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Final act of game two saw the film's biggest stars both sharing the screen. Let's get to the New York State of Clutch so far through these finals. San Antonio's first time trailing in a final series in franchise history. Kell Johnson, the NBA six man of the year driving. Certainly hasn't played like one early on, but he finds Victor Wmanyama who's on the board. Quiet first half. Bit of a ground stoppage for Air France. Just seven points in that first half. Everybody said Mitch Johnson needs to play Dylan Harper more. And maybe that's why. Harper 28 minutes in game one. Went for 32 last night. He impressed Wemby with the verticality.
It's tough to do with somebody who's 7 foot 10. Carl Anthony Towns driving past Webby. Towns yelling in Weby's face. That's a shot, which is a loud cat in French. Yep. That's Mikuel Bridges. He has finals experience with the Suns in 2021. Towns finding a cutting Bridges for two. Bridges's best game of this series. Cat bestes three-point shooter among big men in the league. Just ask Cat. He had 17 points. He's the first Nick with a 20point double in the finals on the road since 1973. Jaylen Brunson pulling up over WBY. Not the best shooting day. Seven for 25 from the floor, two of eight from distance. But Ben Stiller loves it. I've got nipples.
Greg, can you milk me? And then later can milk anything with well draws the off draws the foul on Cat who has to sit with his force and then Castle. Hey, there's no Cat to guard the rim. He's going to go ahead and get past Brunson. He had 14 points. Bridges though rising falling away. Got it. Eight of 13 shooting. That's efficient. And this is the only Knicks player to play last night who was drafted by the Knicks. Mitchell Robinson. The Knicks are up nine after three quarters. Gary. Yeah. And then we get to the fourth. Midway through the Knicks still up by that amount. All of these shots going begging as Randy would say. Jaylen Brunson kicks
it to Miles McBride. The Knicks were 15 of 38 from three. Outside MSG scenes cuz New York up by a dozen. WBY giving it to his teammates. Knicks still up 12. OG Anobi just bully ball on WBY. Dunks on him. 37 minutes, 17 points for Anovi and the Knicks are up by 14, their biggest lead so far. But here come the Spurs. Dear Fox, three of his 20. The Spurs do not want to go down two games to none. Teams that go up 20 in a finals. They're 35-2 in the series. Last team to lose a 20- lead to 2016. Golden State Warriors.
Spurs down five. And then Devin Vel running into one triple. Got it. Spurs down two with four minutes to play. Less than a minute later, Spurs down two. Harper head of steam over Jaylen Brunson. It's a 14- nothing run to tie the game at 97. 2 minutes left. Off the inbounds. Brunson gets it. Just flips it in. It's the fourth quarter. It's time for JB to heat up. Knicks up three. 108 to go. Mikuel Bridges 20 points, but the Knicks had 15 turnovers. Go the other way. It's Harper. Triple teamed finds WBY.
The hoop, the harm. Count it. 29 points for WBY. 22 of which came in the second half. The Spurs take the lead after the made free throw. 104 102. Less than a minute to go. And this is where Jaylen Brunson was deadly in game one. Works it in the paint. Gets that to go. We're tied at 104. And then Brunson off. Okay, WBY. 10 seconds to go. Let's push it. Steph Castle. Oh no. He was looking at him and then he wasn't. He was looking up court. So it bounces off Castle and look who it is. Jaylen Brunson to secure the turnover for which Webby had four of them. San Antonio had 16 of them as a team.
