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Victor Wembanyama took full blame for his San Antonio Spurs’ loss in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Friday night, making them the third team in NBA history to lose each of the first two Finals games at home.
The Spurs had an epic comeback and an epic disaster in the same fourth quarter, falling to the New York Knicks 105-104 — after a finish Wembanyama likely won’t be able to forget anytime soon.
San Antonio was down 14 midway through the final quarter, having already squandered its own double-digit lead, then went on a 14-0 run to tie the game, then briefly took the lead when Wembanyama had a three-point play with just under a minute left.
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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama walks off the court as time expires in the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks in San Antonio on June 5, 2026. (Eric Gay/AP)
The score was tied with about 14 seconds left and it was best vs. best when the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson went against the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year in Wembanyama. Brunson took a jumper from about 16 feet, but it hit the back of the rim and Wembanyama got the rebound.
Wembanyama spotted Spurs teammate Stephon Castle and sent a pass his way. But Castle didn’t look and it jumped off onto its back. Brunson ended up with the ball and Wembanyama punished him, sending the Knicks hero to the line.
“I need more balance,” Wembanyama said. “More control over the game.”
Brunson missed one of the two free throws and the Knicks led by one. Wembanyama then took a potential game-winning jumper but missed and the Knicks took a 2-0 series lead.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama and guard De’aaron Fox react after a foul call during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks in San Antonio on June 5, 2026. (Eric Gay/AP Photo)
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“I threw it away. I messed up,” Wembanyama said. “We didn’t play well as a team. We needed to win that game. This game was ours. But at this point, it’s done. Do I regret it? Yes, of course. Do I use it to fuel me and to fuel us next game? Absolutely.”
Wembanyama also admitted he might be a little too “high” from winning a thrilling seven-game Western Conference Finals against the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Now it’s the Knicks with every ounce of momentum as Madison Square Garden will host an NBA Finals game for the first time this millennium. Monday night’s Game 3 now looks set to be the most expensive sporting event ever, with a secondary market entry price around $12,000.
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks celebrates a three-pointer with Karl-Anthony Towns during Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on June 5, 2026. (Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
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The other two teams that fell to a 2-0 deficit at home — the 1993 Phoenix Suns and the 1995 Orlando Magic — were unable to come back and win a title.
