Knicks take 2-0 Finals lead after late escape, set up Game 3 at Madison Square Garden

The New York Knicks built a fourth-quarter cushion, watched the San Antonio Spurs claw their way back, and then held on anyway for a 105-104 win in Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals. With the victory, the Knicks took a 2-0 series lead and moved to within two games of their first NBA championship since 1973. The series now shifts to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 on Monday night, the first Finals game at MSG since 1999. (CBS Sports)

Game 2 swung late. New York led by as many as 14 in the fourth quarter, only to see the Spurs seize control in the final minute, including taking a 104-102 lead with 57.3 seconds left. The finish tightened further when Victor Wembanyama committed a turnover moments earlier, a sequence that helped set up Jalen Brunson’s go-ahead free throw at 9.5 seconds. After Wembanyama missed the potential winning jumper, New York escaped and the scoreboard stayed Knicks 105, Spurs 104. (CBS Sports, Associated Press)

Brunson’s late poise mattered, but the Knicks’ overall scoring distribution also held up under pressure. Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Brunson and Mikal Bridges each scored 20. Towns later framed the win as a response to the moment, saying “New York City showed up,” adding that the fans and energy arrived as well, and New York found a way to get it done. The Spurs, meanwhile, did not fold in a home Finals setting, pushing the game to the final shot even after trailing for most of the night. (Associated Press)

For the Knicks, the bigger picture is momentum that is becoming difficult to ignore. They have now won 13 straight postseason games, which the Associated Press noted is the second-longest streak in NBA playoff history. It is not the kind of run you can bank on repeating in a Finals series where scouting is exhaustive and adjustments are immediate, but it does point to a team that can survive new looks and still find ways to close possessions. Head coach Mike Brown called it “What a ballgame,” underlining how narrow the margin became even when New York’s lead looked secure. (Associated Press)

The series also carries a clear title picture for both franchises. New York is pursuing an ending that has sat outside its grasp for decades, while San Antonio is trying to force a turnaround after dropping the first two games on the road. The Knicks will not be able to rely on the same late-game script every night, especially with Wembanyama as the Spurs’ offensive and defensive centerpiece. San Antonio’s challenge is whether it can generate enough high-quality looks without giving New York the last-possession advantage again, particularly after sequences that swing on turnovers and free throws. (CBS Sports, Associated Press)

The scheduling setup raises the stakes for Game 3. ’s official Finals slate lists Monday, June 8 at 8:30 ET for Game 3 at New York, with Game 4 scheduled for Wednesday, June 10 and Game 5 for Saturday, June 13 if necessary. With the Knicks holding home-court for the next game, New York has the immediate opportunity to push the series into a commanding position, while the Spurs have one job in return: respond with a performance that does not end with another missed game-winning attempt in the final seconds.