-104 loss.

The Spurs’ magical run is over. Have teams come back from a 2-0 deficit in the Finals? Yes, but it’s rare. Teams trying to claw their way out of that hole are 5-31. No team has ever done it after losing two straight at home.

Against the surging Knicks, it’s improbable. Impossible. Fantasy.

A dejected Victor Wembanyama walks off the court after the Knicks’ Game 2 win over the Spurs. AP

This was supposed to be the coming-out party for Victor Wembanyama as the next face of the league. His inauguration into basketball royalty. His red carpet walk into the history books.

Instead, he spent the first half of the game owned by Towns, who held the 7-foot-4 phenom to just seven points and five rebounds over that period before he exploded for 22 second-half points in a failed attempt to save his team’s season.

“Lots of emotions of every type,” Wembanyama said. “I mean, not every type, only the negative type. Yeah, 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. Yes, 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.”

This was supposed to be the San Antonio’s reclaiming of the basketball world after missing the playoffs six straight seasons following 22 consecutive postseason appearances, including winning five championships over that period.

Instead, it felt as though Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” was the soundtrack for Friday evening on and off the court as Knicks fans took over Frost Bank Center.

During the national anthem, Knicks fans shouted “Go Knicks” so loudly that it could be heard across the arena. In the hallway at halftime, New Yorkers clad in blue and orange jerseys gathered in groups loudly cheering for their team, drowning out Spurs fans’ breathless attempts to be heard over them.

Wembanyama & Co. tried to turn things around in the second half.

Victor Wembanyama battles for a rebound with OG Anunoby (left) during the Knicks’ Game 2 win over the Spurs. Jason Szenes for New York Post

The Spurs went on a 14-0 run to tie the score at 97-97 with 2:59 left. Wembanyama led the way. He tried to play hero.

But it wasn’t enough.

After Wembanyama made a pair of free throws to tie the score at 104-104 with 39.3 seconds left, he missed a 17-foot pull-up jumper, threw the ball away while attempting a pass to Stephon Castle and then missed a go-ahead 20-foot attempt with two seconds left.

“I’m still very blurry,” Wembanyama said when asked what happened on those possessions. “That’s the whole problem. I need to have more poise, more control over the game.”

Now the Spurs’ season is swirling the drain.

After the Spurs’ 105-95 loss in Game 1, they were nonplussed. The 21-year-old Castle called San Antonio the better team. The 22-year-old Wembanyama seemed surprisingly calm and claimed he wasn’t worried. Their youth revealed itself in unearned cockiness.

Now it’s time to panic.

Up until this point, the Spurs’ postseason run was remarkable. Wembanyama is going to take over the league. The Spurs are going to win multiple championships under him. He’s the real deal.

But the Larry O’Brien Trophy is now promised to the Knicks.

Wembanyama’s inexperience is showing. He didn’t have the requisite hunger at the start of the game. He had a hangover from the thrill and excitement of the Spurs’ Game 7 win over the reigning champion Thunder.

He didn’t take the moment seriously enough.

Now the Spurs’ magical season is teetering by a hair over the precipitous cliff of a long offseason of regrets and what ifs.

For the Spurs, it was great while it lasted.

But it’s over.

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Jalen Brunson blinked— and somehow the Knicks held on

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Jalen Brunson had an up-and-down night in the Knicks' Game 2 win over the Spurs on June 5, 2026

SAN ANTONIO — Captain Clutch was crumbling.

It felt like eons since Jalen Brunson had looked so cold in such a big moment, missing open shots he could normally hit with his eyes closed. The Knicks superstar had made seven shots. He’d missed 18, the last coming on a go-ahead attempt from the elbow with 15 seconds left, giving the Spurs a chance to hold for the final shot of regulation in a tie game.

But Victor Wembanyama threw a pass off Stephon Castle’s back and Brunson scooped up the ball, getting bumped by the Spurs big man to get sent to the free-throw line with 9.5 seconds remaining.

Jalen Brunson had an up-and-down night in the Knicks’ 105-104 win over the Spurs in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on June 5, 2026 in San Antonio. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Even on this miserable shooting night — even if there was a draft of every player in NBA history — the Knicks had the only player they would ever want at the line with the game on the line.

Brunson made the first, putting the Knicks ahead. Then, the impossible: his first missed free throw of the NBA Finals, putting the Knicks in jeopardy of returning to New York with the series even.

