The New York Knicks are on the brink of their first NBA title since 1973 after defeating the San Antonio Spurs 105-104 in Game 2 on Friday to lead the series 2-0.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the way at the Frost Bank Center with 21 points and 13 rebounds as New York showed the quality that has carried them through the playoffs.
Knicks star Jalen Brunson was not at his sharpest, shooting 7-of-25 from the field, but still found ways to contribute with 20 points, six assists and five steals.
Victor Wembanyama gave San Antonio everything he had, finishing with 29 points and nine rebounds, but the Spurs were unable to turn a competitive performance into the result they so desperately needed.
De’Aaron Fox added 20 points and five assists for the Spurs, who led by as many as 12 in the first quarter before New York rallied to outscore them 59-70 across the final three periods.
It follows a dramatic Game 1 in which the Knicks trailed early after Brunson hurt his knee in the first quarter, only to storm back and win 105-95, outscoring San Antonio 57-40 from that point.
The Knicks swept Cleveland 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals and have now won 13-straight playoff games.
New York entered this postseason as a third seed, dismissed by many as contenders.
However, they have beaten Atlanta, Philadelphia and Cleveland without breaking sweat, and now lead the Spurs 2-0 as they head back to New York for Game 3.
The franchise last won the championship in 1973 – the year of Frazier, Reed and DeBusschere. A city that has endured 53 years of near-misses now dares to dream in a way it has not done in a generation.
The series now moves to Madison Square Garden, where President Donald Trump will attend Game 3 on Monday.
Trump was personally invited by Knicks owner James Dolan. NBA commissioner Adam Silver welcomed the visit, calling Trump a lifelong Knicks fan who attended multiple NBA drafts at the Garden in earlier years.
Fans are advised to arrive two hours early due to the Secret Service security operation. NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani will also attend, though in a separate section from the president.
More to follow…
