Wembanyama carries the defeat in Game 2 of the Finals

The defeat of San Antonio Spurs in the second game of the 2026 NBA Finals left a memorable image for Victor Wembanyama. After a spectacular comeback by his team in the last quarter, the Texan squad had the opportunity to complete the turnaround, but a turnover in the decisive moments tilted the game in favor of New York Knicks, who won 105-104, extending their lead to 2-0 in the series.

The young Frenchman did not hide his frustration after the game and took full responsibility for an action he considered crucial in the final result. In a match marked by equality and tension in the final seconds, a coordination error deprived the Spurs of an apparently perfect opportunity.

With the score tied at 104 and less than 13 seconds to play, San Antonio regained possession after a missed shot by Jalen Brunson. Wembanyama grabbed the rebound and quickly tried to launch a fast break looking for a quick play that could secure the victory for the Spurs.

At that moment, the play that would ultimately determine the outcome of the game unfolded. Stephon Castle was running along the sideline near the home bench trying to create space, while Wembanyama decided to pass him the ball. However, the point guard was not expecting that pass, and the ball ended up hitting his back before rolling loose on the court.

Jalen Brunson reacted swiftly to regain possession, forcing Wembanyama to commit an immediate foul. The Knicks player subsequently converted the free throw, which proved to be decisive for New York's victory.

Far from seeking external explanations, Victor Wembanyama acknowledged after the game that the pressure of the moment influenced his decision and described the action as a personal mistake.

"That's the most frustrating part: wasting the opportunity after so much effort," Wembanyama said. "I messed up. I made a mistake. It's like the body reacted faster than the mind. We needed to win that game. This game was ours. But now it's done. Am I going to regret it? Yes, of course. Am I going to use this as motivation for myself and the team in the next game? Without a doubt."

Castle explains the decisive play

Stephon Castle also shared his version of the play that ultimately decided the game. The point guard stated that at that moment, he was focused on creating space for Wembanyama to advance with the ball and did not realize the pass was intended for him.

"I didn't see him pass me the ball," he said. "I saw Vic had the ball, and the game was tied. I was just trying to give Vic room."

This lack of communication led to a turnover that allowed the Knicks to regain possession of significant value when the game seemed headed towards a final shot by the Spurs.

However, San Antonio still had one last chance to win the game. Wembanyama received the ball to take a shot from six meters with Mitchell Robinson defending, but the attempt hit the rim and did not find its way into the basket.

An especially tough ending for the French star

The conclusion was particularly harsh for Wembanyama, who had several unfortunate actions in the final possessions of the game.

After a timeout with 39.3 seconds remaining, the French player missed a five-meter shot, caused a turnover after Castle's back hit, fouled Brunson, and failed to convert the final shot for the Spurs.

The player himself admitted the need to have better control of the game's tempo and manage such situations with more composure, noting that the team is frequently finding itself in difficult scenarios during tight finishes.

A series that complicates for San Antonio

The defeat leaves the Spurs at a disadvantage of 2-0 in an NBA Finals, a historically challenging scenario to overcome.

The precedents illustrate the difficulty of the challenge. No team has managed to come back in a title series after losing the first two games played at home, while the franchises holding a 2-0 lead have a record of 32 wins and only five losses in the Finals.

However, Coach Mitch Johnson maintains confidence in his team's ability to react. The coach believes the Spurs have not yet shown their best level in the first two games and thinks that if they can approach their usual performance, they can compete head-to-head against New York.

The Knicks also prevail in the small details

Besides the final mistake, the second game once again displayed the Knicks' ability to control crucial aspects of the game. San Antonio again lost the rebound battle on their home court by 44-42, a circumstance that had already occurred during the series against Oklahoma City.

Although Wembanyama finished as the game's top scorer with 29 points and led the Spurs' comeback with 22 points in the second half, the New York team reaffirmed their collective strength in key moments, traveling with a 2-0 advantage that brings them closer to their championship goal.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Wembanyama carga con la derrota en el Game 2 de las Finales