By NBA insiders, 2026-06-14 11:36:00
随着纽约尼克斯队在周六的第五场比赛中击败圣安东尼奥马刺队，2026年NBA总决赛已落下帷幕。
尼克斯在第一场以105-95击败马刺，夺回了主场优势，随后又在第二场以105-104险胜，取得大比分2-0的领先。马刺在第三场反弹，在麦迪逊广场花园以115-111赢下比赛；而纽约则在周三完成了NBA季后赛历史上最伟大的逆转，在半场落后29分的情况下抹平分差，以107-106拿下第四场。
尼克斯在东部决赛中横扫克利夫兰骑士队，自1999年以来首次杀入总决赛。纽约终结了长达数十年的冠军荒，夺得了自1973年以来的首个总冠军。
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(3) 纽约尼克斯 4-1 淘汰 (2) 圣安东尼奥马刺
第五场：马刺 94，尼克斯 90
尼克斯表现的最大启示： 如果有剧本作家，这个系列赛的一切都会遵循相似的剧情。马刺取得领先，尼克斯奋起反击，然后布伦森接管比赛。这一切感觉不可避免，即便卡尔-安东尼·唐斯 (Karl-Anthony Towns) 犯满离场，即便尼克斯的替补席直到第三节末段才有所贡献。布伦森在夺冠战中砍下45分的表现将被世人永远铭记。 – 文森特·古德威尔 (Vincent Goodwill)
马刺表现的最大启示： 强硬的防守掩盖了糟糕的进攻，但这也未能支撑足够长的时间，无法阻止圣安东尼奥在总决赛第五场以90-94不敌纽约尼克斯的比赛中再次葬送两位数的领先优势，马刺也因此惨遭淘汰。
马刺曾一度领先16分，这也是他们在本系列赛中连续第五场领先达到两位数，但纽约在半场结束时将分差缩小到5分。半场结束前，维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 送出5次盖帽，帮助马刺将尼克斯的半场得分限制在37分，这是尼克斯本赛季（包括常规赛和季后赛）的半场最低得分。然而，尼克斯随后打出一波10-0的高潮，在比赛还剩4分48秒时将比分追至83平。
仅仅1分08秒后，纽约便夺回了自首节以来的首次领先——狂砍全场最高45分的杰伦·布伦森 (Jalen Brunson) 三罚全中，帮助纽约确立了保持到终场的领先优势。 – 迈克尔·C·莱特 (Michael C. Wright)
第五场的一项重要数据： 今年的NBA总决赛呈现出一种“龟兔赛跑”般的博弈：尼克斯克服了糟糕的开局，通过一系列惊天逆转熬死了马刺，夺得了自1973年以来的首个总冠军。
在这五场比赛中，马刺在第一节总共净胜57分，且在每场比赛的首节都曾取得两位数的领先。然而，尼克斯并未气馁，他们在第二节净胜圣安东尼奥29分，第三节净胜14分，第四节净胜27分。不出所料，纽约在第五场第三节结束时落后7分的情况下再度逆转夺冠。
马刺主帅米奇·约翰逊 (Mitch Johnson) 始终未能针对球队后劲不足的顽疾找到阵容或战术上的解法，而尼克斯球星布伦森在周六扭伤左踝后，凭借又一次在比赛后期的强韧表现，奠定了自己作为纽约体育传奇的地位。 – 本·戈利弗 (Ben Golliver)
第四场：尼克斯 107，马刺 106
尼克斯表现的最大启示： 尼克斯永远不会提前缴械，即便这需要他们去创造NBA历史。他们通过完成29分的逆转证明了这一点——这是总决赛历史上最大分差的逆转，也让他们距离总冠军仅一步之遥。杰伦·布伦森用一个又一个令人热血沸腾的进球，让自己在纽约体育和NBA历史殿堂中的地位更进一步。但正是尼克斯令人窒息的防守和恰到好处的身体对抗，为尼克斯历史上最及时的补篮铺平了道路——OG·阿奴诺比 (OG Anunoby) 在比赛还剩1.2秒时腾空而起的轻轻一补。 – 文森特·古德威尔 (Vincent Goodwill)
马刺表现的最大启示： 马刺似乎连续第二场在身体对抗上压制了尼克斯，但他们没能将这种优势保持得足够久，最终遭遇了联盟历史上最惨烈的崩盘，大比分1-3落后。开局一波12-2的高潮和神准的投篮让第四场看起来大局已定——在武当帮 (Wu-Tang Clan) 踏上球场进行半场表演之前，圣安东尼奥就已经建立起76-49的巨大领先。