Brunson at the line, made the first, missed the second. Luke Cornet secures the board. So San Antonio is going to have a chance with 5 seconds to go to win this thing in regulation and tie the series one game apiece. No desperation also. No, the Knicks survive 105 104. They head back to New York up two games to none. I threw that one away. I messed up. We didn't play great as a team. We needed to win that game. This game was ours. But at this point, it's done. It's Yes. Am I going to regret it? Yes, of course. Am I going to use that to fuel me and to fuel us next game? Absolutely. All right, the Spurs have now joined this group in NBA Finals history. Down to love at home in the NBA Finals. It had
only happened twice before, both in the '90s. The 93 Suns. They eventually fell to Jordan's Bulls and the 95 Magic lost to the Rockets. Doesn't bode well historically for San Antonio. And now the series shifts back to Madison Square Garden where our NBA analyst Quentyn Richardson will be on Monday. Q, good morning to you. You saw that stretch there late in the game from Webbyama, the turnover and then the missed potential game-winning shot. He described that stretch as blurry. What did you see from WBY? Yeah. Uh the turnover was just a mental lapse, man. It was one of those things where it happens for a second. Castle was glancing at him. He thought they had eye contact. Castle thought he was bringing it up and he throws the ball and lets it go.
Obviously a enormous uh turnover and then they the foul on Brunson puts him on the line. He makes one of two. But the jumper, I mean, I think it was clearly a great, you know, it was a great look for him. He can make that shot. We know that. But for me, I wanted to see him going downhill. I would have rather to see them draw something up to get him downhill aggressively going to the basket potentially drawing a foul if he misses the shot and giving him a chance in that manner. The jump shot, it was a good shot, but I would have preferred something to the hole. The Knicks, meanwhile, win their 13th straight playoff game, just two wins now from winning their first title since 1973. How would you describe the
contributions from the entirety of the Knicks team last night? Kindly. I would definitely say that's how I would describe everybody's ball uh all everybody's ball game last night. I mean, like you said, they had answers at every turn. You know, the Spurs, they didn't have the greatest first half, but in the second half, they really came out, they made a big 14-0 run and really pressed the issue onto the Knicks, but they had answers, man. Cat has been huge down the stretch. Cat has been huge period in both games so far. If it was a if we had to give the MVP right now, I would have Cat as the MVP for what he's been able to do and how impactful he's been against Wimby. But they all answered
down the stretch and obviously Big Body Brunson with that big fadeaway and then drawing a foul and making one of two which eventually gave them the win. They put themselves in position and they closed was closed. Before this series started, Quent Richardson was on this program saying Carl Anthony Towns will be your dark horse finals MVP pick. Listen, we're not going to crown them now. We can't hand them their rings just yet, but they are halfway to making that possible. Game three Monday at MSG. Quinton Richardson hanging out with us all morning on Sports Center. Q. Much appreciated. Yes, sir.
Okay. I didn't see this finals going like this. I did not. I don't think anybody did unless you went into that New York locker room and they're like, "Yeah, definitely." down in San Antonio after taking game one. Victor Webbyama trying to fire up the troops so these Spurs can go back to New York or rather to New York for game three tied at one game a piece. Left-hand finish. Spurs down by five. They were down 14 with six to go in the game. Dylan Harper, the fantastic rookie, balling out. 14- nothing run for San Antonio, which ties the game at 97. But 68 seconds to go. Here come the
Knicks. No, just kidding. One of 15 turnovers committed by New York. Dylan Harper throwing it to Wemby. Head of steam. The hoop, the harm for the Spurs. Now the lead. 104 102. Webby had 29 points. 22 came in the second half. But that is when Jaylen Brunson turns things up. Another clutch bucket. They were down in the fourth. Last game he hit the go-ahad. The eventual gamewinner. Brunson though missing that shot right there. Tied at 104. So the Spurs with 10 seconds to go. WBY tried to push the break to Steph Castle, but Steph Castle had his back turned. So Jaylen Brunson secures the turnover. One of four from
Victor Wmanyama. Hits one of the two free throws, but WBY with a chance just a little too strong. And the desperation also no. The Knicks win another on the road. They're going back to New York for game three up two games to none. It's an amazing feeling as a coach to know how mentally tough your team is, no matter what the situation is in front of them. To see them continue to fight and fight, no matter what the score is, no matter how much time's on the clock is just a fantastic feeling. And I'm telling you, man, the NBA is tough. You don't experience what I'm experiencing with this group a ton. and it is a freaking joy to be around.
