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San Antonio vs New York, Final Score: Spurs unable to complete all-time comeback in Game 2, 104-105

New York went home up 2-0 after the Spurs missed two opportunities to complete an improbable comeback in the fourth quarter
Jun 5, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) goes in for a shot against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the first half during game two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Despite having two chances to finish ahead of New York for good, San Antonio was unable to complete its ferocious fourth quarter comeback and lost game 2 of the Finals. In the waning seconds, Victor Wembanyama committed an unforced turnover trying to feed Stephon Castle in transition, and then missed a buzzer-beating 17-footer. New York extended its playoff win streak to 13 on the power of audaciously accurate shooting in many of the moments that mattered. With the two home losses, San Antonio dug itself a 0-2 hole that will require wins in four of the next handful of games – with three of them at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks erased yet another first half Spurs lead behind the shooting exploits of Karl Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges during some really wretched offensive futility by San Antonio in the second quarter.

San Antonio could not find their well-defended superstar Wembanyama (29 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks) over countless first half possessions, but after a heated huddle conversation in the third quarter, Wembanyama finally took the game into his hands in that late comeback attempt. De’Aaron Fox (20 points and 5 assists) came on late, while Castle (14 points and 4 assists) had his most uneven performance in some time. Devin Vassell (14 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists) contributed mightily, while Dylan Harper (15 points and 6 rebounds) made the only impact of the reservers.

New York took control of the game in the second period with timely shooting from their vetera players. Towns (21 points and 13 rebounds) nearly got the better of his Spurs counterpart again, while Bridges (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Landry Shamet (13 points) had answers for over 3+ quarters. Jalen Brunson (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) was carried by his teammates on a somewhat muted evening by his standards.

An intense first quarter saw the Knicks’ Brunson and Anunoby generate all of their offensive output over the first half of it. On the way to putting up 20 points over that same period of time, San Antonio only put up one questionable outside shot (Wembanyama had an open lane to drive and settled for a missed triple). Towns’ three broke the Brunson/Anunoby scoring streak and brought New York within four. The Hack-a-Mitchell-Robinson strategy commenced in the waning minutes of the frame generated mixed results as the center hit 3-for-6. Fox found better lanes late in the frame and put up a rapid seven points. Harper, known for his offense, helped forced two unforeced turnovers on the perimeter. An longer than usual first quarter ended with San Antonio ahead 34-25.

At the start of the second period, Towns, as Brunson rested for a protracted amount of time, pieced together his own 9-0 run to slice the New York deficit to five. Wembanyama, meanwhile, sat at four field goal attempts 1 1/2 periods in. New York received clutch shot after shot from Bridges, while San Antonio could not find a consistent contributor after Castle went to the bench with three fouls. A alarmingly tentative Wembanyama committed a pair of turnovers late in the half, and New York capitalized to surge ahead 56-52.

New York’s confidence in its outside shooting continued to grow coming out of the half. Castle, playing with three fouls, stabilized the Spurs’ offense in some tenuous moments in the meaty part of the third period. San Antonio benefitted from Hart and Towns picking up their fourth fouls, too. Johnson made his first meaningful impact this series with his presence on the boards. While San Antonio cut into the considerable deficit and prevented a New York runaway, they still left it down nine.

Observations

  • I keep on reading that, for many of the Spurs’ rotation players, this is the worst that they ever will be. I wish there was an accelerant somehow for them.
  • That agile and girthy stretch-4 will come in handy next playoff run.
  • Devin’s Deeds: If he continues his stalwart two-way presence, he could very well end up awarded on the top defensive teams next season.
  • Sequence of the Game #1: Stuck deep in the paint halfway through the first period, Johnson ‘found’ Wembanyama cutting through the lane for a dunk.
  • Sequence of the Game #2: Late in the first quarter, Harper caught the ball, eluded a Landry Shamet reach-in by switching hands, and powered home a dunk over Towns.

Game Rundown

A well-executed first possession ping-ponged from Wembanyama (top) to Castle (bottom) to Vassell for a straightaway three. Though Brunson hit his first attempt, Champagnie drew a quick foul on him at the other end. Champagnie hit two triples – the first a traditional one, and the second resembled the off-the-glass three Deuce McBride hit the other night. On a transition attempt, Brunson thought he’d drawn the foul on Vassell, but the guard swatted away the shot cleanly. Threes from Anunoby and Brunson kept it a one-possession game. Castle drew Hart’s second foul in transition, but missed both freebies. Towns committed a boneheaded foul to put the Spurs into the foul bonus with 5:45 left. Towns had a personal 5-0 run while Wembanyama sat, and San Antonio started settling for jumpers. Fox’s first basket came 8 1/2 minutes in, and his catch-and-shoot three moments later put the Spurs up eight. San Antonio exited the quarter up nine.

Castle’s corner three matched Towns’ three to start of the second. Tony Brothers’ crew missed an obvious foul by Shamet on Castle, and Towns received a friendlier whistle at the other end. Fox – very likely double-dribbling during a later possession – willed home an and-1. Castle was maddeningly whistled for his second foul (third overall) closing out on a three-point attempt. A Bridges three brought the Knicks within three. After Harper missed a transition lay-up, Bridges hit from three again. Hart was called for his third foul when he tripped Vassell on a loose-ball situation. Bridges’ third three of the quarter brought the Knicks within one. Right after a Shamet lay-up gave New York their first lead, Vassell knocked down a 4-point play. The Spurs’ offense sputtered over the remaining minutes, and after two Wembanyama turnovers, Bridges’ fourth three put the Knicks up four at the half.

