In a recent report, Fichajes mentioned that Tottenham Hotspur are showing interest in Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo this summer. It has been stated that Spurs are eyeing a €30m move to sign the Uruguayan talent in this transfer period.
The 27-year-old served as an important role in Hansi Flick’s squad in the previous campaign when he put in a run of solid performances for Barca on the defensive end of the field. Araujo found the back of the net four times in 38 matches for the Catalan club last season across all fronts.
The Uruguayan talent is currently one of the most reliable centre-backs in La Liga. Hence, it is no surprise that Spurs are trying to sign him in this summer transfer window.
Araujo’s current deal at the Nou Camp will run out in the summer of 2031, so Tottenham have to make a convincing offer if they are serious about recruiting him this off-season.
CANELONES, URUGUAY – JUNE 05: Maximiliano Araujo of Uruguay attends a farewell activity ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Estadio Emilio “Tito” López López de Pando on June 05, 2026 in Canelones, Uruguay. (Photo by Ernesto Ryan/Getty Images)

The hottest ticket in town is drawing New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the US president and a parade of celebrities, as well as fans teeming with excitement despite escalating security and a cancelled watch party.
The New York Knicks will clash with the San Antonio Spurs for game three of the NBA Finals - the first on their home turf of Madison Square Garden (MSG) - on Monday night.
A strict no-bag policy, a security zone spanning 10 square city blocks and airport-style screening will greet fans, as US President Donald Trump also plans to attend the pivotal game in New York City.
The Knicks, appearing in their first Finals since 1999, hold a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, fuelling championship fever across the city.
This season has represented a stunning reversal of fortunes for the Knicks after decades as one of the worst teams in the league. Now with a 2-0 lead in the Finals, they need to win just two more games, the best of seven, to win the national championship for the first time since 1973.

Tom Orsborn: #SPURS guard De'Aaron Fox on security at MSG: “I think the president being here just makes it inconvenient for everybody else. ...We’re getting screened like it’s TSA. It’s a little inconvenient for the people that’s got to play, but it is what it is.”
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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: De'Aaron Fox: 'The president being here just makes it inconvenient for everybody else'

President Donald Trump has made plans to turn the upcoming 2026 NBA Finals into something historic. The president will be watching Game 3 between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on June 8 night. This will mark the first time that a sitting US president has attended an NBA Finals game.
The reason for this is that the Knicks are winning the series two games to zero and are only two games away from breaking their long ****** le drought.
Trump said after receiving an invitation from Knicks owner James Dolan. “The answer is yes. He’s invited me, and I’m going,” Trump added that he could potentially attend multiple games in the series, however, Game 3 is expected to be his first appearance as the Finals arrive in New York.
The moment represents a unique piece of NBA history. Former presidents have attended Finals games in the past, however, none did so while serving in office. Trump’s visit will place additional national attention on a series that has already become one of the biggest sporting stories in the country. The president has long maintained ties to the Knicks sports and has frequently spoken about the Knicks over the years. Last week, he praised the team’s performance through the opening games of the Finals and expressed admiration for the way New York has handled the Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama.

OG Anunoby had no interest in turning Donald Trump’s expected Madison Square Garden appearance into a Knicks distraction.
The New York forward was asked about Trump attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, June 8.
It is already a huge night. The Knicks lead the series 2-0, MSG is hosting its first NBA Finals game since 1999, and security will be tighter because of the presidential visit.
SNY Knicks shared Anunoby’s response after he was asked about Trump being in the building for Game 3 at Madison Square Garden.
“He’ll just be there watching the game. We’re going to go as usual, play our game. Try to win the game.”

Juventus appear to be narrowing their search for a new goalkeeper, and Tottenham Hotspur’s Guglielmo Vicario has reportedly emerged as the leading candidate.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian giants have accelerated their interest in the Spurs stopper after encountering obstacles in pursuits of several high profile alternatives, including Liverpool’s Alisson Becker, Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez and AC Milan’s Mike Maignan.
Photo: IMAGO
The report paints a picture of a club seeking leadership, reliability and experience as it looks to strengthen a key position ahead of the new campaign.
Juventus had identified Alisson as an ideal solution.

