January 1, Knicks Legend Hits Clutch Shot That Has New York One Step Closer to Glory

Wyatt’s Take

• Jalen Brunson delivered when it mattered most, sinking the go-ahead free throw that put the Knicks up 2-0 in the NBA Finals and sent the series back to Madison Square Garden
• New York now stands alongside Michael Jordan’s 1993 Bulls and Hakeem Olajuwon’s 1995 Rockets as only the third team ever to win the first two Finals games on the road—both those teams won championships
• The Knicks are riding a historic 13-game playoff winning streak and sit just two victories away from ending a championship drought that’s stretched since 1973

The New York Knicks will return to Madison Square Garden just two wins away from ending their long championship drought. And they’ve got momentum on their side.

Jalen Brunson hit a go-ahead free throw in the closing seconds Friday night, lifting the Knicks to a 105-104 win over the Spurs in Game 2. Moments earlier, Victor Wembanyama missed a jumper that could have swung the game in San Antonio’s favor.

Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Brunson and Mikal Bridges each scored 20 for the Knicks. They have won 13 straight, the second-longest streak by any team in NBA playoff history.

The Knicks are now just the third team to win the first two games of a finals on the road, joining Michael Jordan and the 1993 Chicago Bulls, and Hakeem Olajuwon and the 1995 Houston Rockets. Both of those teams won championships.

The Bulls needed six games to oust the Phoenix Suns. The Rockets went home after winning those first two games in Orlando and swept the Magic.

The Knicks, seeking their first championship since 1973, are in position to join them.

Wembanyama, after a very quiet first half, scored 29. De’Aaron Fox had 20 for San Antonio.

The series now shifts to New York. Game 3 is at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.

The Spurs erased a 12-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter, completing the rally when Wembanyama converted a three-point play with 57 seconds left to give San Antonio its first lead in nearly two quarters, 104-102.

Brunson scored on the next possession, just his seventh basket in 24 shots on the night, and the game was tied. Wembanyama missed a long jumper, OG Anunoby got the rebound for New York with 30 seconds left, the Knicks called time and the stage was set.

The Spurs got the stop they needed, but Victor Wembanyama turned the ball over on the ensuing possession. Brunson was fouled moments later and put the Knicks back in front for good before the clock hit zero.

Game 3 is set for 8:30 p.m. Monday in New York. Ticket prices are expected to shatter records as fans across the Big Apple scramble to witness what could be history in the making.

Why It Matters

This is what sports used to be about—grit, clutch performance, and teams that represent their cities with pride. The Knicks are showing the kind of toughness and teamwork that built American championships for generations. New York fans have waited over 50 years for this moment, and now their team is delivering when it counts. That’s the kind of perseverance and heart that still defines this country at its best.