The San Antonio Spurs are now down 2–0 in the NBA Finals after dropping Game 2 to the New York Knicks, 105–104, and this loss will sting for a while–especially if they wind up losing this series.
San Antonio had a chance to even the series before heading to New York, only for their inexperience to show in the game’s most important moments. The Spurs are the second-youngest team to reach the NBA Finals in the shot-clock era, with an average age of 25.06 weighted by playing time. That is just slightly older than the 1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers and a half-year younger than last season’s Oklahoma City Thunder.
Losses like this are painful, but for a team this young, they can also become the necessary scars that ultimately help them ascend into champions.
Despite the loss, what’s encouraging is that the Spurs already looked buried midway through the fourth quarter. New York led by 14 after an OG Anunoby dunk over Victor Wembanyama, and a 2–0 series deficit felt inevitable. San Antonio then roared back with 14 consecutive points, led largely by the backcourt duo of De’Aaron Fox and rookie guard Dylan Harper, to tie the game and give themselves a chance to steal the game.
Wembanyama, as expected, was at the center of everything.
The 22-year-old finished with 29 points on 11-of-21 shooting, two three-pointers, nine rebounds, two assists, two steals, and four blocks. He was scoring around the basket during San Antonio’s comeback, using his length and touch to punish the Knicks inside. He also converted an alley-oop dunk and later finished an and-one in transition to give the Spurs their first lead of the second half, 104-102, with 57 seconds left in the game.
However, these inspiring last few minutes ultimately gave way to painful lessons. Wembanyama missed three jumpers late, including the final shot before the buzzer that could have won them the game. The possession that will linger most came a few seconds earlier after Jalen Brunson missed a potential go-ahead jumper with 13 seconds remaining. Wembanyama secured the rebound, but San Antonio did not call its final timeout. He then tried to outlet the ball to Stephon Castle who had just turned his back on him to run up the court. The pass bounced off Castle’s back and landed with Brunson, who was fouled and hit the free throw that gave New York the lead for good.
Still, the Spurs had bright spots. Fox had 20 points, two three-pointers, three rebounds, five assists, and a steal. Harper was excellent off the bench with 15 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a steal in 32 minutes. Devin Vassell added 14 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and a block. Castle, meanwhile, had 14 points, four rebounds, four assists, and a steal, but his five-of-14 shooting and six turnovers left much to be desired.
San Antonio now faces a steep climb after losing the first two games at home. The Knicks have seized control of the series, and the Spurs will need to grow up quickly if they want to make this a real fight.
Game 2 may haunt the Spurs in the short term, but these are the types of experiences that should make them stronger in the years to come.