马刺在下半场松了油门，到第三节结束时，纽约仅落后15分。尼克斯随后打出一波7-1的攻势，在比赛还剩4分34秒时将圣安东尼奥的领先优势缩小到4分。而在比赛还剩1分22秒时，纽约实现了本场首次领先。
对于这支年轻的马刺队来说，这个季后赛充满了教训，而最近的这一次可能会是最痛苦的。 – 迈克尔·C·莱特 (Michael C. Wright)
第四场最大的过度反应： 系列赛已经结束了。
前四场比赛都悬念留到了最后一秒。我认为尼克斯最终会夺冠吗？是的。但由于每场比赛之间有两天的休息时间，文班亚马将有机会充电，而年轻的马刺也会继续发起冲击。不过，在完成了这次真正令人难以置信的逆转之后，纽约的狂欢派对至少会一直持续到周六晚上第五场比赛开打。
结论： 过度反应。 – 蒂姆·邦唐 (Tim Bontemps)
重要数据（来自ESPN Research）：
- 马刺在上半场砍下76分，但余下的比赛仅得到30分。根据埃利亚斯体育统计公司 (Elias Sports Bureau) 的数据，这46分的落差追平了自24秒进攻时限时代（1954-55赛季以来）季后赛单场比赛的最大下半场得分跌幅。
- 尼克斯成为总决赛历史上第39支取得3-1领先的球队。在此前的38支球队中，有37支成功夺冠，仅有2016年的勇士队在面对勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James) 领衔的骑士队时痛失这一领先优势。
- 阿奴诺比成为自1998年有详细文字直播（play-by-play）以来，第五位在季后赛最后5秒内投进职业生涯前两次反超球的球员。他此前曾在2020年分区半决赛第三场投中压哨绝杀。阿奴诺比加入了泰瑞斯·哈利伯顿 (Tyrese Haliburton)（前三次尝试均命中）、卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Doncic)、詹姆斯和罗伯特·霍里 (Robert Horry) 的行列。
第五场看点： 在遭遇总决赛历史上最惨烈的崩盘后，圣安东尼奥将如何重整旗鼓？
马刺在下半场因消极的进攻和比赛末段的一系列失误，眼睁睁看着29分的领先优势化为乌有。在最后两分钟里，文班亚马两罚不中，达龙·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox) 在本该消耗时间的情况下尝试转换上篮未果，马刺还漏掉了阿奴诺比，让后者补篮完成准绝杀。尽管年轻的马刺在这轮季后赛中展现出了超越年龄的成熟，但在面临淘汰的情况下，要摆脱如此多的遗憾将是一项艰巨的任务。 – 本·戈利弗 (Ben Golliver)
第三场：马刺 115，尼克斯 111
马刺表现的最大启示： 马刺证明了他们能在每场比赛的首节迅速进入状态并取得两位数领先，而这一次，他们终于展现出了终结比赛的能力。文班亚马（32分、8个篮板、3次盖帽）在圣安东尼奥本届总决赛最完整的一场表现中大放异彩。
在第三场比赛之前，主帅米奇·约翰逊反复对圣安东尼奥的前景表示信心，尽管他们大比分0-2落后——前提是他的球队能够重新打出他们标志性的无私篮球。在很大程度上，圣安东尼奥做到了，他们在前两场场均仅有14次助攻后，本场送出了28次助攻。马刺共有六人得分上双。 – 迈克尔·C·莱特 (Michael C. Wright)
尼克斯表现的最大启示： 过去七周里支撑尼克斯不断赢球的基本原则在某些阶段失效了。感觉他们在下半场一直在紧咬马刺，但无法守住微弱的领先优势，也无法像前两场那样限制住文班亚马。
在13场季后赛连胜期间，尼克斯大部分时间都保持着均衡的进攻，而本场得分重担主要落在了杰伦·布伦森和OG·阿奴诺比身上，两人合力砍下了纽约111分中的60分。这是尼克斯在很长一段时间内首次尝到败绩，在周三的第四场比赛之前，他们有一些问题需要解决。 – 文森特·古德威尔 (Vincent Goodwill)