Is Donald Trump at the NBA Finals? Live updates on president's Knicks vs. Spurs Game 3 appearance originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After the Knicks won the first two games of the NBA Finals in San Antonio, all eyes are on Madison Square Garden for Game 3.
The real action will be on the court, where the Knicks are hoping to build a series lead that has never been overcome in NBA history, but the scene will be ideal for celebrity watching. The stars will be out, and it doesn't just stop at celebrity row.
U.S. president Donald Trump said he plans to attend Game 3, in what would be his first NBA game since he entered politics in 2015. A fairly common sight at Knicks games from the 1990s into the early 2010s, Trump would bring plenty of attention — and extra security measures — with him at MSG this time around.
The Sporting News is tracking live updates on Trump's whereabouts for Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday. See the latest below.

The Knicks are 48 minutes away from adding to Madison Square Garden history originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
There are great arenas in sports. Then there is Madison Square Garden. The building known as "The World's Most Famous Arena" has hosted championship celebrations, iconic concerts, legendary boxing matches, and some of the most unforgettable moments in sports history. For decades, athletes, musicians, and entertainers have arrived in New York hoping to leave their mark on the Garden.
Few actually do.
That's what makes Monday night's Game 3 of the NBA Finals feel so significant. The New York Knicks are not simply trying to take a commanding 3-0 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs. They're trying to become the next team forever connected to one of the most historic venues in the world.
For a franchise chasing its first NBA championship since 1973, the opportunity could not be bigger. Madison Square Garden has seen legends before. Now the Knicks have a chance to become one.

Tottenham’s pursuit of Jan Paul van Hecke has already reached the stage where ambition meets resistance. According to talkSPORT, Brighton CEO Paul Barber has confirmed that Spurs have seen not one, but two bids rejected for the Dutch centre back.
That, in itself, tells us plenty. Tottenham clearly view Van Hecke as a serious target, not a speculative name tossed into the transfer wind. Brighton, equally clearly, know what they have. A defender signed from NAC Breda for just £2million in 2020 has become another example of their recruitment machine turning foresight into market power.
Now entering the final year of his Brighton contract, Van Hecke might appear vulnerable to a cut price exit. Yet talkSPORT report that Brighton value him at around £50million, with Liverpool and Newcastle also credited with interest.
Barber told talkSPORT: “There’s always going to be a lot of interest in our best players, and certainly in the case of Jan Paul.
“We’ve been very clear that that interest has been ongoing for a while, it’s coming from multiple sources.

Dylan Harper is generating plenty of buzz this postseason. He’s been lighting it up for the San Antonio Spurs, and even though he is a rookie, he has consistently risen to the occasion when the challenge gets tougher. He had a slow start to the season, but he is making up for lost time and is now regarded as one of the Spurs’ most important players.
His team is entering Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks trailing 0-2 after dropping both home games. Game 2 was especially heartbreaking, as they lost by just one point following a costly error by star Victor Wembanyama.
The Spurs must play with a sense of urgency from this point forward, and Harper said he is built for moments like these.
“Desperation. I think for me, I feel like I’m at my best when I play with that type of desperation, and I think that’s what’s kind of needed for this occasion,” Harper said on Sunday when asked about his approach for the next two games.
“I feel like I’m going to go out there and no matter what the circumstances, I think if I’m not playing with that type of fire or grit, I’m doing a disservice to everyone.”

Soaring ticket prices and extra security for US President Donald Trump do not alter the electric energy of fabled Madison Square Garden as it hosts games three and four of the NBA Finals.
The New York Knicks, chasing their first basketball championship since 1973, take a 2-0 lead over the San Antonio Spurs into Monday's game three of the best-of-seven series, with game four to follow on Wednesday.
Ticket prices have skyrocketed out of the reach of most New Yorkers, but the self-proclaimed "World's Most Famous Arena" will still be packed to the rafters, with celebrities at courtside and Trump attending at least for game three.
The shiny trappings are just part of the allure of the 58-year-old venue.
But on Sunday evening, five people were wounded in a stabbing at Penn Station, located directly underneath the arena -- a reminder of the security concerns that also lurk ahead of major events in New York.

