Knowing they would be facing the unenviable task of going to New York down 2-0, the Spurs rallied from 14 points down midway through the fourth quarter to take a late lead over the Knicks on Friday night.
With the game tied at 104, the Spurs got the stop they needed, but trying to get the ball up court, Spurs’ star Victor Wembanyama threw it away, and Knicks’ guard Jalen Brunson was fouled. Brunson hit one of two free throws before Wembanyama had a good look at a jumper that would have won the game, but it bounced off the rim, giving the Knicks a 105-104 and a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Afterward, the talk surrounding the Spurs was the decision not to call a timeout with the game tied at 104.
NBA World Reacts to Mitch Johnson’s Decision Down the Stretch in Game 2 Loss
Not calling a timeout clearly wasn’t the only mistake the Spurs made down the stretch on Friday night, but it certainly stung the most.
After the game, the NBA world was heavily critical of Johnson’s decision not to call a timeout. BBall Breakdown called it “coaching criminality.”
“To not call timeout on the Wemby rebound is coaching criminality,” they wrote.
To not call timeout on the Wemby rebound is coaching criminality
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) June 6, 2026
Hymn Duncan had plenty of issues with Johnson, calling it a “500-IQ Intentional loss,” saying Johnson “decided to not call a timeout with a chance to win it leading to a backcourt turnover and losing in the most disgraceful way possible, leading the entire NBA to think we are an undisciplined and poorly coached basketball team.” However, he does still have extremely high hopes.
500-IQ intentional loss by Coach Mitch Johnson 🧠
-Decided to not call a timeout with a chance to win it leading to a backcourt turnover and losing in the most disgraceful way possible, leading the entire NBA to think we are an undisciplined and poorly coached basketball team… pic.twitter.com/yAyTvzx0jJ
— hymn duncan (@hymnduncan) June 6, 2026
Journalist Tyler Glasscock went even further, saying Johnson has “failed this team.”
“Mitch Johnson has failed this team,” Glasscock said. You can’t give a single reason to defend this scheme.”
Mitch Johnson has failed this team.
You can’t give a single reason to defend this scheme.
— Tyler Glasscock (@TylerGlasscock_) June 6, 2026
Clutch Points’ Brett Siegel believes in Johnson, but also has issues with his handling of the end of the game. He also had a problem with veteran De’Aaron Fox getting minutes over rookie Dyaln Harper in the fourth quarter.
“I think Mitch Johnson is a fantastic coach, but his inexperience has shown in this series so far,” Siegel explained. “Dylan Harper should’ve been in there as soon as Fox started struggling in the fourth quarter of in Game 1, and not calling a timeout late tonight before that turnover is all on him.”
I think Mitch Johnson is a fantastic coach, but his inexperience has shown in this series so far.
Dylan Harper should’ve been in there as soon as Fox started struggling in the fourth quarter of in Game 1, and not calling a timeout late tonight before that turnover is all on him.
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) June 6, 2026
Heading to Madison Square Garden down 2-0 is obviously not ideal, especially after losing a game that probably at worst should have gone to overtime, but Johnson doesn’t seem to be panicking.
“We don’t feel like we’ve played well or up to our standard, at least, in the last two games,” Johnson said. “New York’s played very well and they’re a part of that. We’re gonna go into Game 3 and if we play our brand of basketball, up to our standard, we’ll be just fine.”
Game 3 will go down Monday night and should be quite the spectacle. The game will tip at 8:30 p.m. ET and can be seen on ABC.
