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Deadspin | Clippers throttle Kings to move into 8th in Western Conference  Apr 5, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; LA Clippers guard Darius Garland (center right) shoots against Sacramento Kings guard Devin Carter (22) during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images   Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points and John Collins added 25 as the Los Angeles Clippers moved into eighth place in the Western Conference standings with a 138-109 road victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.    Darius Garland and Kobe Sanders each scored 17 points, while Kris Dunn and Jordan Miller added 13 each as the Clippers (40-38) ended a two-game losing streak while winning their fourth consecutive road game.    Los Angeles has the same record as the Portland Trail Blazers but now owns the eighth spot in the standings via tiebreaker by winning two of the three games between the teams. Los Angeles will visit Portland on Friday.    The No. 7 and No. 8 teams in the standings meet in the play-in tournament for a chance to advance directly into the playoff field while the ninth and 10th teams have to win two play-in games.    Devin Carter scored 21 points and Nique Clifford added 18 as the Kings saw a two-game winning streak come to an end. Maxime Raynaud scored 11 points with 15 rebounds for Sacramento (21-58), which has struggled with injury issues this season but has managed to go 7-8 since March 8.    The Clippers opened the game with a 42-point first quarter and took a 71-59 lead at halftime by shooting 56.5% over the first two quarters. After leading by as many as 19 points in the first half, Los Angeles took its first 20-point lead with 7:53 remaining in the third.     The Clippers went into the fourth quarter with a 107-79 lead and were never threatened the rest of the way.    Collins came off the bench for Los Angeles after starting the previous nine games, while Dunn was effective in his first start over the last eight games.    Leonard increased his franchise-record streak of consecutive 20-point games to 54.    The Clippers finished 53.3% from the floor and 20-of-41 (48.8%) from 3-point range while the Kings shot 52.9% overall, 28.1% from outside the arc and committed 20 turnovers.    –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Clippers #throttle #Kings #move #8th #Western #Conference

Deadspin | Clippers throttle Kings to move into 8th in Western Conference
Deadspin | Clippers throttle Kings to move into 8th in Western Conference  Apr 5, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; LA Clippers guard Darius Garland (center right) shoots against Sacramento Kings guard Devin Carter (22) during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images   Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points and John Collins added 25 as the Los Angeles Clippers moved into eighth place in the Western Conference standings with a 138-109 road victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.    Darius Garland and Kobe Sanders each scored 17 points, while Kris Dunn and Jordan Miller added 13 each as the Clippers (40-38) ended a two-game losing streak while winning their fourth consecutive road game.    Los Angeles has the same record as the Portland Trail Blazers but now owns the eighth spot in the standings via tiebreaker by winning two of the three games between the teams. Los Angeles will visit Portland on Friday.    The No. 7 and No. 8 teams in the standings meet in the play-in tournament for a chance to advance directly into the playoff field while the ninth and 10th teams have to win two play-in games.    Devin Carter scored 21 points and Nique Clifford added 18 as the Kings saw a two-game winning streak come to an end. Maxime Raynaud scored 11 points with 15 rebounds for Sacramento (21-58), which has struggled with injury issues this season but has managed to go 7-8 since March 8.    The Clippers opened the game with a 42-point first quarter and took a 71-59 lead at halftime by shooting 56.5% over the first two quarters. After leading by as many as 19 points in the first half, Los Angeles took its first 20-point lead with 7:53 remaining in the third.     The Clippers went into the fourth quarter with a 107-79 lead and were never threatened the rest of the way.    Collins came off the bench for Los Angeles after starting the previous nine games, while Dunn was effective in his first start over the last eight games.    Leonard increased his franchise-record streak of consecutive 20-point games to 54.    The Clippers finished 53.3% from the floor and 20-of-41 (48.8%) from 3-point range while the Kings shot 52.9% overall, 28.1% from outside the arc and committed 20 turnovers.    –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Clippers #throttle #Kings #move #8th #Western #ConferenceApr 5, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; LA Clippers guard Darius Garland (center right) shoots against Sacramento Kings guard Devin Carter (22) during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points and John Collins added 25 as the Los Angeles Clippers moved into eighth place in the Western Conference standings with a 138-109 road victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.