The nightmare ended when Wembanyama missed the potential game-winning jumper in the final seconds, putting the Knicks two wins from achieving a dream that is 53 years in the making, following a 105-104 win in Game 2 of the NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center.

Brunson finished with 20 points (7-for-25 from the field, 2-for-8 on 3-pointers), six assists, five rebounds and four turnovers.

Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns celebrate the Knicks win. Jason Szenes for The New York Post

“We had to do a good job of staying composed in those situations,” Brunson said. “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.”

Brunson shot 12-of-31 in Game 1, but finished with 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to clinch the Knicks’ first NBA Finals win in 27 years. The Spurs did everything to ensure he wouldn’t maintain his momentum, guarding him 94 feet, blitzing him with double-teams and bumping him at every opportunity.

In the fourth quarter, De’Aaron Fox shoved Brunson, then got in his face, prompting Brunson’s father (and Knicks assistant coach), Rick, to yell across the court to the Spurs guard.

“We’re just trying to make it difficult on him,” Fox said. “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.”

Jalen Brunson and Spurs guard De’aaron Fox have a heated moment during the Knicks’ Game 2 win over the Spurs. Jason Szenes for the New York Post

As the Spurs rallied back from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit, Bruson struggled, getting blocked on a drive with four minutes left, then missing back-to-back 3-pointers.

Finally, the clutch gene kicked in as Brunson converted a reverse lay-in over Wembanyama with 1:56 remaining to put the Knicks up by three, then delivered a patented midrange jumper to even the score with 39 seconds remaining.

“For J.B., you call it rough shooting nights, I see him hitting the free throw to give us the game,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “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.”

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Knicks' composure, 'connectivity' instilled by Mike Brown crucial to Game 2 survival of Spurs

If you asked a Knicks fan to describe the ideal version of how they want to see their team play, they would end up describing this season’s version of the Knicks: a grind-it-out collection of men who are determined to fight it out for 48 minutes and outlast the opposition.

If you asked coach Mike Brown that question, coming off a 105-104 Game 2 win to make it 13 consecutive playoff victories and a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals, he’d likely say the same.

“We could have folded a few times,” Brown said in describing his side’s resilience in withstanding seeing a 14-point fourth-quarter lead evaporate in a matter of moments before a single free throw proved the difference as the Knicks held Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs scoreless in their final three possessions to seal the win.

“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.”

With 6:04 to play in the game, OG Anunoby's two-handed slam past Wembanyama put the Knicks up 97-83. The Knicks wouldn't score for the next three and a half minutes before Anunoby put in three at the free throw line to break a tie.

The message from Brown during the Spurs’ run: “Stay composed.”

Jalen Brunson, who was 2-for-10 from the field in the second half, scored the Knicks' final five points, including hitting a layup to put them ahead three on a nice in-bound play and a fadeaway to level the score with 39 seconds remaining.

"We do a good job of staying composed in those situations," Brunson said. "It's a credit to the character that this team has, not being able to fold in a situation like that is key to winning games like this.

"At this stage of the season, things aren't gonna be pretty. It's gonna be ugly. It's gonna be grind it out. It's as simple as that. No matter what the situation is, we're gonna have each other's back."

Brown said that connectivity, established during the 53-win regular season and ironed out over three playoff series wins, “paid huge dividends for our group” on Friday night in San Antonio.

"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 'em," Brown said. "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.

"I'm telling you, man, the NBA is tough. You don't experience what I'm experiencing with this group a ton, and it is a fricking joy to be around."

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Mitchell Robinson’s ‘phenomenal’ last-second defense met the moment for Knicks in Game 2

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Mitchell Robinson blocks Stephon Castle's shot during the second half of the Knicks' 105-104 win over the Spurs in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on June 5, 2026 in San Antonio. , Image 2 shows Mitchell Robinson and the Knicks celebrate their Game 2 win
mitchell robinson

SAN ANTONIO — This is why.

This is why there was so much attention around Mitchell Robinson and his injury.

So much concern that he might be compromised. So much emphasis throughout the year on keeping him healthy.

It was the matchup — and perhaps the moment — everyone knew he would be needed for.

Jalen Brunson’s free throw gave the Knicks a one-point lead, and the Spurs called timeout with 7.5 seconds left.