第三场最大的过度反应： 尼克斯在第四场面临压力
当然，尼克斯错失了在第四场终结系列赛的机会，但由于在圣安东尼奥赢下了前两场，他们依然握有主场优势，并且显然有信心在那里再次取胜。如果马刺在周三晚上能再下一城？那么纽约的狂欢派对将瞬间变成恐慌。
结论： 过度反应。 – 蒂姆·邦唐 (Tim Bontemps)
重要数据（来自ESPN Research）：
- 文班亚马成为NBA总决赛历史上单场砍下至少30分5篮板5助攻第二年轻的球员（22岁155天），仅次于“魔术师”约翰逊 (Magic Johnson)（20岁276天）。
- 文班亚马在第三场送出3次盖帽，本届季后赛盖帽总数达到70次，超越了迪肯贝·穆托姆博 (Dikembe Mutombo)（1994年季后赛期间送出69次盖帽），创下自1974年开始统计盖帽以来，球员季后赛处子秀的最高纪录。
第四场看点： 尼克斯将如何应对46天来的首场失利？
在纽约的13场季后赛连胜戛然而止后，主教练迈克·布朗 (Mike Brown) 肯定会觉得有很多地方需要调整。杰伦·布伦森反常地出现了5次失误，表现有些松懈，而米卡尔·布里奇斯 (Mikal Bridges) 和兰德里·沙梅特 (Landry Shamet) 在周一的手感也彻底冰凉。
卡尔-安东尼·唐斯已成为纽约的X因素：这位全明星中锋在圣安东尼奥的两场比赛中打出了总决赛MVP级别的表现，但在麦迪逊广场花园与文班亚马的对决中落入下风，仅得到11分、8个篮板和1次助攻。唐斯必须重新证明自己，尼克斯才能牢牢掌控这轮系列赛。 – 本·戈利弗 (Ben Golliver)
第二场：尼克斯 105，马刺 104
马刺表现的最大启示： 与第一场不同，马刺的后劲终于来了。但在有机会完成逆转的关键时刻，文班亚马传球失误，球砸在斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle) 的背上，直接落入杰伦·布伦森手中，后者在比赛还剩9.5秒时的罚球命中，让马刺陷入了0-2落后的绝境。
这仅是马刺在本届季后赛中第二次在篮板球争夺中落败（42-44），而击败他们的尼克斯队虽然已经夺回了主场优势，但打得却更加拼命。上一次在季后赛中篮板输给对手时，马刺在西部决赛中以15分之差惨败给俄克拉荷马城。在NBA总决赛历史上，此前37支取得2-0领先的球队中有32支最终捧杯，随着系列赛移师纽约，圣安东尼奥面临着极低的晋级概率。 – 迈克尔·C·莱特 (Michael C. Wright)
尼克斯表现的最大启示： 这或许展现了尼克斯的经验或紧迫感。他们没有坐等马刺先发制人，尽管他们也经历了一场严峻的考验。
他们成为历史上第三支在总决赛客场赢下前两场比赛的球队，加入了1993年的芝加哥公牛队 and 1995年的休斯敦火箭队的行列，这两支球队最终都夺得了冠军。
卡尔-安东尼·唐斯延续了他职业生涯至今的最佳表现，砍下21分和13个篮板，而米卡尔·布里奇斯似乎怎么投怎么有。尼克斯不仅迫使对手失误，还抓住了一些运气成分的失误，并且没有自乱阵脚——在客场偷得G1后往往容易松懈的情况下，这样的表现令人印象深刻。 – 文森特·古德威尔 (Vincent Goodwill)
第二场最大的过度反应： 系列赛已经结束了。
尼克斯不知何故已经有六个多星期没有输过球了。
圣安东尼奥成为NBA历史上第三支在总决赛主场输掉前两场比赛的球队——加入了1993年的菲尼克斯太阳队和1995年的奥兰多魔术队的行列。
这两轮系列赛中的客场球队（芝加哥公牛队和休斯敦火箭队）最终都夺得了冠军。仅凭历史规律，天平就已经向纽约倾斜——这还没有算上卡斯尔和达龙·福克斯在第二场末段明显的伤病情况。
尽管如此，现在还不要急着给圣安东尼奥判死刑。这支西部冠军在这轮系列赛的前两场都有机会取胜，而尼克斯只是在最后时刻惊险过关。马刺在上一轮对阵俄克拉荷马城的比赛中，已经证明了他们有能力赢下关键的客场比赛。