Darius Garland and Kobe Sanders each scored 17 points, while Kris Dunn and Jordan Miller added 13 each as the Clippers (40-38) ended a two-game losing streak while winning their fourth consecutive road game.

Los Angeles has the same record as the Portland Trail Blazers but now owns the eighth spot in the standings via tiebreaker by winning two of the three games between the teams. Los Angeles will visit Portland on Friday.

The No. 7 and No. 8 teams in the standings meet in the play-in tournament for a chance to advance directly into the playoff field while the ninth and 10th teams have to win two play-in games.

Devin Carter scored 21 points and Nique Clifford added 18 as the Kings saw a two-game winning streak come to an end. Maxime Raynaud scored 11 points with 15 rebounds for Sacramento (21-58), which has struggled with injury issues this season but has managed to go 7-8 since March 8.


The Clippers opened the game with a 42-point first quarter and took a 71-59 lead at halftime by shooting 56.5% over the first two quarters. After leading by as many as 19 points in the first half, Los Angeles took its first 20-point lead with 7:53 remaining in the third.

The Clippers went into the fourth quarter with a 107-79 lead and were never threatened the rest of the way.

Collins came off the bench for Los Angeles after starting the previous nine games, while Dunn was effective in his first start over the last eight games.

Leonard increased his franchise-record streak of consecutive 20-point games to 54.

The Clippers finished 53.3% from the floor and 20-of-41 (48.8%) from 3-point range while the Kings shot 52.9% overall, 28.1% from outside the arc and committed 20 turnovers.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Clippers #throttle #Kings #move #8th #Western #Conference

Apr 5, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; LA Clippers guard Darius Garland (center right) shoots against Sacramento Kings guard Devin Carter (22) during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points and John Collins added 25 as the Los Angeles Clippers moved into eighth place in the Western Conference standings with a 138-109 road victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.

Darius Garland and Kobe Sanders each scored 17 points, while Kris Dunn and Jordan Miller added 13 each as the Clippers (40-38) ended a two-game losing streak while winning their fourth consecutive road game.

Los Angeles has the same record as the Portland Trail Blazers but now owns the eighth spot in the standings via tiebreaker by winning two of the three games between the teams. Los Angeles will visit Portland on Friday.

The No. 7 and No. 8 teams in the standings meet in the play-in tournament for a chance to advance directly into the playoff field while the ninth and 10th teams have to win two play-in games.

Devin Carter scored 21 points and Nique Clifford added 18 as the Kings saw a two-game winning streak come to an end. Maxime Raynaud scored 11 points with 15 rebounds for Sacramento (21-58), which has struggled with injury issues this season but has managed to go 7-8 since March 8.

The Clippers opened the game with a 42-point first quarter and took a 71-59 lead at halftime by shooting 56.5% over the first two quarters. After leading by as many as 19 points in the first half, Los Angeles took its first 20-point lead with 7:53 remaining in the third.

The Clippers went into the fourth quarter with a 107-79 lead and were never threatened the rest of the way.

Collins came off the bench for Los Angeles after starting the previous nine games, while Dunn was effective in his first start over the last eight games.

Leonard increased his franchise-record streak of consecutive 20-point games to 54.

The Clippers finished 53.3% from the floor and 20-of-41 (48.8%) from 3-point range while the Kings shot 52.9% overall, 28.1% from outside the arc and committed 20 turnovers.

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Clippers #throttle #Kings #move #8th #Western #Conference