'I wish': Gregg Popovich's melancholic reflection on not being Spurs HC in the 2026 NBA Finals originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
2026 is starting to echo 1999. Technological woes brought about by Y2K have become parallel to AI, a previously elected US President is currently serving his second term in the White House, and the San Antonio Spurs are facing off against the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals. One thing is missing though. While there is a Brunson playing on the Knicks side of the court, Coach Gregg Popovich is no longer the head coach of the Spurs, lurking on the sidelines.
Still, Popovich contributes to the Victor Wembanyama-led team's strategy, though he wishes he were on the sidelines as he was 27 years ago.
Going down 2-0 in the NBA Finals is not an easy sight to experience. What makes that even worse? For Coach Gregg Popovich, it is that his heart and mind know it can still help Victor Wembanyama and Co. topple the Knicks, but his body no longer allows him to do so.
See, Coach Pop had a stroke on November 2, 2024. Since then, he has stepped down as the head coach of the Spurs, handed the keys over to Coach Mitch Johnson, and moved over to become the President of Basketball Operations instead.

The New York Knicks have been a major problem for Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. In the first two games of the series, the Knicks have exploited the Spurs’ impressive defense. In the first three series that San Antonio played in, the team established a dominant force on the defensive end. However, their tactics have not worked against New York.
The Spurs have primarily used Wembanyama as a zone defender inside the paint. With his height, length and reach, he scares opposing teams from using the driving lane to generate easy points. Against the Knicks, however, the NBA star has become more active in following their outside shooters, removing himself from the paint.
Ahead of Game 3, Victor Wembanyama was asked about the challenge that the Spurs have encountered in facing the Knicks. Since he’s been everywhere on both ends of the floor, he hasn’t had a chance to take a breather when he’s on the court. However, he shrugged it off and is focused on finishing the task at hand.
“The challenge (has) been mostly about will, the will to do it, and I feel like I’ll take a breather at the end of the season,” Wembanyama said.
Wembanyama has done everything he can to carry the Spurs to victory. Over the past two games, he has averaged 27.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks. In Game 2, he had a chance to win the game for San Antonio, but missed a mid-range shot over Mitchell Robinson.

Victor Wembanyama has a chance to make history in this year’s NBA Finals. He can he lead the San Antonio Spurs in becoming the first team to win the championship after losing Games 1 and 2 at home. The superstar center could also be the next Capricorn hero.
There’s been a trend of teams blowing 2-0 leads in every 10 years. The Miami Heat beat the Dallas Mavericks in the 2006 Finals, while the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
MORE: Kevin Garnett mocks ‘emotional’ Victor Wembanyama for reaction to making NBA Finals
Interestingly, the Finals MVPs, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, are both Capricorns. The Heat legend’s birthday is Jan. 17, 1982. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar, on the other hand, was born on Dec. 30, 1984.
Wembanyama will turn 23 on Jan. 4. The Spurs will rely on him heavily as they look to bounce back strong starting in Game 3 on Monday.

The NBA Finals spotlight keeps getting brighter; however, Victor Wembanyama does not appear interested in everything happening around it, with the series shifting to New York and President Donald Trump's attendance dominating headlines ahead of Game 3, another potential distraction has entered an already chaotic championship environment.
Nevertheless, anyone who hoped the star of the San Antonio Spurs would be swayed to join in with the hubbub was mistaken. No matter how much more expansive the arena for the playoffs becomes each day and the media coverage reaches unprecedented heights, it is clear that Wembanyama's mind stays on the game.
When discussing the upcoming Game 3 match scheduled for June 8, Victor Wembanyama was asked whether he felt that the extra media hype about Trump's attendance might have affected his mindset during the NBA Finals. The 22-year-old didn't need much time to answer.
"Not really. I think it could be. Isolating myself is something I've practiced over the years and I think I'm good at it so it's not a problem. This is something similar media wise, like the Olympics."
The comparison is telling. Before becoming the face of the Spurs franchise, Wembanyama experienced the intense spotlight of international competition with France. The Olympics brought worldwide media coverage, constant scrutiny, and endless storylines. In his view, the Finals environment isn't much different.