This team leans on each other. I think that's why we've gotten here. It's why we've had the success we had during the regular season. Even when things weren't going great, it's because at the end of the day, when things do get tough and the trials and tribulations do present themselves, this team doesn't disband. They don't go away from each other. We lean into each other even more. We trust each other even more to get out of the rut. Um it's what special teams do. The Knicks in those all whites as they're looking for that ring, but they're not there yet. Despite being down by as many as 14, the win streak continues now 13 straight, which passes the 99 Spurs for the second longest win
streak in a single postseason. Just two shy of tying the 2017 Warriors, one of the best teams of all time. Here's what Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson had to say about another loss at home. We weren't consistent enough in um our execution a lot of phases of the game. I thought, you know, a little bit more detail, I guess, but felt like we chased the game a little bit. They made some really tough shots at the end of the shot clock and I thought that affected our approach at times and took away from just trying to play uh our brand of basketball.
I threw that one away. I messed up. We didn't play great as a team. We needed to win that game. This game was ours. But at this point, it's done. It's Yes. Am I going to regret it? Yes, of course. Am I going to use that to fuel me and to fuel us next game? Absolutely. The Spurs have now joined this group of teams. It's a short list. Down two nothing at home in the NBA finals. It's only happened twice before, both in the 90s. The 93 Suns led by Charles Barkley. They eventually fell to Jordan's Bulls. and the 95 Magic led by Penny and Shaq.
They lost to the Rockets, so history at least is not on San Antonio's side. Good to get a couple of minutes with Quinton Richardson, an 11-year NBA veteran. Darren Collison on Sports Center. How about we call this like DQ, you know what I mean? Hey, come on. But it's not soft serve. Okay, so we're back to back. Double digit comebacks for the Knicks in games one and two. They were down as many as 12 at one point second quarter last night. What is it about this team that helps it continue to find ways to win? They got a they got an unbelievable resiliency about themselves. They've shown that since going down two uh two games to the Atlanta Hawks and then they haven't lost since then and
they have been tested in a lot of those games. But as he said, they keep fighting, keep fighting, keep fighting. They find ways and like cat uh like Carl Anthony Town said, he said they those guys have they stick together. So they don't go apart when adversity hits. They come together and they lean on each other. And you've seen that it's been different people in different moments continually to step up and make timely plays and contributing to those comebacks when they get down points and they've just been a hard team to put away and here they are and now it's going to get more difficult because the series shifts from San Antonio to New York. Uh Darren, despite the two losses at home, you did see some
things from San Antonio last night that you think could lead to a win in game three at MSG. What were they? Yeah, absolutely. I mean, look, game two was essentially a coin flip. It could have went either way. And to me, it wasn't so much of the Spurs um defense because they held the Knicks to 49 points in the second half. They did a terrific job in the second half defensively. It was offensively for me where I started seeing more signs because they do go through these droughts. But towards the end where I mean Wimby scored 22 points in the second half, him starting to fine-tune. Darren Fox started to be more like himself getting downhill. As long as they stay away from those droughts and
they don't have unforced turnovers, I think they're going to be fine in game three. And look, it can go either way. It's been going either way these last couple games, but they got to stay away from those unforced turnovers and have better shot selections like they did in the second half. And I think they'll be fine. Turning the basketball over 16 times certainly is not something that is helping them. Q, what do you think is the biggest key for the Spurs if they want to steal game three at the Garden? Now, for me, it's to is to come out and hit first. The Spurs have to come out and try to hit first and do whatever they need to do to take that crowd out of the game. New York City, Madison
Square Garden is going to be ready to explode. they can do a huge job for theirel and take that crowd out of the game because if they go up and the Knicks are struggling every single possession you will hear that crowd it will be a collective gasp if they miss a shot a let down and that can start to kind of affect the Knicks. So you got to if you the Spurs you got to come out there and punch first and get out the gate quick and try and neutralize that crowd and turn it against them. The crowd I mean is a sixman on the court. environment in MSG is going to be absolutely rocking DC. But why do you think this could actually benefit San Antonio?
