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 york/">New York.

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 21 points 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.

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 21 points in the first half, including a corner trey with 10 seconds before halftime to give New York a 56-52 lead at the break. He was the X factor, bringing physicality and energy from the jump while Wembanyama struggled to get going until the second half.

Alongside Towns, Mikal Bridges stepped up in a development that especially mattered while Towns hit foul trouble and Jalen Brunson struggled shooting. Bridges blossomed after nine points two days ago, scoring 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting and a 4-for-6 clip from deep. Among other moments, Bridges’ jumper at the third quarter’s 1:15 mark pushed the Knicks ahead 82-73 and assisted an alley-oop dunk to Mitchell Robinson on the ensuing New York possession to create an 8-1 run into the 35-second point. Wembanyama ended the spurt on a field goal with 19 seconds left to keep the Knicks’ lead at single digits, 84-75, entering the fourth quarter but not before New York’s momentum was apparent.

As mentioned, Brunson was not himself from the field, posting a 7-of-25 mark. He found his spots for timely buckets, but the Spurs were physical with him early and kept the Knicks’ leader out of sorts. For Brunson to have that type of game and New York still dominate San Antonio on the road speaks volumes about where the team is at entering Games 3 and 4. Brunson’s five points in the final two minutes of the game, including the decisive free throw on a 1-of-2 trip to the line, should also not be discounted.

Landry Shamet‘s return to the Knicks for the 2025-26 season is perhaps the move of the past offseason. Shamet, as he has been in spots throughout his second year with the franchise, was nails for New York off the bench. Shamet scored 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting in 30 minutes, including two triples to start the fourth quarter and maintain the Knicks’ 12- and eight-point leads, 87-75 and 90-82.

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

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