Towns, Knicks Push Spurs to Brink With Game 2 NBA Finals Nail-biting Win

Karl-Anthony Towns has been where Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs find themselves: a talented team struggling to overcome costly mistakes in high-pressure moments.

The New York Knicks leaned heavily on Towns’ experience and execution Friday night, holding off a late Spurs charge for a 105-104 Game 2 victory at Frost Bank Center. The win gives New York a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals.

With Towns consistent on both ends of the floor, New York is now two wins away from history. The Knicks joined the 1993 Chicago Bulls and 1995 Houston Rockets as the only teams to win the first two Finals games on the road. Both of those teams went on to capture championships.

New York’s performance in Game 2 may end up being remembered as the springboard toward its first NBA title since 1973 if the team keeps pace. Towns was not on the court for Wembanyama’s final 20-foot jumper, which fell short at the buzzer, as Mitchell Robinson defended the Spurs rookie on that possession.

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Towns did play a role in the closing sequence of the previous possession. With the score tied at 104 and 11.8 seconds left, Wembanyama grabbed a rebound but tossed a pass toward Stephon Castle that went astray. Jalen Brunson collected the loose ball and drew a foul from Wembanyama. Brunson made the first of two free throws, which became the deciding point.

Towns finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists in 34 minutes. Wembanyama totaled 29 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter as San Antonio erased a 14-point deficit to briefly lead by two with under a minute left.

“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. “And I think that for us, we keep leaning on experience and we keep leaning on the word ‘execution.'”

Two years earlier, Towns was with Minnesota when the Timberwolves won the first two road games against the then-champion Denver Nuggets and advanced to the Western Conference finals. He also played for the Knicks team that lost home-court advantage against the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals last year.

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Brunson noted how this year’s squad has embraced a collective journey. “Obviously, you come into the new year, it’s a new journey, new pieces. Something’s different. New set of goals and everything,” he said. “So it’s all about growing together as a team and just going through your battles, going through the journey, going through the ups and downs of it, and making sure that we’re all focused on one thing.”

The Knicks’ run of 13 straight playoff wins, including eight consecutive on the road, has showcased that mindset. Towns contributed 17 points in the first half of Game 2 while consistently challenging Wembanyama with his offensive repertoire as Brunson shot 7-for-25 from the floor.

In this series, Wembanyama’s offensive numbers have declined compared with the prior matchup against Oklahoma City. Through two games, the Knicks’ defense anchored by Towns and Robinson has held him to 40.5% shooting and 10 turnovers.

Towns has been statistically steady, averaging 19.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and four assists on 55.6% shooting, with a plus-25 rating across the two games.

Knicks coach Mike Brown pointed to team chemistry as a key factor. “We finally got to a point where he was comfortable, I was comfortable, Jalen was comfortable, OG [Anunoby] was comfortable, Mikal [Bridges] was comfortable,” Brown said. “And to me, that’s what the regular season’s about.”

Brown continued, “The regular season is about finding your way so you can get prepared for this time of the year. And there’s going to be a lot of ups and downs. And I hope there’s adversity. I hope like hell there’s adversity. Because we have to see if we’re strong enough when it comes to being connected to see if we can get through it during the regular season.”

He emphasized that New York has learned to manage challenges in real time. “So when we get here, anything we run into, we’ve already conquered during the regular season. We’ll know how to handle it,” Brown said.

The Knicks changed their offensive approach midway through the season to focus more around Towns. Brown adjusted again during the Atlanta Hawks series about six weeks ago, elevating Towns’ role as a playmaker when New York trailed 2-1 in the series. Since that change, the Knicks have not lost.

They now stand two wins from clinching a championship, with Game 3 set for Monday at Madison Square Garden.

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

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