New York continued to shred the Spurs defense to start the third period with Anunoby and Brunson knocking down deflating threes. Over the Knicks’ opening 8-2 salvo, San Antonio’s offense consisted of a lone Wembanyama fadeaway jumper. Fox drew Hart’s fourth foul, and his and-1 was answered by yet another Bridges three. Towns picked up his 3rd and 4th fouls in succession. Johnson’s offensive rebound and putback and Castle’s three brought the Spurs within five. San Antonio found it’s first consistent offensive execution since the first quarter, but the Knicks made just enough plays to stay comfortably ahead. McBride and Bridges’ shotmaking created separation near the end of the period, and the Spurs went to the fourth down 75-84.

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

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns leaves the court after his team’s Game 2 victory.Photograph: Eric Gay/AP

The white-hot New York Knicks moved within two wins of their first NBA championship in more than half a century on Friday night, edging the San Antonio Spurs 105-104 in a Game 2 thriller to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the NBA finals before the series shifts to Madison Square Garden.

After stealing Game 1 with a furious fourth-quarter comeback, the Knicks once again turned to Jalen Brunson when the game hung in the balance. The All-NBA guard sank the go-ahead free throw with 7.5 seconds remaining after a costly turnover by Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. Moments later, Wembanyama’s clean look from the elbow at the buzzer caromed off the back rim, allowing New York to become only the third team to win the first two games of an NBA finals on the road after the 1993 Chicago Bulls and 1995 Houston Rockets.

The victory also extended the Knicks’ remarkable postseason run to 13 consecutive wins, matching one of the longest single-season playoff winning streaks in NBA history and fueling belief that a franchise still chasing its first title since 1973 may finally be on the verge of ending decades of frustration.

Brunson, who scored 30 points in Wednesday’s opener despite battling a sore knee and ankle, finished with 20 points on 7-for-25 shooting but once again provided the composure New York needed in the biggest moments. Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 21 points and 13 rebounds and delivered several crucial baskets down the stretch.

Wembanyama looked determined to atone for a frustrating finals debut in which he shot just 6 for 21 and committed six turnovers. The 21-year-old French star responded with 29 points on 11-for-21 shooting in 40 minutes, but his late giveaway and narrowly missed jumper ultimately defined a heartbreaking finish for San Antonio.

No team has lifted the trophy after dropping the first two games of the finals at home.

San Antonio trailed by 14 points midway through the fourth quarter but used a run of 14-0 behind Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox to tie it at 97-97 with 3:00 remaining, then took their first lead of the half with less than a minute to go.

Brunson responded immediately, knotting the game at 104-104 with a driving basket. Wembanyama came up empty on San Antonio’s next trip and Anunoby gathered the rebound before New York called timeout.

The Spurs briefly seemed to catch a reprieve when they forced a miss, only for Wembanyama to throw the ball away on the ensuing possession. Brunson capitalized, drawing a foul and sinking the free throw that ultimately won the game.

Now the series shifts to New York, where anticipation has reached levels unseen in a generation. Game 3 is scheduled for Monday night at Madison Square Garden, with Donald Trump planning to attend and secondary-market ticket prices approaching $9,000 for the worst seats in the house.

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The Knicks have broken the Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals after Game 2 win

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 05: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks celebrates with his father Karl Towns Sr. after the 105-104 victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 05, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The New York Knicks are headed back to Madison Square Garden with the opportunity to bring home the franchise’s first championship in 53 years without leaving the city. The Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs, 105-104, in Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals to become the third team in league history to win the first two games of the championship round on the road, joining the 1993 Chicago Bulls and 1995 Houston Rockets.

The Knicks have now won 13 straight playoff games, with 11 of those victories coming by double-figures. The Spurs were a 2-1 favorite in the betting markets entering the series, but the Knicks have out-classed a young San Antonio team on both ends to take complete control in the matchup so far.

The Knicks took a 97-83 lead with six minutes remaining on a driving dunk by OG Anunoby. From there, the Spurs went on a 14-0 run to tie the game. The end of the fourth quarter featured a wild sequence where Jalen Brunson missed a mid-range jump shot with 13 seconds left, Victor Wembanyama grabbed the rebound and tried to throw an outlet pass to teammate Stephon Castle. Only problem: Castle wasn’t looking for the ball, so it hit him in the back and resulted in a turnover. Brunson was fouled after the Knicks recovered the possession, and he split two free throws to give New York the lead. The Spurs had one last chance, but Wembanyama missed an attempt at the game-winning jumper at the buzzer:

For long stretches in this game, it felt like the Knicks had mastered basketball. After the Spurs ended the first quarter with a nine-point lead, New York roared back in the second quarter with what’s quickly becoming their signature blend of selfless ball-movement, skilled shooting, and tough defense. The Knicks have a true five-out offense, and the threat of their shooting is putting San Antonio’s defense in constant rotation. New York has immaculate spacing and an entire lineup that all dribble, pass, and shoot.

It all came together on this possession where all five players touched the ball before Mikal Bridges walked into an opener corner three, which he drilled.

The Knicks have so many weapons offensively that it would be easy to overlook their defense, but their dedication to the other end of the floor is what’s given them such a strong grip on this series. Victor Wembanyama looked like the best player in the world after leading the Spurs to a 7-game Western Conference Finals victory over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. The Knicks are flustered Wembanyama through two games in the NBA Finals by pushing him out to the perimeter, getting into his dribble when he puts the ball on the floor, and making him defend out on the perimeter to pull him away from the paint.