It was obvious who would take the last shot: Victor Wembanyama. And it was obvious who the Knicks would want contesting that shot: Robinson.

Mitchell Robinson blocks Stephon Castle’s shot during the second half of the
Knicks’ 105-104 win over the Spurs in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on June 5,
2026 in San Antonio. Jason Szenes for New York Post

De’Aron Fox got the inbounds pass. Wembanyama set a screen for him, and Fox passed it back. Wembanyama rose up for a 20-footer.

Mitchell Robinson and the Knicks celebrate their Game 2 win. Jason Szenes for The New York Post

But Robinson contested the shot well, forcing the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama to fade away. It hit off the side rim, securing the Knicks’ 105-104 Game 2 win over the Spurs on Friday night at the Frost Bank Center for take a 2-0 lead in the Finals.

The possession prior, with the game tied, Wembanyama missed as well. And it was Robinson defending him.

“Wemby is iconic,” coach Mike Brown said. “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.”

Robinson had surgery to repair a broken fifth metacarpal he sustained between the conference finals and the NBA Finals. There was uncertainty whether he’d be able to play, and even if he did, how effective he could be.

On the two biggest defensive possessions of the game, he was the difference-maker.

“I know we needed stops and I had picked up a few fouls on him,” Robinson said. “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.”

Robinson is the longest-tenured Knick. He was with the team at its rock bottom. He was part of its rise.

And now on the biggest stage, he made a game-sealing impact.

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

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Timothee Chalamet, Ben Stiller have joyous embrace as Knicks survive Game 2

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas - Actor Timothy Chalamet reacts in the crowd during the second quarter, Image 2 shows Ben Stiller celebrates during the Knicks' Game 2 win at the Frost Bank Center
Timothee Chalamet; Ben Stiller

The Knicks weren’t the only ones excited in San Antonio on Friday night.

Their two most prominent celebrity fans were just as pumped in a moment of pure exultation.

Timothée Chalamet and Ben Stiller were riding high off the Knicks’ thrilling 105-104 Game 2 win over the Spurs in the NBA Finals and hugged it out in the tunnel of Frost Bank Center.

Chalamet, the “Dune” actor, hugged one person in the bowels of the arena before making a beeline toward the “Meet the Parents” actor for a powerful embrace, as seen in a video shared by Yahoo Sports.

Stiller was smiling ear to ear as he reveled in the Knicks taking a commanding 2-0 series lead, despite New York nearly blowing a fourth quarter lead as the Spurs went on a furious late run.

Ben Stiller celebrates during the Knicks’ Game 2 win at the Frost Bank Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

In a video published by ESPN, Chalamet was heard saying “Two more to go!” with a big grin on his face.

But Spurs star Victor Wembanyama turned the ball over in the waning seconds with an errant pass and then fouled Jalen Brunson, who converted 1 of his 2 free throws to give the Knicks the lead. Wembanyama, with a chance to give the Spurs the win at the other end, missed a buzzer-beater to seal San Antonio’s fate.

Chalamet and Stiller have been a fixture at Knicks games — at both Madison Square Garden and on the road — throughout the years, but they’ve had a noticeable presence during this run to the NBA Finals.

New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas – New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns father Karl Sr. and Timothee Chalamet celebrate at the end of the fourth quarter of NBA Finals Game 2 on June 5, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas – Actor Timothy Chalamet reacts in the crowd during the second quarter of NBA Finals Game 2 on June 5, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

To that end, on Thursday, Chalamet posted a picture to his Instagram story where he had plastic bags of ice covering both of his knees. In a follow-up story he wrote: “Ppl underestimate the wear and tear on the body of a fan throughout the playoffs,” Chalamet said in a corresponding Instagram story post. “Self care is important.”

The best self care for Chalamet and Stiller might be two more wins for their beloved basketball team.

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How little-known assistant coach saved Knicks from crushing collapse: ‘Master at this’

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Jordan Brink (left) was the Knicks assistant behind the crucial decision, Image 2 shows Og Anunoby #8 reacts to a call during the fourth quarter, Image 3 shows New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) is fouled by San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie, right, during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Friday, June 5, 2026, in San Antonio
Jordan Brink; OG Anunoby

SAN ANTONIO — Jalen Brunson scored the game-winning point. Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns had big games. The Knicks bench was terrific again.