也许文班亚马和马刺还留有后手。在周一的第三场和周三的第四场中，等待他们的将是狂热的主场氛围，他们需要在这里至少赢下两场比赛：这也是27年来麦迪逊广场花园首次迎来总决赛。 – 蒂姆·邦唐 (Tim Bontemps)
重要数据（来自ESPN Research）：
- 唐斯成为自1973年戴夫·德布斯切尔 (Dave DeBusschere) 以来，首位在总决赛客场比赛中砍下20+两双的尼克斯球员。
- 第二场胜利是尼克斯在季后赛中取得的客场八连胜，追平了2001年的洛杉矶湖人队，并列NBA季后赛历史上单赛季最长的客场连胜纪录。
第一场：尼克斯 105，马刺 95
马刺表现的最大启示： 圣安东尼奥丢掉了他们在总决赛揭幕战中的统治地位，在此前总决赛首战取得6胜0负的战绩后，首次在第一场失利。马刺后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔、达龙·福克斯和迪伦·哈珀 (Dylan Harper) 在防守杰伦·布伦森时显得非常吃力，后者在下半场砍下了全场最高30分中的19分。虽然圣安东尼奥拥有可以说是联盟中最具影响力的防守者文班亚马，但客队在内线彻底摧毁了马刺，在内线得分上以50-42压制了主队。 – 迈克尔·C·莱特 (Michael C. Wright)
尼克斯表现的最大启示： 这支球队似乎并没有被现场的气氛所吓倒，也没有被文班亚马的威慑力所震慑。尽管纽约在整场比赛中仅领先了19分31秒，但布伦森在第四节的接管比赛成为了获胜的方程式。他全场30投得到30分，其中第四节出手9次。一旦纽约锁死了马刺的三分球，尼克斯牢牢掌控局势并确立系列赛优势似乎只是时间问题。一个熟悉的公式：前期靠卡尔-安东尼·唐斯，后期靠布伦森。 – 文森特·古德威尔 (Vincent Goodwill)
第一场最大的过度反应： 尼克斯现在是夺冠大热门了。
是的，尼克斯已经从圣安东尼奥手中夺走了主场优势，而且文班亚马看起来确实在与雷霆队那场艰苦的七场鏖战中消耗了太多体力。但布伦森——尽管他投进了一些不可思议的球——效率却极其低下。圣安东尼奥错失了很多机会，而且我们已经见识过马刺在俄克拉荷马城赢下两场比赛的实力。
不过，什么不是过度反应呢？这轮系列赛至少要打六场。
结论： 过度反应。 – 蒂姆·邦唐 (Tim Bontemps)
重要数据：
- 布伦森代表尼克斯第38次在季后赛中砍下至少25分——在队史上排名第二，仅次于帕特里克·尤因 (Patrick Ewing)（43次）。在本届季后赛中，当布伦森得分达到30+时，尼克斯的战绩为6胜0负。
- 乔什·哈特 (Josh Hart) 成为历史上第二位在总决赛单场比赛中砍下至少15个篮板、5次助攻和4次抢断的球员，加入了拉里·伯德的行列，后者在1986年总决赛对阵火箭队的第三场比赛中做到了这一点。哈特的15个篮板是自湖人队的埃尔金·贝勒在1970年总决赛对阵尼克斯队的第一场比赛中抢下20个篮板以来，身高在6英尺5英寸（约1.96米）或以下的球员在总决赛单场比赛中抢下的最多篮板数。
- 尼克斯在本届季后赛中已经以两位数的分差赢下了七场客场比赛，创下了NBA历史上单届季后赛中任何球队的客场两位数大胜场次纪录（超越了2013年的热火队）。
- 这是尼克斯在过去两个季后赛中第七次在下半场落后两位数的情况下完成逆转，这一数据在NBA中遥遥领先。在同一时期，没有其他球队的逆转次数超过三次。 – ESPN Research
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
点击查看原文：2026 NBA Finals: Biggest takeaways from Knicks-Spurs Game 5
2026 NBA Finals: Biggest takeaways from Knicks-Spurs Game 5
The 2026 NBA Finals have ended as the New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 on Saturday.