The key for the Knicks on both ends has been Karl-Anthony Towns. He should be Finals MVP if the series ended today.

Towns’ defense has been questioned through his career. He’s completely turned it around defensively during this playoff run. Towns looks comfortable pressuring Wembanyama out on the perimeter defensively, and he has the strength to keep him away his spots around the elbow or inside the paint. He’s also an elite defensive rebounder who has been cleaning up on the glass and allowing New York to win the possession game. Offensively, Towns’ knockdown shooting ability means Wemby can’t hang around the rim. When he sees an opening, KAT is also consistently attacking off the dribble to put pressure on the rim and finish through Wembanyama and other Spurs defenders.

Jalen Brunson took the Knicks home with clutch shot-making down the stretch in Game 1, but for the most part San Antonio has done an excellent job defending him. It’s been the other Knicks who have picked Brunson up. New York’s offense felt way too dependent on Brunson to create everything in previous years. The Knicks no longer feels like a one-man show on offense, and it’s making them so much harder to defend.

Brunson has 50 points on 56 shots so far in this series. He’s still been emptying the clip when the Knicks really need a bucket, but it’s players like OG Anunoby, Bridges, Hart, and reserve guard Landry Shamet have kept the offense humming.

Wembanyama ended the game with 29 points on 11-of-21 shooting. The late turnover looking for Castle at the end of Game 2 might haunt the Spurs for a long time.

The Knicks are now up 2-0 in the 2026 NBA Finals. Game 3 is Monday in Madison Square Garden. It’s going to be incredible. The series just keeps getting better and better.

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Karl-Anthony Towns-led Knicks outlast Victor Wembanyama, Spurs with gutsy win in Game 2 of NBA Finals

The Knicks proved that Wednesday's 105-95 Game 1 win at the San Antonio Spurs was no fluke, doubling down in Friday's 105-104 Game 2 victory and taking a commanding 2-0 lead as the NBA Finals heads to New York.

Takeaways

  1. Karl-Anthony Towns was the best player on the floor, continuing his dominance of Victor Wembanyama. Whether New York pushed ahead against San Antonio or ended the Spurs' momentum -- the Knicks faced a largest deficit of 12 points, 37-25, after Stephon Castle's triple at the second quarter's 11:32 mark -- Towns was a common denominator on both ends. Towns scored 17 of his 21points in the first half, including a corner trey with 10 seconds before halftime to give New York a 56-52 lead at the break. He was the X factor, bringing physicality and energy from the jump while Wembanyama struggled to get going until the second half.
  2. Alongside Towns, Mikal Bridges stepped up in a development that especially mattered while Towns hit foul trouble and Jalen Brunson struggled shooting. Bridges blossomed after nine points two days ago, scoring 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting and a 4-for-6 clip from deep. Among other moments, Bridges' jumper at the third quarter's 1:15 mark pushed the Knicks ahead 82-73 and assisted an alley-oop dunk to Mitchell Robinson on the ensuing New York possession to create an 8-1 run into the 35-second point. Wembanyama ended the spurt on a field goal with 19 seconds left to keep the Knicks' lead at single digits, 84-75, entering the fourth quarter but not before New York's momentum was apparent.
  3. As mentioned, Brunson was not himself from the field, posting a 7-of-25 mark. He found his spots for timely buckets, but the Spurs were physical with him early and kept the Knicks' leader out of sorts. For Brunson to have that type of game and New York still dominate San Antonio on the road speaks volumes about where the team is at entering Games 3 and 4. Brunson's five points in the final two minutes of the game, including the decisive free throw on a 1-of-2 trip to the line, should also not be discounted.
  4. Landry Shamet's return to the Knicks for the 2025-26 season is perhaps the move of the past offseason. Shamet, as he has been in spots throughout his second year with the franchise, was nails for New York off the bench. Shamet scored 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting in 30 minutes, including two triples to start the fourth quarter and maintain the Knicks' 12- and eight-point leads, 87-75 and 90-82.

Who's the MVP?

Towns, whose 21-point, 13-rebound on 8-of-12 shooting and a 3-for-5 clip from deep while delivering on both ends went far in 33 minutes.

Highlights

What's next

The Knicks return to MSG for Monday's 8:30 p.m. Game 3. New York has not played a home game since May 21 when it notched its 109-93 Game 2 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

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A’s Drop First Game in Houston

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 05: Brent Rooker #25 of the Athletics is congratulated in the dugout after a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on June 05, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Athletics began a pivotal three-game series at the surging Houston Astros, who are closing in on them in the American League West. The Astros jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, winning the series-opener between these division rivals 5-1. The A’s appeared to carry over the effects of yesterday’s ninth-inning collapse, struggling to capitalize on their limited scoring opportunities.

Astros Strike First

Astros starting pitcher Peter Lambert worked a scoreless first inning, though A’s catcher Shea Langeliers and first baseman Nick Kurtz each hit balls hard to left field that were tracked down by Yordan Alvarez.

Houston took the lead in the bottom of the first inning against A’s starting pitcher Jack Perkins, who made his first start of the season. Astros’ designated hitter Isaac Paredes launched his ninth home run of the season, a three-run shot to left center field that gave hosts an early 3-0 advantage.

A’s Waste Golden Opportunity

The Athletics attempted to respond the next inning. With one out, left fielder Tyler Soderstrom walked and then center fielder Henry Bolte and third baseman Zack Gelof hit soft singles to load the bases. Lambert escaped the jam unscathed, striking out Jeff McNeil and Darell Hernaiz to keep the momentum on Houston’s side. McNeil started the season strong, validating the A’s offseason trade for him. However, he has since fallen into a significant slump, and the team needs him to turn things around sooner rather than later.

