The San Antonio Spurs walked out of their own building down 0–2 in the NBA Finals. The loss in Game 2 was particularly heartbreaking because the Spurs' young core had every chance to win it, but they ultimately left empty-handed. Now they head to Madison Square Garden, the most hostile building in basketball, likely needing a miracle just to keep their season alive
In Game 2, the Spurs built an early 12-point lead before the Knicks took over. San Antonio erased a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter, but a critical mistake ended the comeback. Victor Wembanyama threw a turnover on an outlet pass to Stephon Castle and a subsequent foul on Jalen Brunson secured New York’s 105–104 win. Wembanyama, who scored 29 points, missed a final shot over Mitchell Robinson as time expired.
"I threw that one away," Wembanyama said after the game. "I messed up. We needed to win that game. This game was ours."
It mirrored Game 1. The Spurs played well in stretches but could not finish the job. Twice now, their young star's inexperience proved costly. And that inexperience gap is the central issue heading into Game 3.
Wembanyama is a 22-year-old phenom in his third NBA season. Most of San Antonio's core rotation is 25 or younger, including Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and Julian Champagnie. Meanwhile, New York has won 13 consecutive playoff games, playing with the steady confidence of a veteran group that understands how to close games.
It has ESPN analyst Michael Wilbon concerned ahead of tonight's Game 3. Appearing on “Get Up” on Monday morning, Wilbon noted he is watching closely to see how the young Spurs respond emotionally after back-to-back single-possession losses.
"They lost some poise," Wilbon said bluntly. "You know I beat the drum every year about how you're going to get crushed before you win unless your last name is Russell or Johnson, you're gonna get crushed. This is what it is, this is what it feels like to be crushed. You know you should have won 2, you know you should have won 1 and you didn't. Now you face a team right now that is better and more mature. And so I want to see how they deal with that tonight."
Michael Wilbon says he is interested where the Spurs are emotionally for game 3:
“They lost some poise. You know I beat the drum every year about how you’re going to get crushed before you win unless your last name is Russel or Johnson, you’re gonna get crushed. This is what it… pic.twitter.com/aRVgvbMnSc
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) June 8, 2026
It is a valid concern, however. No team has ever won the NBA Finals after dropping the first two games at home. A loss in Game 3 would put San Antonio in a 3-0 hole that is statistically a death sentence. Meanwhile, the Knicks are now just two wins away from their first championship since 1973.
Wembanyama insists the team has learned its lesson. Tonight at Madison Square Garden, they have to prove it.
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