The key to the Spurs' comeback in the NBA Finals
Coach Mitch Johnson points the way to turn around the 2-0 deficit against the Knicks
San Antonio Spurs faces the most delicate moment of their entire season. After defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder and reaching the 2026 NBA Finals as favorites for the title, the Texan team now finds itself in a critical situation after losing the first two games of the series against the New York Knicks.
The 105-104 defeat in the second game left the Spurs with a concerning 0-2 record before heading to New York. Beyond the result, the blow is even bigger when considering the historical context surrounding the franchise. No team that has had home-court advantage in an NBA Finals has ever come back to win a series after losing the first two games at home.
With that scenario on the table, San Antonio approaches the third game knowing that another loss could virtually seal their fate in the championship race. However, there is still conviction within the locker room that the team can bounce back. At least that's how coach Mitch Johnson expressed it after Friday night's loss.
Instead of seeking revolutionary solutions or drastic changes, the Spurs' coach believes that the key to turning the situation around lies in rediscovering the team's form that led them to the Finals.
Johnson admitted that San Antonio hasn't lived up to their usual standard in the first two games of the series, although he also credited the performance shown by the Knicks.
“We don't feel like we've played well, or at least not at our level, in the last two games. New York has played very well, and that's part of it. But if we get to the third game playing our basketball at our level, we'll be fine,” Johnson said in his post-game press conference.
The small details have made the difference
Although the final scores show a competitive series, especially the close finish in the second game, there are several aspects of the game that have tilted the balance in favor of New York.
One of them has been the control of turnovers. The Spurs have struggled in this area in the first two games, allowing the Knicks to find easy transition opportunities and simple points that have proved decisive.
Every mistake has been punished by a New York team that has capitalized on any concession. This ability to turn opponent turnovers into quick baskets has been one of the most important factors in the series.
In addition, another area that was particularly exposed during the crucial minutes of the second game was offensive rebounding.
As the game entered its decisive phase, the Knicks found second chances that allowed them to maintain control at critical moments. San Antonio failed to secure rebounds with the necessary consistency and ended up paying a very high price for it.
Factors that have penalized the Spurs
| Factor | Impact on the series |
|---|---|
| Turnovers | Have led to fast breaks and easy points for New York |
| Offensive rebounding | The Knicks have taken advantage of second chances |
| Execution of the game plan | Johnson believes the team hasn't performed at their level |
| Management of advantages | San Antonio once again squandered a significant lead |
Wembanyama and the difficulties in the first game
Another element that has influenced the Finals for the Spurs has been Victor Wembanyama's uneven start to the series.
San Antonio's top star endured a challenging first half in the opening game, a circumstance that affected the team's overall performance at a time when the Knicks started to gain confidence.
Although the Frenchman has subsequently shown his ability to lead the team, the Spurs have missed greater collective consistency during the crucial moments of both games.
Furthermore, the Texan team repeated a problem that had accompanied them in other playoff moments: the inability to protect significant leads.
In the second game, San Antonio once again let slip a double-digit lead acquired during the first half, allowing New York to get back into the game and ultimately secure a highly valuable victory.
A third game that could decide the Finals
The series now shifts to the Madison Square Garden with maximum pressure on the Spurs. The team knows that a loss would put the Knicks up 3-0, a situation that would almost rule out the championship.
Therefore, within the organization, there is an awareness that the third game represents much more than just a single match. It is an opportunity to regain confidence, alter the dynamic of the series, and demonstrate why they reached the Finals as one of the most solid teams in the entire NBA.
Johnson is clear about it. The recipe doesn't involve reinventing themselves but executing properly what got them to this stage. However, there is no margin for error anymore.
Against a Knicks team in their prime form and who have capitalized on every mistake of their opponent, the Spurs will need to deliver a nearly flawless performance if they want to prevent their title aspirations from teetering on the brink in New York.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La clave para que los Spurs remonten las Finales de la NBA