That was a big chance for the Athletics to get back in this game, but the bottom of their lineup let them down. Thankfully, Perkins pitched better in the second inning, retiring the side after opening the frame with back-to-back strikeouts.

Astros Add On

The Astros extended their lead in the third inning. Alvarez singled with one out and later scored on Christian Walker’s triple to right field, another line drive misplayed by A’s right fielder Carlos Cortes. Of the 84 players with at least 10 attempts in right field, Cortes ranks last with -5 outs above average. His poor defense has hurt the A’s on multiple occasions this week, a trend that must be corrected if they want to remain in the division race.

Walker crossed the plate moments later on Paredes’ sacrifice fly, giving the Astros a 5-0 lead through four innings.

Bolte was the lone bright spot for the A’s offense in the game’s early goings, recording singles in his first two at-bats. The rest of the lineup, meanwhile, was stifled by Lambert, who held the A’s scoreless through five innings.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay removed Perkins after he issued a leadoff walk in the fifth. The right-hander allowed five runs on five hits while walking two and striking out six over four innings. Right-hander Mason Barnett replaced him and set the next three Astros hitters down in order.

A’s Won’t be Shut Out

The Athletics finally got to Lambert in the sixth inning. With one out, Brent Rooker hit his ninth home run of the season, a solo blast to left field. Soderstrom drew a walk, and Bolte followed with his third hit of the game, a double that advanced Soderstrom to third base.

A’s Fail to Inch Closer

That was all she wrote for Lambert. Astros’ right-hander Enyel De Los Santos replaced him with runners on second and third and one out. As they had earlier in the game, the A’s failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position and less than two outs. De Los Santos retired Gelof and McNeil to escape the jam and preserve his team’s four-run lead. If the A’s scored during those two prime scoring opportunities, this game could have been tied or much-closer.

As the A’s offense went quietly the rest of the night against Astros’ relievers, Barnett kept the Astros from further increasing their lead. He worked four scoreless innings in long relief, striking out seven while allowing just one hit. Not only did Barnett pitch well, but by finishing the game, he ensured that everyone else in the Athletics’ bullpen will be fresh to pitch tomorrow and/or Sunday.

A’s Hope to Have More Success Tomorrow

This was an uninspiring performance by the Athletics to open this series. Aside from Bolte and Barnett, there were not many positives to take away from this game.

The A’s will try to bounce back and even up the series tomorrow afternoon. Right-hander Kade Morris will make his first MLB start for the “Green and Gold”. He will be opposed by Astros’ right-hander Tatsuya Imai, who has been pitching better as he gets more acclimated to competing in MLB. In his second-to-last start, he pitched the first six innings of the Astros combined no-hitter.

First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m., see you all there!

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Knicks take commanding NBA Finals lead over Spurs after they scrape through Game 2 nail-biter

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges #25 reacts after putting up a three-point shot, Image 2 shows New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson drives the ball downcourt as San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell gives chase, Image 3 shows New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11 dribbles down the court as San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell #24 gives chase
The Knicks defeated the Spurs in Game 2.

SAN ANTONIO — The thrill. Then the anguish. 

And then the absolute euphoria. 

The Knicks took their fans through every possible emotion. The result was something special. 

It didn’t have to be pretty. It didn’t have to be straightforward. 

All that matters is that the Knicks are halfway there. 

Karl-Anthony Towns reacts during Game 2 of the NBA Finals on June 5. Charles Wenzelberg
The Knicks now have a 2-0 series lead. Jason Szenes for The New York Post

They saw a 14-point fourth quarter lead evaporate. But it didn’t matter. They made enough plays down the stretch to take home a 105-104 Game 2 win over the Spurs on Friday night to take a commanding 2-0 NBA Finals series lead. 

“We gotta do a good job of staying composed in those situations,” Jalen Brunson said. “It’s a credit to the character this team has. Not being able to fold in situations like that is key.” 

After the Knicks took the 14-point lead with 6:04 left in the game, the Spurs rattled off a 14-0 run to tie the game with 2:59 left. Brunson missed three straight shots in that stretch. A few moments later, the Knicks were trailing by two. 

It looked like a heart-wrenching collapse was on. 

But Brunson responded with a bucket to tie the game with 39.3 seconds left. Victor Wembanyama missed on the other end. 

Jalen Brunson looks to move the ball during the Knicks’ June 5 game against the Spurs. Charles Wenzelberg

After a timeout, Brunson missed a midrange jumper over Wembanyama. But Wembanyama turned it right over, throwing his outlet pass to Stephon Castle, who wasn’t looking. It hit him in the back and the ball was corralled by Brunson. Wembanyama then fouled him. Brunson made one of two free throws to put the Knicks up by one as the Spurs called timeout with 7.5 seconds left. 

Wembanyama would have another chance for his signature moment. Everything lined up for him to create the lasting memory. 

And he failed. De’Aron Fox got the inbounds pass. Wembanyama set a screen for him, and Fox passed it to him. Everyone knew who would end up taking the last shot. 

But Wembanyama’s 20-foot jumper over Mitchell Robinson hit off the side rim and missed. The abundance of Knicks fans in the arena rejoiced. An incredible 13th straight win was secured. 

Wembanyama had vowed that he would be better in Game 2. In the biggest moments, however, he came up empty, missing the Spurs’ final two shots and turning it over in between. 

