Towns Honors Late Mother After Knicks Edge Spurs 105-104 for 2-0 NBA Finals Lead

Q: Beyond divine intervention, what defensive strategy caused Victor Wembanyama's crucial last-second miss?

The decisive factor was New York’s late defensive execution, especially Mitchell Robinson’s read-and-recover contest on Wembanyama’s final shot. On the last possession, the Spurs ran a pick-and-roll action with De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama. Robinson correctly recognized Wembanyama slipping the screen, recovered quickly, and closed out hard on the 20-foot jumper. That contest disrupted the look enough to force a miss at the buzzer. More broadly, the miss fit the Knicks’ overall plan against Wembanyama throughout the game and series. Karl-Anthony Towns and Robinson used physical, disciplined defense to bump him off spots, crowd his touches, and make him work for clean catches and comfortable releases. Reporting around the game described New York’s approach as smart and physical, with Towns particularly effective in one-on-one coverage and Robinson providing rim protection and late-shot pressure. That sustained pressure appeared to matter in the closing seconds. Even if Towns framed the miss emotionally as a sign from his late mother, the basketball explanation was clear: the Knicks forced Wembanyama into a difficult, contested jumper rather than allowing an uncontested finish or cleaner action at the rim.

3 articles · Updated · Asbury Park Press · Jun 6

Karl-Anthony Towns said he prayed to his late mother before San Antonio’s final possession, then dedicated the Knicks’ 105-104 Game 2 win to her after Victor Wembanyama missed the last shot.
21 points, 13 rebounds and four assists from Towns helped New York seize a 2-0 Finals lead, with the center again outplaying Wembanyama as the series shifts to New York.
Mitchell Robinson defended Wembanyama on the deciding play after Mike Brown went to a defensive lineup, and Towns called the miss both strong team defense and a sign from his mother.
Jacqueline Cruz-Towns died at 58 from Covid-19 complications in 2020, giving the postgame tribute added weight as Towns embraced his father on the court moments later.