Overview
- The New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-104 on Friday when Victor Wembanyama’s late outlet pass struck teammate Stephon Castle, Jalen Brunson recovered, drew a foul and made the go-ahead free throw.
- Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a 21-point, 13-rebound performance that has made him the early frontrunner in Finals MVP discussion and helped limit Wembanyama’s rim impact.
- Film angles show Castle had his head turned as the pass arrived and Wembanyama publicly accepted responsibility for the miscommunication and for needing more poise in the closing seconds.
- Spurs defensive pressure on Jalen Brunson has reduced Brunson’s shooting efficiency but it has also created open perimeter looks that the Knicks converted, with New York outscoring San Antonio from three-point range.
- The series shifts to Madison Square Garden with New York up 2-0, a position that historically favors the team that starts 2-0 on the road, and San Antonio must fix missed free throws, defensive breakdowns and late-game execution to avoid falling deeper into a hole.