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

And just like that, the Knicks are heading home in complete control of the Finals. Just like that, the Knicks are within touching distance of a championship. 

Just like that, a near collapse was made to be irrelevant. 

Mikal Bridges celebrates during the Knicks’ June 5 game against the Spurs. Charles Wenzelberg

Only two teams had ever lost the first two games of a Finals as the home team — the 1993 Suns and the ’95 Magic. Both lost the series. 

The Spurs just became the third. Overall, teams that take a 2-0 lead in the Finals are 32-5 in the series. 

History is certainly on the Knicks’ side. They are just the second team to win 13 straight in the postseason, joining the 2016-17 Warriors, who won 15 straight. 

“It’s an amazing feeling,” coach Mike Brown said, “as a coach to know how mentally tough your team is no matter what the situation is in front of them.” 

Brunson shot a brutal 7-for-25 from the field and had four turnovers. But he hit the biggest shots when they were needed. 

A key moment also halted that 14-0 Spurs run. 

The Knicks, who have been excellent with their challenges all year, delivered yet again. They challenged a missed OG Anunoby 3-pointer and won, resulting in a foul and giving him three free throws instead of what would have been a turnover. He drilled all three to give the Knicks a 3-point lead with 2:37 left in the game. 

Mitchell Robinson slams the ball over San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama during the third quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

The Knicks trailed by as many as 12 points early in the second quarter, but Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges helped carry the Knicks offense and sparked the comeback in the middle two quarters as Brunson struggled. Towns had 12 points in the second quarter and was cooking Wembanyama. Bridges had a combined 20 in the second and third quarter and went 8-for-8 from the field. 

Landry Shamet added 13 points and made three 3-pointers. All three went missing down the stretch, though. 

And Josh Hart fouled his way to the bench and was largely a nonfactor. At the moment, though, who cares? The Knicks came into the Alamo City and punched the Spurs in the mouth. They overcame a 14-point deficit in Game 1 and a 12-point deficit along with a blown lead of their own in Game 2. 

“At this stage of the season, things aren’t gonna be pretty,” Brunson said. “It’s gonna be ugly, it’s gonna be grinded out. It’s as simple as that.” 

They just seem to keep figuring it out. The Finals are firmly in their hands. 

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St. Louis Cardinals and Reds Bullpen Wreck Cincinnati Big Time Friday

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JUNE 5: Alec Burleson #41 of the St. Louis Cardinals rounds third base after hitting a home run against the Cincinnati Reds in the third inning at Busch Stadium on June 5, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Kyle Leahy’s finish was better than his start and the St. Louis Cardinals bats were more than enough to overcome the Cincinnati Reds Friday night at Busch Stadium with an honorable mention going to the Reds bullpen for a big assist during the latter half of the game.

Trying to explain what happened in both halves of the 1st inning is similar to describing the plot of a very twisted soap opera. Let’s start with the Reds top half of the 1st. The game began with what looked like Kyle Leahy trying to improve Cincinnati’s barrel rate. Blake Dunn led off the game with a solid single to center. Bleday followed that with a lineout to Jordan Walker in right. Kyle Leahy then walked Spencer Steer giving Cincinnati runners at first and second with just one out. Sal Stewart cracked a double to center scoring both Dunn and Steer giving the Reds a 2-0 lead. Cincinnati wasn’t done yet. Eugenio Suarez singled to left scoring Steward making it 3-0 Reds.

The St. Louis bottom of the 1st inning was almost as lively as Lars Nootbaar celebrated his return to the lineup by beating out a ball to shortstop and advanced to 2nd on an errant throw. Ivan Herrera grounded into a fielder’s choice where Lars made the unfortunate decision to try and reach third making the first out of the inning there. That did not kill the Cardinals rally, though, as Alec Burleson drilled a single to right with Herrera advancing to third. After Jordan Walker struck out, Herrera scored when Bryan Torres was called safe at first on an error by Sal Stewart who review confirmed came off of the base for what would have been the last out of the inning giving the Cardinals their first run of the game making it 3-1 Reds. Reds manager Terry Francona got tossed out of the game after arguing with the umpires after their challenge failed. Alec Burleson then scored on a wild pitch by starter Brady Singer allowing the Cardinals to creep closer at 3-2 Reds. Nolan Gorman struck out to end the Cardinals 1st.

Kyle Leahy would settle down after the extremely shaky 1st inning giving the Cardinals 4 innings allowing 5 hits, 3 earned runs while striking out only 1 and walking 2. Hunter Dobbins would come in from the pen to handle the Reds for the rest of the game and I’m not even kidding about that. He would even get the win, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

The Cardinals would tie the game in the bottom of the 3rd inning when Alec Burleson delivered a 387 foot Burly bomb into the bullpen in right field making it 3-3.

The next bit of excitement would happen in the Cardinals bottom of the 5th when Ivan Herrera walked followed by Alec Burleson hitting into a fielder’s choice. He would move up to second base when he was caught leaning by relief pitcher Brock Burke, but Burke’s throw went flying into right field. Whoops. Jordan Walker made the Reds pay by smoking a double over the center fielder’s head scoring Burleson and giving St. Louis its first lead of the night at 4-3.

I was one of many looking forward to the energy Lars Nootbaar would bring as he returned from injury to the St. Louis Cardinals lineup and he did not disappoint. After Victor Scott II reached on an infield single, Lars put a charge 99 mph four-seam fastball doubling to center and easily scoring Victor all the way from first increasing the Cardinals lead to 5-3. He would then score on a single by Herrera to right making it 6-3 St. Louis. NOOT!