But the MVP of the Knicks’ franchise-record 13th straight playoff victory may have been an assistant coach.

Jordan Brink, the team’s director of video services and player development, being able to convince coach Mike Brown to challenge a call late in the fourth quarter was pivotal in the Knicks’ dramatic 105-104 win over the Spurs at Frost Bank Center. They lead the NBA Finals 2-0 after becoming the third road team to win the first two games of the finals.

OG Anunoby gets fouled on a 3-point attempt in the fourth quarter. AP Photo/David J. Phillip

The Knicks had blown a 14-point lead. Momentum had flipped. The official had ruled that the ball had gone out of bounds off OG Anunoby while he attempted a 3-pointer. But Brink felt there was a foul on the play with 2:37 left.

After a review, the call was reversed. Anunoby was headed to the free-throw line for three attempts.

Jordan Brink (left) was the Knicks assistant behind the crucial decision. NBAE via Getty Images

“Jordan, he’s been a master at this,” Brown said of the assistant coach, who played at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Later, on Brink, Brown added: “He’s been doing this now two years in a row. I rely totally on him. Every once in a while I lose my mind, get emotional, and try to stick it to the refs, even though I like all of them. But that never works. So I try like heck to follow Jordan’s lead, and it was 100 percent his call.”

Og Anunoby reacts to a call during the fourth quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Just as importantly, Anunoby stepped to the line and made all three free throws. He wasn’t surprised the call was changed.

“It was a foul, so I was surprised they didn’t call it initially,” said Anunoby, who had 17 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks in 36 quality minutes. “Jordan Brink did a great job of letting the coaches know. … I think it was big, especially because it was three extra points.”

It helped stop the Spurs’ momentum. Without that successful challenge, the Finals may be headed back to New York tied at 1-1.

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Which D-Backs might be All-Stars this year?

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 01: Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Arizona Diamondbacks delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field on June 01, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Introduction

Incredibly, the calendar has already flipped its way to June despite it still feeling like it’s early May. As part of that calendar flip, the All-Star Ballot is officially open for the first phase of voting by fans that will run until the end of the month. Remember that you can vote up to five times a day – one of my mom’s favorite pastimes during this time of year. While there are plenty of worthy candidates in a stacked National League, I thought the opening phase was as good a time as any to review some of the possible candidates for our favorite team. Even though some of the big-city teams have a built-in advantage with the size of their respective fanbases and some of the usual All-Stars (like Manny Machado or Mookie Betts) are having down seasons, there are some interesting openings for lesser-known players to step in. This group is an interesting mix of perennial All-Stars, upstarts, and bounceback candidates, highlighting exactly what has made this Arizona team as successful as it’s been through the first two-plus months of the season.

Corbin Carroll

The team’s present and future, Carroll moved himself from the “very good” tier to “MVP-caliber” tier last year when he created the 30-30 club for the D-Backs. That momentum has continued so far this season as he’s already accumulated a major league-leading eight triples, has nearly reached double digits for both stolen bases and homers, and continues to make excellent defensive plays in right field on a nearly nightly basis. If you zoom out to the National League outfield, Carroll has the fourth-best bWAR (2.7), the third-highest OPS (.937), and the third-highest OPS+ (160) which normalizes OPS across the major leagues. Who wouldn’t want to watch Carroll take his 98th percentile speed out for a spin in Philadelphia? It would be the 25 year old’s third All-Star selection already and might be one of the most deserved.

Nolan Arenado

From a youngster just starting his career to a near-lock Hall of Famer, this D-Backs team features a wide range of experience and Arenado’s resurgent campaign certainly accounts for a significant amount of the year-over-year improvement for the team. We’re only about 40% of the way through the season, but he’s having his best season in nearly three years with more bWAR (1.6) accumulated in just over half the number of games played from last year, almost the same number of doubles from last year, and almost two-thirds of the RBI from last year. What’s most impressive – he’s been able to do all of that offensive damage while continuing to act as a leader and mentor to the team as well as making excellent defensive plays every night. Among third basemen in the NL, he ranks third in bWAR, second in OPS (.795) and OPS+, and third in home runs. It would be his first selection to the MidSummer Classic since 2023 among an incredibly restorative season.