NEW YORK (AP) — Victor Wembanyama is not shying away from the spotlight in the NBA Finals, and the San Antonio Spurs would not want it any other way.
Less than 48 hours after missing a shot at the end of Game 2 that would have beaten the New York Knicks and evened the series, the 22-year-old big man from France who is becoming the face of the league said the pressure of the situation does not bother him as the Spurs enter Game 3 facing a 2-0 deficit.
"There's really no reason to overthink it," Wembanyama said Sunday. "This is what I'm built for."
Wembanyama has not been the problem for the Spurs. He led them with 26 points in the series opener and had a Game 2-high 29 points.
Teammate Keldon Johnson's message after Wembanyama's would-be game-winning jumper clanked off the rim and out is, "Shoot it again."

NEW YORK (AP) — Madison Square Garden has seen just about everything in sports and entertainment, from the first Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fight to the first Wrestlemania.
It just hasn't seen much of the NBA Finals.
The New York Knicks have brought the finals back to their home court for the first time since 1999 and can make sure they don't leave again this year. Fans are spending astonishingly high prices for tickets and the potential to witness a celebration more than five decades in the making.
With a 2-0 lead over Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, the Knicks are halfway to their first championship since 1973. They are the biggest thing in the Big Apple, and it seems everyone is caught up in the hoopla except the Knicks themselves.
"I know the fan base is really excited, as they should be," captain Jalen Brunson said. "But as a team, us inside the locker room, we have more work to do."

Much to the delight of New Yorkers, the New York Knicks have a 2-0 lead over the San Antonio Spurs as the series heads to New York City, allowing the Knicks a chance to close out the series on their home court in Madison Square Garden. The only problem is that the everyday fan cannot afford to attend the games.
Heading into Monday night's Game 3 showdown between the Knicks and Spurs, the ticket prices for the game have reached almost incomprehensible levels, as the cheapest tickets for the game were listed at around $8,000 on secondary markets. Still, United States President Donald Trump will be in attendance, and his message to everyday New Yorkers is to simply watch the game on television.
Ahead of Monday night's game, Trump was asked about the fact that he was attending the game while the average New Yorker was completely priced out of attending, but Trump didn't have much of a response.
"You can watch it on television," Trump said during a recent press interview on Air Force One. "It's sort of semi-free to watch it on television."
"That's the way life goes," Trump said. "Now, if the team wasn't a big success, you could go very easily. That's just the way life is."

Weeks ago, Donald Trump put everyone on notice after promising he’d do one thing. And that is none other than attending an NBA Finals game. Between New York and San Antonio. This Wednesday, everyone in SA was waiting for the POTUS to arrive. But he didn’t. Much to the timeline’s shock, of course. But Trump didn’t leave the people hanging.
On Thursday, Trump said that he has plans to attend the Knicks-Spurs matchup. And this time, it’s no holds barred. Thanks to Knicks owner James Dolan, Trump is set to watch the series at Madison Square. Yup, on Game 3 on Monday. Now, the stakes are high for both teams. As the POTUS itself is watching what will happen in that game.
Donald Trump gets his hair messed up on NBC’s ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.’. Republican candidate for President of the United States Donald Trump appears on NBC’s ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.’ At the end of the interview Trump allowed Fallon to mess up his much spoken about hair.
And if anything, Etan Thomas is excited for that. And in his X/Twitter post, he wants everyone. Especially the Knicks Mafia. To embrace Donald Trump’s presence in the MSG.
Thomas wrote, “Dear Knicks Fans: If this does happen, and Trump brings himself to Madison Square Garden during the #NBAFinals , I hope you all give him the proper greeting he deserves.” That the NY timeline shouldn’t hold back.

The OKC Thunder fell short of its goal of winning a second straight NBA championship.
OKC lost to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals, sending it into the offseason. And as the summer unfolds, general manager Sam Presti and the rest of the Thunder's front office will have plenty of big decisions to make.
Here are the five biggest questions for OKC entering the 2026 NBA offseason:
More: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said OKC Thunder 2025-26 season was 'failure'. Here's what he meant
There are a lot of questions surrounding OKC this summer, from contract decisions to potential trade candidates to NBA Draft strategy. We'll get into all of that, but the biggest question is if Jalen Williams can finally get his body right.