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Serie A — Lautaro Martinez marks return in style with brace in 5-2 win for Inter Milan <div id="content-body-70828757" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Inter Milan delivered a ruthless attacking masterclass to dismantle AS Roma 5-2 at home on Sunday, tightening its grip on the Serie ​A title as Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez spearheaded the rout.</p><p>The victory gave Inter ‌a nine-point cushion at the top of the table with 72 ​points as it awaits Monday’s clash between second-placed AC Milan and ⁠third-placed Napoli in Naples, with only seven rounds of the season remaining following that fixture. Roma sits sixth with 54 points.</p><p>Inter took a 59-second lead when Thuram squared for Martinez ‌to fire home, and though Gianluca Mancini’s header briefly drew Roma level, Hakan Calhanoglu restored the advantage for the host in first-half stoppage ‌time with a long-distance strike.</p><p>Thuram and Martinez combined again early in the ‌second ⁠half, with the Frenchman threading a pass for Martinez to sweep ⁠in his second before Thuram headed home a corner minutes later. Nicolo Barella added a fifth for the host just after the hour mark, while Lorenzo Pellegrini pulled one back for the visitor.</p><h4 class="sub_head">MARTINEZ ​RETURNS</h4><p>Inter captain Martinez marked his return ‌from a muscle injury with a goal on his first league appearance since February as the host made a fast start.</p><p>Thuram broke down the right inside the opening minute and squared for Martinez, who slipped away from his ‌marker to guide a first-time finish into the roof of the net.</p><p>Inter ​dominated the early stages in search of a second goal, but Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar produced a series of saves to frustrate ⁠the home side.</p><p>Roma gradually grew into the game as Inter’s intensity dropped and went close to levelling but Yann Sommer made a fine reflex save to tip away ‌Donyell Malen’s looping header. The visitor was rewarded five minutes before half-time when Devyne Rensch’s lofted cross was headed in by an unmarked Gianluca Mancini to make it 1-1.</p><p>Inter regained the lead deep into first-half stoppage time through an outstanding strike from Calhanoglu, who drove a long-range effort from around 35 metres that dipped under the crossbar.</p><p>The host resumed after the break with renewed urgency and restored its two-goal cushion in the 55th minute, Thuram again the provider after winning possession high up ​the pitch and slipping a pass through for Martinez to sweep home his second.</p><p>Roma’s defensive lapses were exposed again three minutes later ⁠as Thuram, left unmarked at the near post, headed in from a corner to ⁠make it 4-1.</p><p>Defender Alessandro Bastoni was applauded by the home supporters when substituted just before the hour mark in a show of support following ‌intense media criticism after his red card in Italy’s World Cup playoff defeat by Bosnia-Herzegovina.</p><p>With the contest effectively settled, Barella added Inter’s fifth goal in ​the 63rd minute before Pellegrini replied seven minutes later.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 06, 2026</p></div> #Serie #Lautaro #Martinez #marks #return #style #brace #win #Inter #Milan

The New York Knicks are headed back to Madison Square Garden with the opportunity to bring home the franchise’s first championship in 53 years without leaving the city. The Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs, 105-104, in Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals to become the third team in league history to win the first two games of the championship round on the road, joining the 1993 Chicago Bulls and 1995 Houston Rockets.

The Knicks have now won 13 straight playoff games, with 11 of those victories coming by double-figures. The Spurs were a 2-1 favorite in the betting markets entering the series, but the Knicks have out-classed a young San Antonio team on both ends to take complete control in the matchup so far.

The Knicks took a 97-83 lead with six minutes remaining on a driving dunk by OG Anunoby. From there, the Spurs went on a 14-0 run to tie the game. The end of the fourth quarter featured a wild sequence where Jalen Brunson missed a mid-range jump shot with 13 seconds left, Victor Wembanyama grabbed the rebound and tried to throw an outlet pass to teammate Stephon Castle. Only problem: Castle wasn’t looking for the ball, so it hit him in the back and resulted in a turnover. Brunson was fouled after the Knicks recovered the possession, and he split two free throws to give New York the lead. The Spurs had one last chance, but Wembanyama missed an attempt at the game-winning jumper at the buzzer:

For long stretches in this game, it felt like the Knicks had mastered basketball. After the Spurs ended the first quarter with a nine-point lead, New York roared back in the second quarter with what’s quickly becoming their signature blend of selfless ball-movement, skilled shooting, and tough defense. The Knicks have a true five-out offense, and the threat of their shooting is putting San Antonio’s defense in constant rotation. New York has immaculate spacing and an entire lineup that all dribble, pass, and shoot.

It all came together on this possession where all five players touched the ball before Mikal Bridges walked into an opener corner three, which he drilled.