St. Louis would break the game wide open after Herrera’s RBI single with several assists by Cincinnati Reds blunders. Alec Burleson walked which led to a pitching change where Luis Mey would come in and give the “Tarps Off” crew plenty to chant about in right field. After Jordan Walker barely missed crushing a home run flying out to left, Mey made sure that wouldn’t matter as he walked everyone but the ushers in Busch Stadium. Torres walked. Masyn Winn was hit in the back of his left shoulder blade with the bases loaded making it 7-3 Cardinals. Jose Fermin reached on an infield single scoring Burleson then Jimmy Crooks walked and then (stop me if you’ve heard this before) Victor Scott II walked. By the time Mey was taken out of the game, it was 10-3 Cardinals which would end up being the final score. Thank you for that 30-minute half-inning, Reds bullpen.

The St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds will play the second game of the weekend series Saturday afternoon at Busch Stadium that will hopefully be as fun for the Cardinals as the first one. For the Cardinals, it’s Matthew Liberatore on the mound as he’ll take on Reds starter Nick Lodolo. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15pm and the TV broadcast will be available on Cardinals.tv.

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Yankees finally shake up struggling catchers, demote J.C. Escarra

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Yankees catcher J.C. Escarra wearing full catching gear, including a mask perched on his head, red sunglasses, a chest protector, and a glove, walking on the field, Image 2 shows New York Yankees catcher Ali Sanchez #29 at bat in the 4th inning
Yankees catching swapYankees catching swap

The Yankees have gotten almost nothing offensively from the catching position, with Austin Wells in a season-long slump and J.C. Escarra yet to prove he can hit in the majors.

After another hitless night from Wells in a 5-3 loss to Boston, and with the Red Sox scheduled to start lefties the next two games, Escarra was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after the game and Ali Sánchez will be called up from SWB, a source confirmed. 

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The righty-hitting Sánchez is not expected to be a long-term solution, but carrying two catchers that hit from the left side — and not well — hasn’t worked.

Sánchez, 29, has played 50 games in the majors after coming up through the Mets system.

Prior to the game, general manager Brian Cashman didn’t rule out Ben Rice potentially being used at the position later in the season, once Giancarlo Stanton returns from his calf strain.

Asked if Rice — another lefty hitter — could catch, with Stanton at DH and Paul Goldschmidt at first, Cashman said, “It’s a fair question.”

“It’s something I’ll defer to down the line,” Cashman said. “Rice has been fantastic and is certainly capable of going behind the plate. We’ll kick it around down the line. It’s not something that’s on the radar now.”

Rice started 26 games at catcher last season, but now that he’s emerged as one of the top hitters in the majors, the Yankees have been more reluctant to use him anywhere but at first base and DH. And with Goldschmidt hitting well, Rice has been a regular at DH.

Putting him behind the plate could take a toll on Rice, who they need to produce even more now with Judge out.

Instead, the Yankees will add Sánchez.

J.C. Escarra is headed back to Triple-A. Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Wells is 1-for-18 with no extra-base hits, two walks and six strikeouts since his three-hit game May 26 and was booed after a seventh-inning strikeout.

Cashman ruled out looking for an upgrade outside the organization for third base as well, for now.

Ryan McMahon, at third base, has hit better of late, 11-for-38 with four extra-base hits in his last 11 starts.

“Hopefully they saved all their bullets for now,” Cashman said of the players he has at catcher and third base. “They’re more than capable. They’re good players and we do believe in them. … Hopefully the best is yet to come from those positions.”

Ali Sanchez is joining the Yankees. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

But he wouldn’t rule out making changes there if necessary.

“I’m always open-minded to ways of trying to figure things out,” Cashman said.

Since the Yankees say they expect Judge back at some point this season, Cashman added he doesn’t think the injury will impact his actions prior to the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

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“We’ve got to hold down the fort,” Cashman said.

Trent Grisham has started to heat up at the plate.

He homered Friday and is 18-for-52 (.346) with six extra-base hits in his last nine games. … Goldschmidt had a nine-game hitting streak snapped.

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Jalen Brunson, De'Aaron Fox stare each other down in heated NBA Finals moment

Editor's Note: Click here for live coverage and all the latest news from Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.

What's an NBA Finals series without a good stare down?

We got one on Friday night during Game 2 of the championship series when De'Aaron Fox and Jalen Brunson faced off in a heated moment during the fourth quarter.

Fox was guarding Brunson, who was dribbling in place. When the New York Knicks guard tried to move downcourt, he tripped after Fox seemingly put an arm in his way. The Spurs guard walked up to him, toward the sideline, and the two stared each other straight in the face.

Mikal Bridges and referee Josh Tiven came over to break it up and a few Spurs players came over to try to tussle in defense of their teammate. Knicks coach Mike Brown yelled at Tiven from the sideline, calling for a technical, but no foul was called.

The Knicks were up 87-80 at the time.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jalen Brunson, De'Aaron Fox stare down in Game 2 of NBA Finals

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Padres likely lose Ramon Laureano for season in injury crusher

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows San Diego Padres right fielder Ramon Laureano (5) scores a run against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning at T-Mobile Park. , Image 2 shows Ramon Laureano of the San Diego Padres swinging at a pitch during a baseball game
padres

The Padres, in the midst of a skid, have been dealt a big blow to their outfield.

Manager Craig Stammen revealed Friday that Ramon Laureano could be sidelined for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery for a torn labrum in his right hip.

Laureano’s hip has caused him problems in the past five seasons, but he has usually been able to play through it.

