Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks are in San Antonio to face the Spurs in Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals.
Welcome to the live blog!
Tonight, Jalen Brunson and the Knicks look to take a 2-0 series lead in the Finals while Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs seek to even the series (8:30 ET, ABC).
What we know about Game 2 of the NBA Finals:
- Jalen Brunson scored 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter as the Knicks rallied past the Spurs in Game 1 on the road, 105-95.
- The win earned New York their 12th straight win, making them the third team in NBA Playoff history to reach such a streak, joining the 2017 Warriors (15) and 1999 Spurs (12).
- The Spurs are 5-1 in these Playoffs following a loss. They fell 0-1 to the Timberwolves in the Conference Semis, and trailed 2-1 & 3-2 to the Thunder in the Conference Finals.
JUNE 5 / 7:30 ET
Starting Lineup: Knicks-Spurs, Game 2
Josh Hart and the Knicks are looking to take a 2-0 lead in Game 2 of the NBA Finals before the series shifts back to New York.
New York:
- PG Jalen Brunson
- The Knicks’ captain has scored 144 clutch points in the Playoffs since 2023. No one else has more than 84. He put the Spurs away in Game 1 with a variety of floaters and leaners in a signature performance, adding to his clutch bonafides.
- One note: watch his 3-point shot. He was 2-of-9 in Game 1.
- SG Josh Hart
- Hart was the first player in NBA Finals history to lead a game in both rebounds (15) and steals (4) in Game 1, and a game-high +22 for the Knicks.
- SF Mikal Bridges
- Bridges only took six shots in Game 1, but his defensive energy and off-ball movement are always valuable. He held Devin Vassell and Stephon Castle to 2-of-7 shooting combined in Game 1.
- PF OG Anunoby
- Anunoby is as solid a role player as you’ll find in the NBA. He knows his job to the letter, can step up his scoring and is a nightmare defensive matchup for much of the league. In this series, though, we’ll see if the Spurs can test his quickness.
- C Karl-Anthony Towns
- KAT had a great game (18 pts, 12 reb, 4 ast) on the biggest stage of his career in Game 1. His defensive effort has improved this season, especially in the postseason, and the Knicks are good at funneling ball-handlers into his orbit.
San Antonio:
- PG De’Aaron Fox
- Fox scored 7 points on 3-of-13 shooting in Game 1. The Spurs don’t really need him to take that many shots, given the scoring prowess of Dylan Harper — if he can pick his spots and distribute more, it could open things up for his teammates.
- SG Stephon Castle
- Castle noted that he switched off Jalen Brunson in the clutch in Game 1, following the Spurs’ traditional defensive scheme. We’ll see if Coach Mitch Johnson has him follow Brunson more — he’s clearly interested in the challenge.
- SF Devin Vassell
- Vassell disappeared somewhat in Game 1, coming up a team-low -13. His shooting runs hot-and-cold, and the Knicks wings are talented enough to consistently give him trouble.
- PF Julian Champagnie
- The Brooklyn native talked some trash with Jose Alvarado and Landry Shamet in Game 1, knocking down five 3-pointers. But those all came in the first half, as the Spurs only made two as a team in the second stanza.
- C Victor Wembanyama
- The Alien looked tired in Game 1. Can he handle the strength of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson in this series? Few teams have such established centers to challenge him, and he’s never played this deep into the season.
JUNE 5 / 7:03 ET
Friday’s injury report
Mitchell Robinson is probable for the Knicks with a fractured fifth metacarpal.
JUNE 5 / 6:08 ET
Finals MVP Ladder
NBA.com’s Shaun Powell picked five players that could be the favorites to hoist the Bill Russell Trophy as the 2026 NBA Finals MVP.
JUNE 5 / 5:05 ET
Wemby knows he must be better
Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are looking to take Game 2 at home against the New York Knicks as the 2026 NBA Finals continue.
To forge a series tie in the NBA Finals, Victor Wembanyama says the Spurs ‘need to play our game”, writes NBA.com’s Jeff Zillgit.