The Knicks have so many weapons offensively that it would be easy to overlook their defense, but their dedication to the other end of the floor is what’s given them such a strong grip on this series. Victor Wembanyama looked like the best player in the world after leading the Spurs to a 7-game Western Conference Finals victory over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. The Knicks are flustered Wembanyama through two games in the NBA Finals by pushing him out to the perimeter, getting into his dribble when he puts the ball on the floor, and making him defend out on the perimeter to pull him away from the paint.

The key for the Knicks on both ends has been Karl-Anthony Towns. He should be Finals MVP if the series ended today.

Towns’ defense has been questioned through his career. He’s completely turned it around defensively during this playoff run. Towns looks comfortable pressuring Wembanyama out on the perimeter defensively, and he has the strength to keep him away his spots around the elbow or inside the paint. He’s also an elite defensive rebounder who has been cleaning up on the glass and allowing New York to win the possession game. Offensively, Towns’ knockdown shooting ability means Wemby can’t hang around the rim. When he sees an opening, KAT is also consistently attacking off the dribble to put pressure on the rim and finish through Wembanyama and other Spurs defenders.

Jalen Brunson took the Knicks home with clutch shot-making down the stretch in Game 1, but for the most part San Antonio has done an excellent job defending him. It’s been the other Knicks who have picked Brunson up. New York’s offense felt way too dependent on Brunson to create everything in previous years. The Knicks no longer feels like a one-man show on offense, and it’s making them so much harder to defend.

Brunson has 50 points on 56 shots so far in this series. He’s still been emptying the clip when the Knicks really need a bucket, but it’s players like OG Anunoby, Bridges, Hart, and reserve guard Landry Shamet have kept the offense humming.

Wembanyama ended the game with 29 points on 11-of-21 shooting. The late turnover looking for Castle at the end of Game 2 might haunt the Spurs for a long time.

The Knicks are now up 2-0 in the 2026 NBA Finals. Game 3 is Monday in Madison Square Garden. It’s going to be incredible. The series just keeps getting better and better.

#Knicks #broken #Spurs #NBA #Finals #Game #win">The Knicks have broken the Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals after Game 2 win  The New York Knicks are headed back to Madison Square Garden with the opportunity to bring home the franchise’s first championship in 53 years without leaving the city. The Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs, 105-104, in Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals to become the third team in league history to win the first two games of the championship round on the road, joining the 1993 Chicago Bulls and 1995 Houston Rockets.The Knicks have now won 13 straight playoff games, with 11 of those victories coming by double-figures. The Spurs were a 2-1 favorite in the betting markets entering the series, but the Knicks have out-classed a young San Antonio team on both ends to take complete control in the matchup so far.The Knicks took a 97-83 lead with six minutes remaining on a driving dunk by OG Anunoby. From there, the Spurs went on a 14-0 run to tie the game. The end of the fourth quarter featured a wild sequence where Jalen Brunson missed a mid-range jump shot with 13 seconds left, Victor Wembanyama grabbed the rebound and tried to throw an outlet pass to teammate Stephon Castle. Only problem: Castle wasn’t looking for the ball, so it hit him in the back and resulted in a turnover. Brunson was fouled after the Knicks recovered the possession, and he split two free throws to give New York the lead. The Spurs had one last chance, but Wembanyama missed an attempt at the game-winning jumper at the buzzer:For long stretches in this game, it felt like the Knicks had mastered basketball. After the Spurs ended the first quarter with a nine-point lead, New York roared back in the second quarter with what’s quickly becoming their signature blend of selfless ball-movement, skilled shooting, and tough defense. The Knicks have a true five-out offense, and the threat of their shooting is putting San Antonio’s defense in constant rotation. New York has immaculate spacing and an entire lineup that all dribble, pass, and shoot.It all came together on this possession where all five players touched the ball before Mikal Bridges walked into an opener corner three, which he drilled.The Knicks have so many weapons offensively that it would be easy to overlook their defense, but their dedication to the other end of the floor is what’s given them such a strong grip on this series. Victor Wembanyama looked like the best player in the world after leading the Spurs to a 7-game Western Conference Finals victory over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. The Knicks are flustered Wembanyama through two games in the NBA Finals by pushing him out to the perimeter, getting into his dribble when he puts the ball on the floor, and making him defend out on the perimeter to pull him away from the paint.The key for the Knicks on both ends has been Karl-Anthony Towns. He should be Finals MVP if the series ended today.Towns’ defense has been questioned through his career. He’s completely turned it around defensively during this playoff run. Towns looks comfortable pressuring Wembanyama out on the perimeter defensively, and he has the strength to keep him away his spots around the elbow or inside the paint. He’s also an elite defensive rebounder who has been cleaning up on the glass and allowing New York to win the possession game. Offensively, Towns’ knockdown shooting ability means Wemby can’t hang around the rim. When he sees an opening, KAT is also consistently attacking off the dribble to put pressure on the rim and finish through Wembanyama and other Spurs defenders.Jalen Brunson took the Knicks home with clutch shot-making down the stretch in Game 1, but for the most part San Antonio has done an excellent job defending him. It’s been the other Knicks who have picked Brunson up. New York’s offense felt way too dependent on Brunson to create everything in previous years. The Knicks no longer feels like a one-man show on offense, and it’s making them so much harder to defend.Brunson has 50 points on 56 shots so far in this series. He’s still been emptying the clip when the Knicks really need a bucket, but it’s players like OG Anunoby, Bridges, Hart, and reserve guard Landry Shamet have kept the offense humming.Wembanyama ended the game with 29 points on 11-of-21 shooting. The late turnover looking for Castle at the end of Game 2 might haunt the Spurs for a long time.The Knicks are now up 2-0 in the 2026 NBA Finals. Game 3 is Monday in Madison Square Garden. It’s going to be incredible. The series just keeps getting better and better.  #Knicks #broken #Spurs #NBA #Finals #Game #win

