The New York Knicks snatched another road win in Game 2, beating the San Antonio Spurs 105-104 to go up 2-0 in the 2026 NBA Finals. Karl-Anthony Towns gave Victor Wembanyama a rough night on both ends, posting 21 points and 13 rebounds on efficient paint scoring.
Meanwhile, the Spurs' gravitational force box score numbers masked a shaky performance in the biggest moments.
With the game tied at 104 in the final 30 seconds, the Spurs got a crucial stop. Wembanyama secured the defensive rebound but instantly threw away a pass off Stephon Castle's back that went straight to Jalen Brunson's hand who then hit a free throw to put the Knicks up by one. Wembanyama had one last chance to win it at the buzzer, but his jumper missed.
About the turnover, Wembanyama said, "I threw that one away. I messed up." However, his explanation of the final moments drew serious criticism. When asked where the game slipped away, he started his press conference by saying, "I'm still very blurry, and that's the whole problem. I need to have more poise, more control over the game."
Wembanyama's use of the word "blurry" did not sit well with Shaquille O'Neal. The four-time NBA champion criticized the Spurs star's closing performance and warned that his postgame framing signals a clear vulnerability.
O'Neal then urged the Knicks to take advantage of it, saying, "If I'm anybody on the New York Knicks, I'm coming at his head on Monday... As the leader you should probably say, 'It's on me.' Don't say things are blurry. That sounds like he's flustered. As that guy on that team, you just gotta step up."
Shaq calls out Wemby for saying ‘things got blurry’ in his post game interview:
“As the leader you should probably say ‘it’s on me.’ Don’t say things are blurry. If I’m anybody on the NYK, I’m coming at his head. That sounds like he’s flustered. As that guy on that team, you… https://t.co/HGy67wt0YL pic.twitter.com/RoW6eqrYVM
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) June 6, 2026
If a star player admits to being confused in tight games, opponents will notice. They will deliberately target him in the final minutes to force more turnovers.
Shaq had already been critical of Wembanyama after Game 1, when he shot 6-for-21 with 10 three-point attempts, saying, "You have to make some mental adjustments. That is not going to get it done."
Wembanyama’s remarks after Game 2 only reinforced O'Neal's concerns. The Hall of Famer offered a simple alternative for how a team leader should address a tough loss, responding, "Say my bad, last two possessions I didn't play well. Don't say blurry. Hell no. No way."
Wembanyama finished Game 2 with 29 points, nine rebounds, four blocks, and two steals. While his total numbers look great, his mistakes in the final 30 seconds cost San Antonio the game. If this same weakness persists in Game 3, the Knicks will take advantage of it on their home floor.
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