During the Padres’ series in Washington last weekend, Laureano informed the team that his condition had worsened, and he opted for surgery on Friday.

Laureano’s performance at the plate has seemingly been impacted by his hip.

In mid-April, he was batting .292 with a .921 OPS. When placed on the injured list on Tuesday, his numbers had dipped significantly to a .203 average with a .660 OPS.

Left fielder Ramon Laureano of the San Diego Padres swings at a pitch in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on May 30, 2026 in Washington, DC. Getty Images

Should San Diego make a deep playoff run, it’s possible we haven’t seen the last of Laureano this season.

Stammen stated that the typical timeline for return is “that four-to-five month range.”

For the Padres to really make an impact this year, it is critical that their superstars make up for Laureano’s absence. Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr. have all underperformed thus far this season, though they’ve looked better lately.

San Diego Padres right fielder Ramon Laureano (5) scores a run against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning at T-Mobile Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Entering Friday, the Padres have scored the fewest runs in the major leagues.

They’ve lost nine of their last 10 entering the weekend series with the Mets, and their loss in Philadelphia on Thursday took them out of the playoff picture for the first time since April.

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Jalen Brunson gets nose-to-nose with Spurs’ De’Aaron Fox in heated NBA Finals Game 2 scene

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Jalen Brunson and De'Aaron Fox get in a staring contest in the fourth quarter of Game 2, Image 2 shows Jalen Brunson and De'Aaron Fox get in a staring contest in the fourth quarter of Game 2

Game 2 turned into a staring contest.

As the Knicks and Spurs turned up the physicality at Frost Bank Center, Jalen Brunson and De’Aaron Fox went from going toe-to-toe to face-to-face in a heated fourth quarter moment.

Fox defended Brunson hard as the Knicks star tried to get away along the sidelines with 9:35 on the clock in the quarter and the Knicks up 87-80, being forced out of bounds.

In response, Brunson stared down his Spurs foe — who was happy to oblige, getting face-to-face in a wordless showdown.

Teammates and officials came in to quickly break things up before they crossed a line — though Brunson’s dad, a former Knick and current assistant coach, got involved, racing down the court and appearing to admonish Fox.

“You don’t do that,” the elder Brunson seemed to say, according to The Post’s amateur lip-reading. “That’s enough.”

Game 2 has gotten increasingly physical as players seek any edge they can find — the Spurs trying to avoid a 2-0 hole and the Knicks looking to head back to the Garden in command of the series.

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31-32 – A welcomed return as Rangers rally past Guardians 3-2

Jun 5, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers Shortstop Corey Seager (5) hits a 2-run home run during the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images | Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images

The Texas Rangers scored three runs while the Cleveland Guardians scored two runs.

The Rangers had us in the first half, not gonna lie.

In what was shaping up to be a familiar game that you’ve seen a dozen times at The Shed this year, the Rangers found the switch to flip and came through with a crooked number inning that just happened to be the exact digit that was as many as they needed to find the win column tonight in the series opener against Cleveland.

After a day off yesterday, Texas returned home and greeted us like an old friend as the Guardians took a 1-0 lead three pitches into the game when former No. 1 overall pick Travis Bazzana took former two-time first round pick and 2022 No. 3 overall selection Kumar Rocker deep.

With the first inning blues playing once more, Texas was in a hole before they’d even stepped up to the plate. That started to seem like the least of their problems as they came to bat in the fourth inning without a hit. By that point, it was 2-0 Guardians when World Series-winning legend Austin Hedges singled in Steven Kwan with two outs in the top of the fourth.

Cleveland reached to lead off an inning in four of the first five frames but Rocker prevented the big inning throughout his start. One of the key moments in the game came with the Guardians already up 2-0 when Bazzana tripled to lead off the fifth. Rocker buckled down and prevented Bazzana from scoring to keep it close.

Overall Rocker went five innings on 94 pitches where he allowed two runs on six hits and a walk with five strikeouts.

Meanwhile, Cleveland starter Parker Messick would make it to two outs in the bottom of the fourth before Josh Jung singled for Texas’ first hit of the night. The Rangers would be held off the board until a few innings later when catcher Kyle Higashioka smacked a solo home run to give Texas some hope as the Cleveland lead was halved.

With the looming threat of a shutout off the table, returning lineup reinforcement Wyatt Langford doubled to put the tying run in scoring position. Also returning was Corey Seager and he followed Langford not just with an RBI hit to tie the game but with a two-run dong that suddenly gave the Rangers a lead as the game exited the middle innings.

Despite the fact that the Rangers snoozed through the first half of the game, they held the lead and turned things over to their bullpen. A combination of Peyton Gray, Jalen Beeks, and Jacob Latz tossed the final four innings with Latz collecting a six-out save that proved a bit laborious.

The trio of relievers struck out six and held Cleveland to just a ninth inning Hedges single that had us sweating a little before Latz finished off the comeback victory on his 35th pitch of the night.

Player of the Game: Seager had been chained to the longest, most dreadful slump of his big league career before hitting the IL with back issues. After missing over half of May, Seager returned and immediately made an impact with his go-ahead and eventual game-winning two-run home run that put Texas up by the eventual 3-2 final score.

Welcome back, Corey!

Up Next: The Rangers and Guardians hit the national airwaves with RHP Jack Leiter expected to pitch for Texas opposite RHP Tanner Bibee for Cleveland.

The Saturday evening first pitch from The Shed is scheduled for 6:35 pm CDT and you can watch the game on FOX.

