The San Antonio Spurs were in position to take Game 2 against the New York Knicks, but Victor Wembanyama’s late-game errors in the final minute proved costly.
NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson was among those who weighed in on the Spurs star’s crucial turnover as well as the Knicks’ performance in Friday’s game.
What Magic Johnson Said About Victor Wembanyama’s Game 2 Error
Despite Wembanyama’s slow start in the first half, the Spurs found themselves on the verge of a historic comeback in Game 2 after erasing a 14-point deficit late in the game.
With 13.5 seconds left on the clock and the score tied at 104-104, Wembanyama grabbed a rebound but gave away a costly turnover when he threw the ball directly into Stephon Castle’s path.
The pass deflected off Castle’s back and landed in Jalen Brunson’s hands, who was then fouled by Wembanyama and managed to sink a free throw to give New York a 105-104 lead.
Not long after, the unanimous winner of the Defensive Player of the Year missed a game-winning jumper at the buzzer.
Soon after, Los Angeles Lakers legend Johnson shared his take on the game and Wembanyama’s blunder.
“Victor Wembanyama played a spectacular game tonight with 29 points and 9 rebounds, but his turnover in the closing seconds proved too costly for the Spurs to get the win,” Johnson tweeted.
“Karl-Anthony Towns was impressive on both ends of the floor, dominating the first half and making nothing easy for Wembanyama defensively, finishing with 21 points and 13 rebounds. That 3rd quarter told the whole story for the Knicks.”
“With Towns and Brunson on the bench, Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamet stepped up and secured the lead heading into the 4th. The Spurs made a strong push late but Brunson delivered the clutch shot and free throws when the Knicks needed them most. Tonight belonged to everyone in the Knicks’ locker room – it was a complete team victory!”
Wembanyama said in his postgame remarks that he was not seeing the situation clearly, noting he felt “blurry” and adding that he needed to show more poise and control in the closing moments.
Besides his game-defining blunder, Wembanyama finished the night with 29 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks.
As for the Knicks, they continued to show their trademark composure in key moments, consistently playing with urgency throughout the contest.
Game 3 is set for Monday at Madison Square Garden, with the Spurs in a must-win situation after falling into a 0-2 hole.
