Knicks vs. Spurs: 3 keys for New York in Game 2 of NBA Finals

It took a full team effort for the Knicks to take a 1-0 lead in the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. Jalen Brunson came on late with 31 points in New York’s 105-95 Game 1 win.

Karl-Anthony Towns was sublime with 18 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. Josh Hart did a little bit of everything. OG Anunoby (17 points) made big shots early in the fourth quarter, and Landry Shamet kept the defense honest with 13 points off the bench.

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The victory continued a dominant stretch for the Knicks, who now have 12 consecutive playoff wins, tied for the second-longest postseason streak in NBA history.

As New York looks to keep the good times rolling, let’s look at three keys to Game 2…

Fourth quarter phenom

The Brunson storybook continues to be written. Now, the All-Star point guard can add an NBA Finals moment as another chapter in that book. Almost everything went wrong for Brunson in the first three quarters. He was 7-for-22 from the field with four turnovers.

And he had injuries to his right knee and left ankle that disrupted him in the first half. It would’ve made sense if Brunson simply lived to fight another day, but he didn’t.

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Brunson turned it all around in the fourth quarter. He had 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting in the final frame, helping New York take control and win the game. Specifically, he knocked down a corner three-pointer and a tough, contested midrange jumper to put the game away in the final two minutes.

Brunson’s overall stat line of 30 points on 31 shots looks inefficient, but he shook off a rough start and closed out the game for the Knicks in a tough environment. Brunson has done it before, but it was extra special on the NBA Finals stage.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) shoots the ball past San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) in the second half during game one of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center / Geoff Burke – Imagn Images

Despite the win, the Knicks need a more efficient Brunson in Game 2. Finding a way to create easier looks for him will be a priority.

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Slowing the Spurs

Important to New York’s turnaround in the second…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/knicks-vs-spurs-3-keys-130000019.html

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Publish date : 2026-06-04 13:00:00

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