The Knicks stole home-court advantage in Game 1, defeating the Spurs 105-95 before taking a 2-0 series lead with a 105-104 win in Game 2. The Spurs bounced back in Game 3 with a 115-111 win at Madison Square Garden, while New York completed the greatest comeback in NBA playoff history, erasing a 29-point halftime deficit Wednesday to take Game 4 107-106.
The Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals to reach the championship round for the first time since 1999. New York ended its decades-long title drought, winning its first title since 1973.
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(3) New York Knicks eliminate (2) San Antonio Spurs, 4-1
Game 5: Spurs 94, Knicks 90
Biggest takeaway from the Knicks’ performance: If there were a script writer, everything in this series would follow a similar storyline. The Spurs take the lead, the Knicks fight back and Brunson takes over. It felt inevitable, even though Karl-Anthony Towns fouled out, even though the Knicks’ bench didn’t arrive until late in the third quarter. Brunson delivering 45 points in a closeout game will be remembered for ages. – Vincent Goodwill
Biggest takeaway from the Spurs’ performance: Hard-nosed defense masked a stinker on offense, but not long enough to prevent San Antonio from blowing yet another double-digit lead in a 94-90 loss to the New York Knicks as the Spurs were eliminated in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
The Spurs led by 16 points, the fifth consecutive game in this series they’ve led by double figures, but New York cut it to five at halftime. The Spurs limited the Knicks to their fewest points in the first half this season (37 points), regular season or playoffs, as Victor Wembanyama blocked five shots before the break. But a 10-0 Knicks run tied the score at 83 with 4:48 left to play.
New York took its first lead since the first quarter just 1:08 later, when Jalen Brunson, who racked up a game-high 45 points, made three free throws to give New York a lead it would never surrender. – Michael C. Wright
One significant stat from Game 5: This year’s NBA Finals were defined by its tortoise versus hare dynamic: The Knicks clinched their first championship since 1973 by shaking off dreadful starts to outlast the Spurs with a series of spectacular comebacks.
The Spurs won the first quarters by a total of 57 points across the five games, holding a double-digit lead in the opening period of every contest. Undeterred, the Knicks outscored San Antonio by 29 points in the second quarters, 14 points in the third quarters and 27 points in the fourth quarters. True to form, New York came back from seven points down at the end of the third quarter to win Game 5.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson never found lineup or strategy answers for his team’s persistent fading, and Knicks star Jalen Brunson cemented himself as a New York sports legend with another strong late-game performance after rolling his left ankle Saturday. – Ben Golliver
Game 4: Knicks 107, Spurs 106
Biggest takeaway from the Knicks’ performance: The Knicks are never out of a game, even when making NBA history is required. They proved it by completing a 29-point comeback, the largest ever in a Finals game, to put themselves within one game of a title. Jalen Brunson took another step toward etching himself in New York sports and NBA lore with every thrilling bucket. But the Knicks’ stifling defense and appropriate physicality set the stage for the most timely tip-in in Knicks history – OG Anunoby’s soaring touch with 1.2 seconds left. – Vincent Goodwill
Biggest takeaway from the Spurs’ performance: The Spurs seemed to dominate the Knicks physically for the second consecutive game, but they couldn’t do it long enough to prevent the largest collapse in league history to fall behind 3-1 in the series. A 12-2 run to start and deadeye shooting made Game 4 look like a wrap – San Antonio built a 76-49 lead before the Wu-Tang Clan even stepped onto the court for its halftime performance.
The Spurs let off the gas in the second half, and by the end of the third quarter, New York trailed by only 15 points. A 7-1 Knicks run cut San Antonio’s lead to four points with 4:34 remaining. And with 1:22 left, New York took its first lead.
In a postseason chock full of lessons for the young Spurs, this latest might prove to be the most painful. – Michael C. Wright
Game 4’s biggest overreaction: The series is over.
All four games have come down to the final seconds. Do I think the Knicks will ultimately win the title? Yes. But with two days between every game, Wembanyama will get a chance to recharge and the young Spurs will keep coming. But the party in New York will last until at least the start of Game 5 on Saturday night after this truly unbelievable comeback.
Verdict: Overreaction. – Tim Bontemps
Stats to know (via ESPN Research):
- The Spurs scored 76 points in the first half before scoring only 30 the rest of the way. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, that 46-point difference tied the largest such decrease in a playoff game in the shot clock era (since 1954-55).
