The New York Knicks are on the brink of ending their prolonged championship drought as they return to Madison Square Garden, just two wins away from glory. Jalen Brunson’s clutch performance on Friday night propelled the Knicks to a narrow 105-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of the series.
In the final moments, Brunson hit a decisive free throw, securing the win. Earlier, a missed jumper by San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama had the potential to alter the game’s outcome in favor of the Spurs.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns contributed significantly with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Brunson and Mikal Bridges also made crucial contributions, each scoring 20 points. The Knicks have now achieved a remarkable streak of 13 consecutive wins, the second-longest in NBA playoff history.
The Knicks became just the third team to clinch victories in the first two games of a finals series on the road. They join the ranks of Michael Jordan’s 1993 Chicago Bulls and Hakeem Olajuwon’s 1995 Houston Rockets. Both the Bulls and Rockets went on to win championships, with the Bulls defeating the Phoenix Suns in six games, while the Rockets swept the Orlando Magic.
Wembanyama had a strong second half, scoring 29 points, while De’Aaron Fox added 20 points for the Spurs. As the series transitions to New York, Game 3 at Madison Square Garden is slated for Monday night.
The Spurs mounted a comeback from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Wembanyama’s three-point play with just under a minute left gave San Antonio their first lead for nearly two quarters, but it was short-lived. Brunson quickly responded, leveling the score with his seventh basket from 24 attempts. Wembanyama’s missed long jumper and OG Anunoby’s rebound set the stage for Brunson’s decisive free throw after a turnover by Wembanyama.
Game 3 is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. on Monday in New York.