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Mariners drop first game of road trip 7-3

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JUNE 05: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after being hit by the ball against the Detroit Tigers during the top of the third inning at Comerica Park on June 05, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There’s a baseball cliche when a pitcher has an OK night but still takes the L: “He just made the one mistake, and it got punished.” It’s tempting to tag that to Bryan Woo in tonight’s 7-3 loss to the Tigers, but I’m not so sure it’s true.

The pitch you’d want to pin that canard to is the slider that Kerry Carpenter took into the seats in the bottom of the third. After all, Woo left it right in the lefty loop zone.

The thing is, though: despite being a modern lefty slugger, Carpenter isn’t really a lefty-loop-zone guy. He’s more dead red, with his power output declining in nearly perfect concentric circles the farther you get from middle-middle. If anything, he’s a little better up and out rather than down and in. So I’m declaring this pitch not a “just the one mistake” pitch from Woo, notwithstanding the result.

What’s more, I no longer hold Mariners pitchers responsible for what Kerry Carpenter does to them. Including the postseason, Carpenter has a .346 wOBA against all the other 28 clubs for his career. That’s Brandon Lowe’s career number. After today’s game, he’s at .475 against the Mariners. That’s Lou Gehrig. For whatever reason, it’s his manhandling of Seattle’s pitchers that’s propping up the Kerry Bonds nickname.

So that pitch is off the hook. How about the other 89? In one sense, they went pretty well, with seven strikeouts and no walks. And the Tigers’ ten hits benefited from some good BABIP fortune, including a ball that Julio Rodríguez let drop in front of him, which is at least an excuse to link to Ryan’s excellent piece from this morning. The rub came in Woo’s last inning. Trying to get through a full seven innings, he just had to get through the bottom of the lineup for a third time. But he couldn’t do it, leaving the game with the bases loaded on a triplet of singles, two of which were hard hits off the sinker.

I know I’m becoming sort of obsessive about this—and that Woo’s been great lately—but it gives me pause. He only used three sinkers in his first time through the order. As he ran out of tricks the third time through, he went to it more often, and the Mariners paid the price. He did get three whiffs on the 13 sinkers he threw over the course of the game, but those final ones leave an aftertaste that infects my impression of the whole performance. I don’t want to overstate the issue, and it felt worse because Eduard Bazardo allowed two of those inherited runners to score. If he’d induced a double play, I’m sure I’d have an easier time letting this go. But until Woo’s sinker comes back, I’ll still be nervous. The situation is less “one mistake pitch” and more “one mistake pitch type.”

Tonight’s Sun Hat Award goes to J.P. Crawford, his first since 2023. He was the early favorite for kicking off a string of opposite-field singles—precisely the way to get to Tigers starter Framber Valdez—that scored the Mariners a run in the first half inning. Still, I grimaced when he scored that run on an uncomfortable-looking slide into home plate and hobbled back to the dugout. No matter! His body held up enough to pull off a web gem in the second inning. I don’t know what to make of it, but it’s undeniable at this point: J.P. has been playing his ass off at shortstop since he volunteered to eventually move over to third base. 

Still, I grimaced when he was slow to get up, and not in an I’m-milking-this way. No matter! His body held up well enough for him to work a full count in his next at-bat and win the battle by getting on base a second time. Still, I grimaced when the reason he reached was that he took a pitch to the hand. Matter! He did not return to the game. Mercifully the x-rays came back negative. (The HBP was probably unintentional, but please just kick Framber out of the league already.)

The Mariners threatened a few more times: Colt Emerson hit an oppo taco, checking off another first in his young career, but with nobody aboard. And Josh Naylor laid down a cheeky little bunt, but was left stranded. Maybe the Mariners will have more luck behind Bryce Miller, unshackled from the piggyback, tomorrow.

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Dodgers’ Max Muncy to return Saturday from head-on collision

Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy will return to the Dodgers’ lineup on Saturday for the second game of a three-game series against the Angels, manager Dave Roberts said.

Before the series opener on Friday, Roberts said Muncy was still sore from his head-on crash at first base with Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ildemaro Vargas in the Dodgers’ 3-2 loss at Chase Field the previous night.

“He’s doing well,” Roberts said. “He got a little bruise on his nose. He’s a little sore overall, but feels good. Says he’ll be ready to go tomorrow.”

The collision in question occurred with two outs in the fifth inning when Muncy hit a grounder to Vargas up the first-base line. From there, it was a footrace to bag.

Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy will return to the Dodgers’ lineup on Saturday for the second game of a three-game series against the Angels, manager Dave Roberts said. CHRIS TORRES/EPA/Shutterstock
Before the series opener on Friday, Roberts said Muncy was still sore from his head-on crash at first base with Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ildemaro Vargas in the Dodgers’ 3-2 loss at Chase Field the previous night. Anna Carrington-Imagn Images
“He’s doing well,” Roberts said. “He got a little bruise on his nose. He’s a little sore overall, but feels good. Says he’ll be ready to go tomorrow.” Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Muncy reached the base first but couldn’t avoid the oncoming Vargas.

“As I’m running down the line, I saw him in foul territory, so I got to the inside of the bag, and I thought he was going to stay on that [other] side,” Muncy told reporters in Phoenix. “It felt like neither of us knew which direction we were going to go, and then we both went the wrong direction. And yeah, bang.”

Roberts said he was uncertain whether Muncy would be available to pinch hit on Friday — he said that would be determined after Muncy tries warming up — but was confident the third baseman could be treated like any other player starting Saturday.

Muncy is also expected to play on Sunday.

The Dodgers don’t have a game on Monday. They will travel to Pittsburgh that day.