The OKC Thunder fell short of its goal of winning a second straight NBA championship.
OKC lost to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals, sending it into the offseason. And as the summer unfolds, general manager Sam Presti and the rest of the Thunder's front office will have plenty of big decisions to make.
Here are the five biggest questions for OKC entering the 2026 NBA offseason:
More: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said OKC Thunder 2025-26 season was 'failure'. Here's what he meant
There are a lot of questions surrounding OKC this summer, from contract decisions to potential trade candidates to NBA Draft strategy. We'll get into all of that, but the biggest question is if Jalen Williams can finally get his body right.

LeBron James, the de facto face of the league, playing alongside French prodigy Victor Wembanyama, could be a dream come true for San Antonio Spurs fans.
But the move is far from straightforward. The financial chaos that would come with adding James alone is enough to make many around the NBA skeptical about a move to San Antonio.
However, one ******* yst thinks it could fix everything wrong with the Spurs right now.
King James is fresh off playing in his 19th NBA postseason. He will enter his 24th NBA season if he doesn’t decide to hang up his sneakers this year.
Despite his age, James’ presence on the court is still enough to rattle defenses.

Kevin O'Connor deep dives into the Knicks 105-104 win against the Spurs in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Can San Antonio do what has never been done and overcome an 0-2 Finals deficit at home? Or is New York truly just two wins away from becoming NBA champions?
Up next, KOC is joined by NBA insider Chris Haynes from the NBA Finals to discuss the biggest NBA offseason rumors. The pair talk Giannis trade destinations, the NBA Draft and more.
Then, DeAndre Jordan of the New Orleans Pelicans joins the show for a breakdown of the evolution of the big man and why international players have recently been so dominant in the NBA.
Later, NBA Draft prospects Bennett Stirtz & Aaron Nkrumah join to discuss their unique play styles and what they hope to achieve at the next level in the NBA.
(0:59) Knicks take 2-0 lead vs. Spurs in Finals

An NYPD police officer was beaten and 26 people were arrested outside Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan Friday night as thousands of fans celebrated the Knicks’ Game 2 squeaker victory over the San Antonio Spurs, officials said.
The woman officer was repeatedly punched as she tried to stop a female fan who refused to leave following the Knicks’ 105-104 win, jumped a barricade, and ran into a frozen area, officials said.
“The situation was pretty chaotic,” said one NYPD source with knowledge of the incident, adding that the attacked officer was “punched badly” in the face.
The fan, 29-year-old Karely Reyes, was charged with ***** ault, resisting arrest, and obstruction of government administration.
Cops said the attack left the 23-year-old officer bloodied and needing medical attention.

Spurs left reeling as Charles Barkley hints Knicks run could enter all-time playoff history originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Knicks' dominant postseason run is still very much alive. Their 105-104 thriller in Game 2 extended their playoff win streak to 13 consecutive games, handed the Spurs a second straight heartbreak in their home arena and put Mike Brown’s squad two wins from their first championship since 1973.
Experts are already making their opinion crystal clear about their staggering numbers. New York has outscored opponents by 272 points across their 12-game winning streak, the best such mark ever recorded over any 12-game span in NBA history, regular season or playoffs. They won 11 of those 12 games by double digits, with four coming by at least 30 points. That’s less of a hot streak and more of a wrecking ball.
Which is exactly what caught Charles Barkley's attention on Inside the NBA. The Hall of Famer and 11-time All-Star stopped short of crowning New York the greatest team ever, but put them on notice for playoff immortality.
"I'm not saying this is the greatest team ever," Barkley said. "If they win these next two games, this is one of the greatest runs in playoff history. It's one of the greatest runs. You have to give them their props."