- The Knicks are the 39th team to take a 3-1 lead in the Finals. The previous 38 teams this has happened, 37 teams closed the deal, with only the 2016 Warriors blowing such a lead vs. the LeBron James-led Cavaliers.
- Anunoby is the fifth player in the play-by-play era (1998) to make his first two career go-ahead attempts in the final five seconds of a playoff game. He previously hit a buzzer-beater in Game 3 of the 2020 conference semifinals. Anunoby joins Tyrese Haliburton (made first three such attempts), Luka Doncic, James and Robert Horry
What to watch in Game 5: How does San Antonio pick up the pieces after the worst collapse in Finals history?
The Spurs watched a 29-point lead disappear with passive offense in the second half and a series of late-game errors. In the final two minutes, Wembanyama missed a pair of free throws, De’Aaron Fox attempted and missed a transition layup when he probably should have run time off the clock, and the Spurs lost track of Anunoby for a winning putback. Though the young Spurs have been wiser than their years throughout this playoff run, moving past so many potential regrets while facing elimination will be a tall task. – Ben Golliver
Game 3: Spurs 115, Knicks 111
Biggest takeaway from the Spurs’ performance: The Spurs, who proved they could start fast with double-digit leads in the opening quarter of each outing, finally showed they could finish. Wembanyama (32 points, eight rebounds, three blocks) shined in San Antonio’s most complete showing in these Finals.
Ahead of Game 3, coach Mitch Johnson repeatedly expressed confidence in San Antonio’s prospects despite its 0-2 deficit – provided his team revived its normal brand of unselfish basketball. For the most part, San Antonio succeeded, spraying 28 assists after averaging just 14 over the first two contests. Six Spurs reached double figures in scoring. – Michael C. Wright
Biggest takeaway from the Knicks’ performance: The basic tenets of seven weeks of winning basketball abandoned the Knicks, at least in stretches. It felt like they were always stalking the Spurs in the second half but couldn’t sustain their slim leads and couldn’t frustrate Wembanyama like they did in the first two games.
After a balanced offense for the majority of their 13-game playoff winning streak, the scoring burden fell mostly on Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby, who combined for 60 of New York’s 111 points. For the first time in a while, the Knicks taste defeat with some things to clean up ahead of Wednesday’s Game 4. – Vincent Goodwill
Game 3’s biggest overreaction: The Knicks are under pressure in Game 4
Sure, the Knicks blew their chance to close out this series in Game 4, but they still hold home-court advantage thanks to winning both games in San Antonio and clearly will be confident they can still win there. Now, if the Spurs can do this again Wednesday night? Suddenly, the NYC party will turn into panic.
Verdict: Overreaction. – Tim Bontemps
Stats to know (via ESPN Research):
- Wembanyama is the second-youngest player (22 years, 155 days) in NBA history with 30 points, five rebounds and five assists in a Finals game, trailing only Magic Johnson (20 years, 276 days).
- Wembanyama, with three blocks in Game 3, has 70 this postseason, passing Dikembe Mutombo (69 blocks during the 1994 playoffs) for the most in a postseason debut since blocks were first tracked in 1974.
What to watch for in Game 4: How will the Knicks respond to their first loss in 46 days?
After New York’s 13-game playoff winning streak went kaput, coach Mike Brown will surely feel like he has a lot to clean up. Jalen Brunson was uncharacteristically sloppy with five turnovers, and Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamet spent Monday firing blanks.
Karl-Anthony Towns has become New York’s X factor: The All-Star center played like a Finals MVP during the two games in San Antonio, then turned in a quiet 11-point, eight-rebound, one-assist performance while being outdueled by Wembanyama at Madison Square Garden. Towns must reassert himself for the Knicks to maintain control of this series. – Ben Golliver
Game 2: Knicks 105, Spurs 104
Biggest takeaway from the Spurs’ performance: Unlike Game 1, the Spurs’ second wind finally came. But with a chance to secure a comeback of their own, Wembanyama threw an errant pass that bounced off Stephon Castle’s back and into the sure hands of Jalen Brunson, whose free throw with 9.5 seconds remaining put the Spurs in a 2-0 deficit.
For just the second time in these playoffs, San Antonio lost the battle on the glass 44-42 to a Knicks squad that played with more desperation despite already stealing home-court advantage. The last time an opponent outrebounded the Spurs in the playoffs, they suffered a 15-point loss to Oklahoma City in the conference finals. Of the 37 teams to go up 2-0 in the NBA Finals, 32 have gone on to lift the trophy, making for long odds for San Antonio as the series shifts to New York. – Wright
Biggest takeaway from the Knicks’ performance: Perhaps it was experience or urgency on display for the Knicks. They didn’t wait for the Spurs to hit them first, although they had to weather a great storm.