I mean, like you said, sometimes playing on the road, it can be less distracting. You know, a lot of people feel like home games are, you know, are an advantage for home teams, which they are, but sometimes being on the road, it's just you and your teammates. And we all know Madison Square Garden is going to be electric. You got Donald Trump in the building. So, they haven't even played there for over 25 plus years. So, we know what the environment is going to be like, but like you said, they got to neutralize that crowd right from the jump. And I think the Spurs are capable of doing that. This is a team that's that beat the defending champions on the road for game seven. So, they're not
afraid to be on the road, and I think they're going to be just fine, and they're going to do that in game three. All right, Q. Before the series started, you predicted Nixon six. As you've watched these first two games, what part of you thinks now that we could see a sweep? that there's a big part of me after last night that was thinking, hey, this definitely absolutely could be a sweep. But I want to be respectful to the Spurs and I know the hardest thing to do is to close out a series and to put a team down on for that fourth game. So right now I've moved off six games. Right now I'm on gentleman sweep.
I'm saying five. But listen, I'mma have to tear my towel off and break out the brooms if they win game three. I don't know what's going to happen being honest. If they win game three, it's it's no hope for the future right there in this series. Q's going to be at Medicine Square Garden uh on Monday for game three. DC, how do you see this series shaping up and eventually ending in how many games? I think the series is still going six. I think the Spurs are capable of winning on the road. I think if they win game three, they will have enough confidence to win game four. I mean, and by the way, look, this series, I don't want it
to end, right? So, for selfish reasons, I want the series to extend as much as possible. I'm sure fans want to see that, too. But I do have the Spurs winning game three. I know the Knicks are playing great, phenomenal as a team, as a unit. But if the Spurs can win game three, I think they have enough confidence to extend this series to go to six games. All right, game three Monday at the Mecca. That's Quinton Richardson and Darren Collison on Sports Center. Thank you, gentlemen.
We're probably not going to be attending game three of the NBA finals. That's in New York. I hear it's a hard ticket to get, especially now that the Knicks are up two games to none. They beat the Spurs 105 104. It was close. It was down to the wire. The Spurs had a chance nearly at the buzzer. Here is Michael C. Wright and Vincent Goodwill with more on last night. Of all the challenges the San Antonio Spurs have overcome this season, they now face their toughest down 20 as the NBA Final Series shifts back to New York for game three. the postgame locker room, quiet, somber almost. And the few players that were left in that locker room, you could tell that they were lamenting the fact that the Spurs
absolutely let one get away from him. Victor Winyama said, "I threw that one away. The game was ours." He also said, "Will I regret it?" Yes. Will I use it as fuel to motivate me for the next game? Absolutely. But Victor's going to need all the fuel that he can get because no team that has lost the first two games of an NBA final series, they've never come back to win the series. Also, the whole team, Spurs coach Miss Johnson included, they keep saying that all we have to do is get back to playing our brand of basketball. Well, they'll look to do that in front of a rockish crowd at Madison Square Garden on Monday in game three. And that crowd is not going to make it easy for them. The New York Knicks used to be two
years away from being two years away. Now they're two games away from glory after winning the first two games of the NBA finals in San Antonio. They joined the 1993 Bulls and 95 Rockets as the only teams to win the first two games on the road. Both of those teams came away as champions. Carl Anthony Towns and his teammates will play under the backdrop of Madison Square Garden with the opportunity to make history. Towns has won his match up with Victor Wimbeyama, using his size and strength to frustrate the game's next big superstar. You can make the argument Towns is the series MVP so far. He said, quote, "I've been on the other side where you're a young team trying to win the game. For us, we
keep leaning on experience and focusing on execution." End quote. The Knicks haven't beaten themselves. Not since Atlanta in game three six weeks ago. Six days from now, they could be crowned NBA champions for the first time since 1973. Jaylen Brunson and the Knicks taking care of business. 32-5 series record in the NBA Finals when teams lead two games to none. The last loss in this situation was 2021 when the Suns were up until they weren't against Giannis Antonoopo and those eventual NBA champs.