Celebrity row will be packed for Game 3 at Madison Square Garden on June 8 as the Knicks host their first NBA Finals game in 27 years. Even President Donald Trump announced he will be attending. Will you be there?
It won't be cheap as ticket prices for the MSG games have been skyrocketing to historic levels, especially after New York took the first two games from the Spurs in San Antonio.
Before the NBA Finals began, the cheapest ticket to Monday's Game 3 in New York was $3,789, but as of Saturday morning, the lowest-priced single ticket, up in Section 225, was over $11,500 on Stubhub. If you want to get down near the court and all the celebrities, you can pick up a single ticket in Section 6D for just over $100,000. That's not a typo.
The Knicks have not won the NBA **** le since 1973 with the likes of Walt Frazier, Willis Reed and Bill Bradley. If you want to be there for a chance to see history and a Knicks potential sweep in Game 4, you will pay a whole lot more.
The cheapest single ticket for Game 4 on Wednesday is nearly $14,500 (Section 215), while the most expensive ticket is just over $138,000 (Section 11D), according to Stubhub on Saturday morning.

The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 105-104 Friday night at Frost Bank Center, thanks to the late-game heroics of Jalen Brunson, who scored the go-ahead free throw with 9.5 seconds left in the game.
Brunson has a knack for finding big-time buckets. It’s what he’s done throughout the playoffs, and he has particularly taken it up a notch in the NBA Finals against a tough opponent in San Antonio. Though he struggled to find his shot, going 7-for-25 in Game 2 after going 12-for-31 in Game 1, he came up clutch when the game was on the line, giving the Knicks a 2-0 lead in the seven-game series and momentum in the Finals.
In Game 1, not only Brunson’s wife was present, but his mother was able to make the trip from San Antonio and see it live. While hundreds of Knicks fans were also in the crowd, one fan couldn’t leave without sending a special message for Brunson’s mother, Sandra Brunson.
“Hey Mrs. Brunson, thank you so much for having that boy. Thank you! He is the franchise changer! We love him!”
The video has gone viral after Game 2. Brunson’s mom was seen taking the compliment well as she was all smiles. However, there is no proof that Sandra attended Game 2, but his wife was there to support him.

Jalen Brunson drilled the go-ahead free throw as the New York Knicks held off a furious San Antonio rally to beat the Spurs 105-104 on Friday and take a commanding 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals.
San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama missed a potential game-winner with two seconds remaining to leave the Spurs in need of an unprecedented comeback when the best-of-seven series shifts to New York for games three and four.
No team has lifted the trophy after dropping the first two games of the Finals at home.
Michael Jordan's 1993 Chicago Bulls and the 1995 Houston Rockets are the only other teams to win the first two games of the championship series on the road, and both went on to win **** les.
The Knicks won their 13th straight game of the playoffs -- the second-longest streak in postseason history -- and will have a chance to close out their first **** le since 1973 in front of home fans at Madison Square Garden. US President Donald Trump is scheduled to be in attendance on Monday.

The Spurs knew an adjustment had to be made on Jalen Brunson, who torched San Antonio in the second half of a loss in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
And they did make that adjustment. But, they didn’t have an answer early for Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks’ best player on the floor for beginning of Friday’s 105-104 Game 2 win in Frost Bank Center.
What was missing? A moment in the fourth for Towns to steady his sputtering team as the Spurs went on a 14-0 run in hopes of tying the series, 1-1.
In fact, Towns didn’t touch the ball for six consecutive possessions late in the fourth quarter as the Spurs sparked a comeback attempt.
It was a tale of two halves. After scoring 17 points by halftime, Towns logged just four the rest of the way.

June 6 (UPI) -- New York Knicks players watched a 14-point fourth-quarter lead evaporate, but held onto their defensive intensity in the final seconds to beat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Friday in San Antonio.
Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns wrestled Victor Wembanyama for the majority of the 105-104 triumph. Wembanyama, who totaled just seven points in the first half, netted 22 in the second to spark the comeback, but missed a game-winning shot attempt at the final buzzer.
"The reason we won this game is because we gave ourselves a lead," Towns said on the ABC broadcast. "We played hard. We got ourselves a lead. Something we'd done so well in this playoffs, we've gotten leads and held the lead.
Today, the Spurs fought. They got themselves back into the game, with a chance to win. The grit, the resilience, New York City showed up. The fans showed up. The energy showed up. We found a way to get it done."
With the victory, the Knicks secured a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven-game series, which will head to New York on Monday for Game 3. They also extended their postgame winning streak to 13 consecutive games, including eight straight on the road.