The Spurs were a 2-1 favorite in the betting markets entering the series, but the Knicks have out-classed a young San Antonio team on both ends to take complete control in the matchup so far.

The Knicks took a 97-83 lead with six minutes remaining on a driving dunk by OG Anunoby. From there, the Spurs went on a 14-0 run to tie the game. The end of the fourth quarter featured a wild sequence where Jalen Brunson missed a mid-range jump shot with 13 seconds left, Victor Wembanyama grabbed the rebound and tried to throw an outlet pass to teammate Stephon Castle. Only problem: Castle wasn’t looking for the ball, so it hit him in the back and resulted in a turnover. Brunson was fouled after the Knicks recovered the possession, and he split two free throws to give New York the lead. The Spurs had one last chance, but Wembanyama missed an attempt at the game-winning jumper at the buzzer:

For long stretches in this game, it felt like the Knicks had mastered basketball. After the Spurs ended the first quarter with a nine-point lead, New York roared back in the second quarter with what’s quickly becoming their signature blend of selfless ball-movement, skilled shooting, and tough defense. The Knicks have a true five-out offense, and the threat of their shooting is putting San Antonio’s defense in constant rotation. New York has immaculate spacing and an entire lineup that all dribble, pass, and shoot.

It all came together on this possession where all five players touched the ball before Mikal Bridges walked into an opener corner three, which he drilled.

The Knicks have so many weapons offensively that it would be easy to overlook their defense, but their dedication to the other end of the floor is what’s given them such a strong grip on this series. Victor Wembanyama looked like the best player in the world after leading the Spurs to a 7-game Western Conference Finals victory over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. The Knicks are flustered Wembanyama through two games in the NBA Finals by pushing him out to the perimeter, getting into his dribble when he puts the ball on the floor, and making him defend out on the perimeter to pull him away from the paint.

The key for the Knicks on both ends has been Karl-Anthony Towns. He should be Finals MVP if the series ended today.

Towns’ defense has been questioned through his career. He’s completely turned it around defensively during this playoff run. Towns looks comfortable pressuring Wembanyama out on the perimeter defensively, and he has the strength to keep him away his spots around the elbow or inside the paint. He’s also an elite defensive rebounder who has been cleaning up on the glass and allowing New York to win the possession game. Offensively, Towns’ knockdown shooting ability means Wemby can’t hang around the rim. When he sees an opening, KAT is also consistently attacking off the dribble to put pressure on the rim and finish through Wembanyama and other Spurs defenders.

