Brunson steal – Jalen Brunson missed a contested mid-range over Victor Wembanyama with the game tied late, then pounced on a botched outlet pass, drew a foul, and hit the go-ahead free throw with 9.5 seconds left as the New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-104 in Ga
For a moment late in Game 2, it looked like Jalen Brunson’s night was headed the wrong way—especially with the score tied at 104 and only 14 seconds left. The New York Knicks star rose for a contested mid-range over Victor Wembanyama, but it didn’t fall.
Instead of the miss ending the sequence, it detonated into something messier. Wembanyama came down with the defensive rebound. and his outlet pass went awry—deflecting off the back of an unsuspecting Stephon Castle. The ball didn’t go anywhere clean. It sat in the kind of chaos that usually punishes teams.
Brunson didn’t hesitate.
He pounced on the loose ball, drew contact from Wembanyama, and converted the free throw that swung the game for good. With 9.5 seconds left, New York had the lead, and the Knicks held on to win 105-104 to take a commanding 2-0 series advantage.
“I saw he wasn’t looking so I just tried to go get it,” Brunson said after the game, explaining his instincts during the frantic turnover. “Didn’t know if it was gonna go out of bounds, I just didn’t want Wemby to come and get it.”
It was a gritty, characteristic play for an All-NBA point guard on a night when his shot was not falling. Brunson finished the game with 20 points, six assists, and five steals, while going 7-for-24 from the field.
New York’s frontcourt work mattered, too. Karl-Anthony Towns posted 21 points and 13 rebounds, giving the Knicks a steady base even as the final moments got frantic. Mikal Bridges added 20 points.
San Antonio never quit. Victor Wembanyama led all scorers with 29 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks, but the late-game blunder overshadowed a furious 14-0 fourth-quarter rally by the Spurs.
The win doesn’t just move the Knicks closer to their next step—it stacks more momentum on top of momentum. New York has now won 13 consecutive playoff games. and with the series set to shift to Madison Square Garden on Monday. Brunson and his team are sitting two victories away from an NBA championship and the franchise’s first title since 1973.
NBA Finals New York Knicks San Antonio Spurs Jalen Brunson Victor Wembanyama Karl-Anthony Towns Mikal Bridges Game 2 105-104 Madison Square Garden