(Talk1370.com) -- The NBA Finals have moved to New York for Game Three.
They say that if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. As the San Antonio Spurs take on the New York Knicks, they are about to find out just how bright those neon lights are on Broadway.
Unfortunately, history is not on the side of the Silver & Black. The Knicks lead the series 2-0 after stealing home court from the Spurs and tying the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers with eight straight road playoff wins. Of the 37 teams that have taken a two-games-to-none lead, 32 have gone on to win the championship. That's 86.5.
The outlook for the Spurs appears even more dire. San Antonio is currently just the third team in the league's history to fall behind 2-0 after starting the Finals at home. In the two previous series, neither trailing squad was able to reverse its fortunes on the road.
Back in 1993, the Chicago Bulls snagged the first two games from the Suns in Phoenix. Although the Suns managed to respond by taking Game 3 in the Windy City and securing another victory in Game 5, they still lost the series in six. In 1995, the Orlando Magic dropped their first two home games against Houston. Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets dominated a young Shaquille O'Neal on the road before returning home to finalize a four-game sweep in front of their own crowd.
All that being said, history does get made. In 2014, the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers were down 2-0 to the record-breaking Golden State Warriors and so were the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks to the Phoenix Suns. While those games were all won by the home teams, the series was won by the teams down by two games. Should the Spurs manage to overcome the 2-0 deficit against the Knicks, they would secure a unique place in the record books. No team has ever lost the first two games of the Finals at home and successfully rallied to win the championship.
Victor Wembanyama overcame what San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said was a “hesitant’ and ‘passive’ first half of Friday's game, with leading a 14-0 offensive run that breathed life back into the San Antonio Spurs However, a single late-game turnover and missed shot saw those hopes get dashed. With the score tied at 104 and under 15 seconds remaining, Wembanyama came down with a rebound off a Jalen Brunson miss. Wemby attempted an outlet pass to Stephon Castle but that pass caught him completely unaware and hit him in the back.
Knicks Guard Jalen Brunson comes up with the turnover, forcing Wembanyama to commit an immediate foul in a desperate attempt to stop the clock. Brunson converted one of his two free throws to nudge the Knicks ahead 105-104 with 9.5 left on the clock. In the final seconds the Spurs advanced the ball and Wemby had a good look at a jumper to win but missed and the Knicks held on to take the two games to none series lead.
Victor Wembanyama said “I need to have more poise, more control over the game.”
Spurs Guard Dylan Harper saw his highest court time and reached his third-highest shot attempt total this postseason, excluding the overtime game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Harper was the main force for San Antonio’s late-game surge, getting nine of his 15 total points during the final frame. Harper’s late game play proved hard for the Knicks to defend and Coach Johnson has clearly placed his faith in the young guard during high-stakes moments.
With Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges all in double figures and the surprise play from Landry Shamet the Knicks didn't need Jalen Brunson to handle the entire offensive load. Bridges provided a massive boost throughout the second half of Game 2 with 8-for-13 shooting, and spearheaded a critical third-quarter run while Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns were on the bench.
Playing at Madison Square Garden grants New York a substantial advantage, as the intensity of the Broadway stage often overwhelms the Spurs' inexperienced roster. Last time San Antonio visited the Big Apple they were blown out 114-89 back in March.
Game 3: tonight, in New York 7:30 Central tip off on ABC
Game 4: Wednesday, June 10, in New York
*Game 5: Saturday, June 13, in San Antonio
*Game 6: Tuesday, June 16, in New York
*Game 7: Friday, June 19, in San Antonio
*if necessary