Jalen Brunson took the Knicks home with clutch shot-making down the stretch in Game 1, but for the most part San Antonio has done an excellent job defending him. It’s been the other Knicks who have picked Brunson up. New York’s offense felt way too dependent on Brunson to create everything in previous years. The Knicks no longer feels like a one-man show on offense, and it’s making them so much harder to defend.

Brunson has 50 points on 56 shots so far in this series. He’s still been emptying the clip when the Knicks really need a bucket, but it’s players like OG Anunoby, Bridges, Hart, and reserve guard Landry Shamet have kept the offense humming.

Wembanyama ended the game with 29 points on 11-of-21 shooting. The late turnover looking for Castle at the end of Game 2 might haunt the Spurs for a long time.

The Knicks are now up 2-0 in the 2026 NBA Finals. Game 3 is Monday in Madison Square Garden. It’s going to be incredible. The series just keeps getting better and better.

#Knicks #broken #Spurs #NBA #Finals #Game #win">The Knicks have broken the Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals after Game 2 win

The New York Knicks are headed back to Madison Square Garden with the opportunity to bring home the franchise’s first championship in 53 years without leaving the city. The Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs, 105-104, in Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals to become the third team in league history to win the first two games of the championship round on the road, joining the 1993 Chicago Bulls and 1995 Houston Rockets.

The Knicks have now won 13 straight playoff games, with 11 of those victories coming by double-figures. The Spurs were a 2-1 favorite in the betting markets entering the series, but the Knicks have out-classed a young San Antonio team on both ends to take complete control in the matchup so far.

The Knicks took a 97-83 lead with six minutes remaining on a driving dunk by OG Anunoby. From there, the Spurs went on a 14-0 run to tie the game. The end of the fourth quarter featured a wild sequence where Jalen Brunson missed a mid-range jump shot with 13 seconds left, Victor Wembanyama grabbed the rebound and tried to throw an outlet pass to teammate Stephon Castle. Only problem: Castle wasn’t looking for the ball, so it hit him in the back and resulted in a turnover. Brunson was fouled after the Knicks recovered the possession, and he split two free throws to give New York the lead. The Spurs had one last chance, but Wembanyama missed an attempt at the game-winning jumper at the buzzer:

For long stretches in this game, it felt like the Knicks had mastered basketball. After the Spurs ended the first quarter with a nine-point lead, New York roared back in the second quarter with what’s quickly becoming their signature blend of selfless ball-movement, skilled shooting, and tough defense. The Knicks have a true five-out offense, and the threat of their shooting is putting San Antonio’s defense in constant rotation. New York has immaculate spacing and an entire lineup that all dribble, pass, and shoot.

It all came together on this possession where all five players touched the ball before Mikal Bridges walked into an opener corner three, which he drilled.

The Knicks have so many weapons offensively that it would be easy to overlook their defense, but their dedication to the other end of the floor is what’s given them such a strong grip on this series. Victor Wembanyama looked like the best player in the world after leading the Spurs to a 7-game Western Conference Finals victory over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. The Knicks are flustered Wembanyama through two games in the NBA Finals by pushing him out to the perimeter, getting into his dribble when he puts the ball on the floor, and making him defend out on the perimeter to pull him away from the paint.

The key for the Knicks on both ends has been Karl-Anthony Towns. He should be Finals MVP if the series ended today.

Towns’ defense has been questioned through his career. He’s completely turned it around defensively during this playoff run. Towns looks comfortable pressuring Wembanyama out on the perimeter defensively, and he has the strength to keep him away his spots around the elbow or inside the paint. He’s also an elite defensive rebounder who has been cleaning up on the glass and allowing New York to win the possession game. Offensively, Towns’ knockdown shooting ability means Wemby can’t hang around the rim. When he sees an opening, KAT is also consistently attacking off the dribble to put pressure on the rim and finish through Wembanyama and other Spurs defenders.

Jalen Brunson took the Knicks home with clutch shot-making down the stretch in Game 1, but for the most part San Antonio has done an excellent job defending him. It’s been the other Knicks who have picked Brunson up. New York’s offense felt way too dependent on Brunson to create everything in previous years. The Knicks no longer feels like a one-man show on offense, and it’s making them so much harder to defend.