Eduardo Rodriguez

I think if you had told me in February that E-Rod would be on this list of All Star candidates, I likely would have laughed you out of the room. He was coming off consecutive seasons with an ERA north of five and a WHIP above 1.5 while demonstrating exactly why so many baseball front offices are reluctant to commit multiple years to a starting pitcher over 30. Instead, since his championship run with Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, Rodriguez has been a different pitcher. He owns a 2.24 ERA in 12 starts and a WHIP under 1.2, accumulating 2.6 bWAR – good enough for sixth-highest in the NL. There’s clearly some room for some negative regression considering the gap between his actual and expected ERA as well as the abnormally high hard hit rate he’s allowed so far, but that level of analysis is unlikely to figure into the average voter’s consciousness. It would be the 33 year old’s first selection to the All-Star game and would be particularly gratifying given how badly he was struggling through the last two years.

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D-backs get blown out in all phases in loss to Nationals

Jun 5, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Washington Nationals first baseman Luis García Jr. (2) celebrates with right fielder Dylan Crews (3) during the sixth inning at Chase Field against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images | Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images

Game Summary

The Diamondbacks were coming off a draining victory the night before against their arch rivals and, possibly as a result of that, they just didn’t seem to have any life on either side of the ball on what was apparently Pride Night at Chase Field. Merrill Kelly had his worst start in over a month and the hitters couldn’t find any open grass against the surprisingly stiff Nats defense.

The game seemed to get off to a weird start when we were delayed because Merrill Kelly just wasn’t around in the dugout. My first thought was there was an injury during warm-ups, but I was thankfully wrong. Well, sort of thankful. When Merrill finally did take the mound and the game got underway, he did not look sharp, spraying pitches all over. Many pitches were not even close to the strike zone, and many of the pitches that did find the zone ended up getting smoked into the seats or into the outfield grass. A leadoff walk followed by a 2-run homer set the tone for the night and it did not let up from there as Merrill ended up giving up 6 hits, 3 BB and 3 HR.

The bullpen’s performance wasn’t much more inspiring. Philip Abner and Kade Strowd made their first appearances after being recalled on Thursday from Reno and both went poorly. Abner loaded the bases and then gave up a Grand Slam before recording a single out, but he was eventually able to record 4 outs (while also allowing another homer). Kade Strowd, making the first appearance by any of the returns from the Blaze Alexander trade, started off well enough, getting the final 2 outs of the 7th inning including striking out James Wood looking on a cutter at the knees, but then it all went downhill. Strowd was extremely wild when he came back out in the 8th and loaded the bases while recording only one before leaving with the trainer and handing the ball off to Adrian Del Castillo to finish off the laugher. For ADC’s part, he only allowed one of the inherited runners to score in the 8th and allowed 1 run to score in the 9th. Better than the average for tonight’s crew!

Finally, we come to the offense. I won’t say they were awful, but they just couldn’t find any open grass at all. The Nationals are a middle-of-the-pack defense or worse by all metrics I could find, but on this night, they looked like a lineup full of Gold Glovers. Several plays looked like possible hits, but instead were turned into harmless outs by some outstanding athleticism and glove work. It wasn’t necessarily bad luck and hitting right into the defensive positioning, but more like a night where you just tip your cap to the other side and admit they outplayed you.

Geraldo Perdomo had his second night hitting down in the order, and for the second night in a row he got results like the Perdomo of old. Domo finished the night with 2 hits and hit the ball with authority. I won’t say that the move down the lineup made some sort of mental change and freed him up to play looser because he was still hitting the ball well before, it just seemed like he always hit it right at the defense. Tonight, he was the only one who didn’t get hit with some sort of amazing play to rob him of a hit. Aramis Garcia hit his first home run since 2022 for our only run of the night and Tommy Troy contributed 2 hits (one the benefit of some hometown scoring on a should-be error by CJ Abrams) and that was about it for the offense on the night.

This was a frustrating game to watch. Maybe they’re just out of gas after a 4 game set against Guggenheim’s Billions and playing their 21st game in 22 days. Hopefully they snap back and win out to complete a series win.