They’ve become the third team to take the first two games of the Finals on the road, joining the 1993 Chicago Bulls and 1995 Houston Rockets, both of whom won titles.
Karl-Anthony Towns continued his career-best work, with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Mikal Bridges seemed to hit everything in sight. The Knicks forced turnovers, got lucky ones and didn’t beat themselves – an impressive showing in a situation where teams often fold after stealing a road Game 1. – Goodwill
Game 2’s biggest overreaction: This series is over.
The Knicks, somehow, have not lost in more than six weeks.
San Antonio is the third team in NBA history to lose the first two games of the NBA Finals at home – joining the 1993 Phoenix Suns and the 1995 Orlando Magic.
The road teams in those two series, the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets, went on to win titles. History alone tips things in New York’s favor – and that’s before apparent injuries to Castle and De’Aaron Fox late in Game 2.
Despite all that, don’t close the book on San Antonio just yet. The West champs had chances to win both games in this series, and the Knicks managed to sneak away with victories in the closing moments. The Spurs proved they can win big road games in the last round against Oklahoma City.
Perhaps Wembanyama and the Spurs have a few more left. They’ll need to win at least two games in the atmosphere waiting for them in Monday’s Game 3 and Wednesday’s Game 4: the first Finals games inside Madison Square Garden in 27 years. – Bontemps
Stats to know (via ESPN Research):
- Towns is the first Knicks player with a 20-point double-double in a road Finals game since 1973 (Dave DeBusschere).
- Game 2 was the Knicks’ eighth straight road playoff win, tied with the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers for the longest single-season road win streak in NBA playoff history.
Game 1: Knicks 105, Spurs 95
Biggest takeaway from the Spurs’ performance: San Antonio released its grip on Finals opening night supremacy, falling for the first time in Game 1 after posting a 6-0 record all time in the first game of the final round. Spurs guards Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper struggled mightily against Jalen Brunson, who scored 19 of his game-high 30 points in the second half. San Antonio boasts arguably the league’s most impactful defender in Wembanyama, but the visitors destroyed the Spurs in the paint, outscoring the home team 50-42 in that area. – Wright
Biggest takeaway from the Knicks’ performance: This team didn’t appear to be awed by the atmosphere, nor the specter of Wembanyama. Though New York led for only 19 minutes, 31 seconds of game time, Brunson’s takeover in the fourth quarter was a winning formula. He took 30 shots in total for 30 points, with nine attempts in the fourth. Once New York shut down the Spurs’ 3-point shooting, it seemed like just a matter of time before the Knicks would take firm control and establish themselves in the series. A familiar formula: Karl-Anthony Towns early, Brunson late. – Goodwill
Game 1’s biggest overreaction: The Knicks are now the favorites.
Yes, the Knicks have taken home court from San Antonio, and Wembanyama certainly looked like his energy was still sapped from the grueling seven-game slugfest with the Thunder. But Brunson – though he made some remarkable shots – was extremely inefficient. San Antonio left a lot on the table, and we have already seen the Spurs win two games in Oklahoma City.
What isn’t an overreaction, though? This series is going six games – at least.
The verdict: Overreaction**.** – Bontemps
Stats to know:
- Brunson had his 38th 25-point playoff game with the Knicks – the second most in franchise history, behind only Patrick Ewing (43). The Knicks are 6-0 this postseason when Brunson scores 30-plus points.
- Josh Hart is now the second player with 15 rebounds, five assists and four steals in a Finals game, joining Larry Bird, who did it in Game 3 of the 1986 Finals against the Rockets. Hart’s 15 boards are the most in a Finals game by a player 6-foot-5 or shorter since the Lakers’ Elgin Baylor grabbed 20 in Game 1 of the 1970 Finals against the Knicks.
- The Knicks have now won seven road games by double-digits this postseason, the most by any team in a single postseason in NBA history (surpassing the 2013 Heat).
- This was the Knicks’ seventh double-digit comeback in the second half over the past two postseasons, by far the most in the NBA. No other team has more than three over that span. – ESPN Research
By NBA insiders, via ESPN