Brunson has 50 points on 56 shots so far in this series. He’s still been emptying the clip when the Knicks really need a bucket, but it’s players like OG Anunoby, Bridges, Hart, and reserve guard Landry Shamet have kept the offense humming.

Wembanyama ended the game with 29 points on 11-of-21 shooting. The late turnover looking for Castle at the end of Game 2 might haunt the Spurs for a long time.

The Knicks are now up 2-0 in the 2026 NBA Finals. Game 3 is Monday in Madison Square Garden. It’s going to be incredible. The series just keeps getting better and better.

#Knicks #broken #Spurs #NBA #Finals #Game #win

San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama could barely remember the details of the late-game miscues that cost the Spurs in their agonizing 105-104 loss to the New York Knicks in game two of the NBA Finals on Friday.

The Spurs used a 14-0 scoring run to erase a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and briefly took a one-point lead before it all fell apart.

Wembanyama keyed the comeback, but two crucial misses — including a potential game-game winner — and an inexplicable turnover with a pass into teammate Stephon Castle’s back doomed the Spurs’ rally bid.

“I’m still very blurry,” he said of the plays. “That’s the whole problem. I need to have more poise, more control over the game.”

The score was knotted at 104-104 with 9.5 seconds left when Wembanyama threw the pass that Castle never saw coming.

“I was looking at him when he first got the rebound,” he said. “I just started to take off to try to give him some space to dribble up the court. I didn’t see him throw it to me.”

San Antonio still had a chance to win it, but Wembanyama’s final jump shot bounced off the rim.

He said he got the shot he was looking for on the inbounds play but couldn’t get it to drop.

“Of course I liked the shot,” he said. “I feel like in this moment you need to shoot to score.”

And Castle said there was no other player the Spurs would want to see taking that shot than Wemby.

“He’s made that shot a thousand times,” Castle said. “He has a game-winner with that shot this year.”

The Spurs now need an unprecedented comeback as the series shifts to New York for games three and four. No NBA team has lost the first two games of the Finals on their home floor and come back to lift the trophy.

“We needed to win that game,” Wembanyama said. “This game was ours. But at this point it’s done. 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.”

Published on Jun 06, 2026

#NBA #Finals #Game #Victor #Wembanyama #seeks #clarity #heartbreaking #Spurs #loss">NBA Finals, Game 2 — Victor Wembanyama seeks clarity after heartbreaking Spurs loss  San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama could barely remember the details of the late-game miscues that cost the Spurs in their agonizing 105-104 loss to the New York Knicks in game two of the NBA Finals on Friday.The Spurs used a 14-0 scoring run to erase a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and briefly took a one-point lead before it all fell apart.Wembanyama keyed the comeback, but two crucial misses — including a potential game-game winner — and an inexplicable turnover with a pass into teammate Stephon Castle’s back doomed the Spurs’ rally bid.“I’m still very blurry,” he said of the plays. “That’s the whole problem. I need to have more poise, more control over the game.”The score was knotted at 104-104 with 9.5 seconds left when Wembanyama threw the pass that Castle never saw coming.“I was looking at him when he first got the rebound,” he said. “I just started to take off to try to give him some space to dribble up the court. I didn’t see him throw it to me.”San Antonio still had a chance to win it, but Wembanyama’s final jump shot bounced off the rim.He said he got the shot he was looking for on the inbounds play but couldn’t get it to drop.“Of course I liked the shot,” he said. “I feel like in this moment you need to shoot to score.”And Castle said there was no other player the Spurs would want to see taking that shot than Wemby.“He’s made that shot a thousand times,” Castle said. “He has a game-winner with that shot this year.”The Spurs now need an unprecedented comeback as the series shifts to New York for games three and four. No NBA team has lost the first two games of the Finals on their home floor and come back to lift the trophy.“We needed to win that game,” Wembanyama said. “This game was ours. But at this point it’s done. 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.”Published on Jun 06, 2026  #NBA #Finals #Game #Victor #Wembanyama #seeks #clarity #heartbreaking #Spurs #loss

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