Loss Probability and Box Score

Outside the Box Score

  • Start off with the question likely on everyone’s mind, Groover was not using Santana’s now famous purple first baseman mitt tonight.
  • The home run Merrill Kelly gave up in the first inning didn’t appear to be a bad pitch. A fastball several inches inside but credit to Luis García Jr. turning on it and just sneaking it fair into the visitor bullpen.
  • Merrill recorded the first out of the game with an unconventional ‘kick save’ on a groundball up the middle. He stuck foot out behind him and the ball miraculously hit his cleat and stuck right there, allowing Merrill to easily bend down, pick up the ball and throw the runner out at first.
  • Ryan Waldschmidt looked to hit a sure double into the right field corner in the 1st inning, but James Wood covered a ton of ground and turned it into a routine fly out. That defense was then one-upped by an incredible line drive snag by the Nationals second baseman to rob Corbin Carroll of a 2-out knock. The defender was fully airborne and parallel with the ground when he caught the liner and then was able to corral it without touching the ground when it squirted out of his glove.
  • Ryan Waldschmidt returned the defensive favor by recording the first out of the second inning by laying out to catch a fly ball to shallow left. The defense in this game has been crazy and we’re only 7 outs in!
  • Merrill gave up 4 runs in the third inning and it wasn’t some defensive miscues or seeing eye singles getting strung together that came back to bite him. The Nats were just all over Kelly. Merrill wasn’t sharp with his command, missing the zone badly when he missed; then when he came in the zone, the Nats were drilling the ball. On top of 2 walks, exit velocities that inning were: 106, 66, 108, 84, 103, 103. 
  • Tommy Troy’s sharp grounder just under the glove of the Nats third baseman in the 5th was the Diamondbacks first hit through the defense on the night. Aramis Garcia hit a home run in the third, but every ball hit into the field of play somehow found the glove of a Washington defender. Some nights, it’s just not your night.
  • Philip Abner came on in the sixth for his first action after getting recalled Thursday from Reno and got bushwhacked. 2 homers, 1 of them a Grand Slam, and other assorted hits. Exit velocities included 114, 104, 106 and 101. Not exactly making a strong case to stay with the club past Taylor Clarke’s return to the active roster.
  • Ildemaro Vargas made an appearance in tonight’s contest thanks to the lopsided score, and of course, one night after leaving the game because he ran into a dumptruck, he gets hit by a pitch in his only plate appearance. How is he still walking at this point?

Comment of the Game

The GameDay Thread was definitely light tonight. Understandable considering the rout was on early. A final tally of 146 comments at time of publishing, but since no comments went red after the crews nightly introductions, we’ll just chalk this up as a total loss and not name any COTG.

Coming Up

The Diamondbacks face the Nats for the second game of this 3-game set tomorrow afternoon with a rare Saturday 1:10pm first pitch at home. Righthander Zack Littell (5-4, 5.01 ERA) will take the mound for Washington and The Hologram (5-1, 2.24 ERA) takes the ball for the good guys.

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Ramón Laureano has surgery for labrum tear; out indefinitely

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 29: Ramón Laureano #5 of the San Diego Padres reacts at second base after being tagged out in a double play in the second inning during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Manager Craig Stammen met with the media before the San Diego Padres versus the New York Mets game on Friday and announced that outfielder Ramón Laureano had surgery in the morning for a torn labrum in his hip. Laureano went on the injured list on Tuesday with right hip inflammation. He was moved from the 10-day IL to the 60-day IL.

Reliever Jeremiah Estrada was also placed on the 15-day injured list with right knee inflammation, retroactive to June 3.

In corresponding moves, reliever David Morgan was recalled from El Paso and RHP Jhony Brito was activated from the 60-day IL. Brito was not placed on the active roster at this time and was optioned to Triple-A El Paso.

Laureano’s injury originated in 2021, per Stammen, and was treated with an injection at that time. His testing showed a recurrence, and he opted for surgery this time around. The normal timeline for recovery from labrum surgery is four to five months.

With the release of Nick Castellanos on Friday, the Padres still have four outfielders on the roster. Samad Taylor, brought up when Castellanos was released, is both an outfielder and a second baseman. Both Taylor and outfielder Jase Bowen distinguished themselves with Triple-A El Paso leading up to their promotions.

Outfielder Bryce Johnson has more experience than Bowen and will probably get the bulk of the starts to begin with. He starts in left field to begin the series against the Mets on Friday. All three of them are good baserunners and play good defense.

Stammen also gave an update on catcher Luis Campusano. He is still in Arizona and working toward a rehab assignment next week or soon after.

Second baseman Jake Cronenworth is progressing with activities as tolerated but still has no timeline for his return.