{"id":199034,"date":"2026-06-05T06:00:47","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T10:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=199034"},"modified":"2026-06-04T21:54:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T01:54:37","slug":"knicks-vs-spurs-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/06\/05\/knicks-vs-spurs-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Knicks vs Spurs Game 2: Preview, Prediction, Odds"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The NBA Finals continue this evening as the New York Knicks battle the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of their best-of-seven series. The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/06\/03\/knicks-vs-spurs-1\/\" target=\"_self\">Knicks surprised the Spurs<\/a> with a 105-95 win in game one and have now won their last 12 games in a row. The Spurs are now 12-7 in the postseason, and the loss was their fourth at home in the playoffs. Can the Spurs bounce back? Read on to see my Knicks vs Spurs prediction.<\/p>\n<h2>Knicks vs Spurs Game 2: Preview, Prediction, Odds<\/h2>\n<h3>Current Odds<\/h3>\n<p><strong>San Antonio -5.5; Over\/Under 215<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>New York Knicks<\/h3>\n<p><span>New York enters Game 2 after a gritty opening win that showed why they\u2019ve been the league\u2019s most consistent playoff team. The Knicks pulled away by tightening every defensive screw in the second half, holding the Spurs to just 40 points after the break. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/brunsja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jalen Brunson<\/a> battled through a minor injury scare and still finished with 30 points, continuing a postseason run where he averages 27.1 per game. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/anunoog01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">OG Anunoby<\/a> added efficient scoring, and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/townska01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Karl\u2011Anthony Towns<\/a> controlled the glass. New York&#8217;s hot streak now puts them at 13\u20112 overall, the best postseason record in the league.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Defensively, the Knicks have been elite for nearly a month. They\u2019ve allowed only 98.5 points per game during their 12\u2011game win streak, and their playoff average sits at 100.2 PPG allowed. Their rotations have been sharp, and their perimeter contests have forced opponents into long, low\u2011percentage possessions. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hartjo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Josh Hart<\/a> continues to rebound at a high level, and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bridgmi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mikal Bridges<\/a> has provided steady two\u2011way minutes. New York also limits second\u2011chance points, thanks to strong positioning and disciplined box\u2011outs. The Knicks&#8217; ability to control pace through defense has been a defining trait of this run.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>New York\u2019s offense has been equally reliable. The Knicks average 118.9 points per game in the postseason and shoot 50.7 percent from the field. Brunson\u2019s shot creation remains the engine, but the Knicks have benefited from balanced scoring behind him. Anunoby and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/06\/04\/karl-anthony-towns-heroic-game-1\/\" target=\"_self\">Towns<\/a> both shoot above 56 percent, and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/06\/03\/mikal-bridges-in-the-2026-nba-finals\/\" target=\"_self\">Bridges<\/a> adds efficient mid\u2011range production. Their ball movement has been crisp, with 26.3 assists per game, and their spacing has created clean looks from deep. New York rarely forces shots, and their half\u2011court execution has been among the best in the playoffs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>For the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/06\/04\/how-the-knicks-use-josh-hart\/\" target=\"_self\">Knicks <\/a>to take control of the series, they must continue dictating the tempo and avoid long scoring droughts. Their defensive structure gives them a high floor, but they need consistent ball movement to keep the Spurs&#8217; length from disrupting rhythm. Rebounding will again be critical, especially against a Spurs team that thrives on extra possessions. New York also needs to protect the ball, as San Antonio\u2019s transition game can shift momentum quickly. If the Knicks maintain their defensive intensity and keep their offense patient, they can put real pressure on the Spurs early in the series.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"max-width: 800px\"><smartframe-embed class=\"smartframe_wp_element\" customer-id=\"b0c95bc04383cef69c6b47df872135cf\" image-id=\"WmOBZ70jnZ52\" style=\"width: 100%; display: inline-flex; max-width: 5280px; aspect-ratio: 5280\/3520;\" ><\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n<h3>San Antonio Spurs<\/h3>\n<p><span>San Antonio enters Game 2 looking to regroup after a frustrating opener where it struggled to sustain offense in the second half. The Spurs scored only 40 points after halftime and never found a consistent rhythm against the Knicks&#8217; pressure. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/wembavi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Victor Wembanyama<\/a> finished with 26 points but shot just 30 percent and committed six turnovers, continuing his struggles against Towns, who held him to 18 percent shooting in their direct matchups. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/castlst01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stephon Castle<\/a> added steady scoring, and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/f\/foxde01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">De\u2019Aaron Fox<\/a> provided bursts, but San Antonio\u2019s spacing never fully clicked. The Spurs now sit at 12\u20117 in the postseason after their deep run through the West.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Defensively, San Antonio has been solid throughout the playoffs, allowing 105.0 points per game and holding opponents to 41.3 percent shooting. The Spurs&#8217; length remains a major asset, and their rotations have improved since the early rounds. Wembanyama continues to anchor the paint with elite rim protection, and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/champju02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Julian Champagnie<\/a> has provided reliable perimeter defense. The Spurs also rebound well, averaging 47.6 boards per game. Their challenge in Game 1 came from the Knicks&#8217; ability to generate late\u2011clock looks and control the pace. San Antonio must tighten their closeouts and avoid giving up second\u2011chance opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Offensively, the Spurs have averaged 114.2 points per game in the playoffs, shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from deep. Castle has been a breakout performer at 19.1 points per game, and Fox adds 15.9 with strong downhill pressure. <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/06\/04\/victor-wembanyama-offense\/\" target=\"_self\">Wembanyama<\/a> remains their focal point, averaging 23.3 points and 10.8 rebounds, but turnovers have been an issue when defenses collapse on him. San Antonio\u2019s bench has also been productive, with <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/harpedy01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dylan Harper<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/johnske04.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Keldon Johnson<\/a> providing needed scoring. The Spurs&#8217; offense works best when they play with pace and avoid stagnant possessions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>For the Spurs to even the series, they must clean up their offensive execution and avoid the long droughts that hurt them in Game 1. Their spacing needs to improve, and they must generate cleaner looks early in possessions. Defensively, they must limit the Knicks&#8217; second\u2011chance points and keep Brunson from controlling the tempo. San Antonio also needs stronger ball security, as turnovers fueled New York\u2019s second\u2011half surge. If the Spurs settle into their offense, rebound with force, and keep the game in transition more often, they can push this matchup back toward their preferred style.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Knicks vs Spurs Prediction<\/h3>\n<p><span>San Antonio -5.5 lines up with how this matchup should swing in Game 2, especially after the Spurs let a winnable opener slip away. They\u2019ve been a far stronger home team throughout the postseason, and their best stretches have come when they push the tempo and play downhill. New York enters this one off a long defensive surge, but its offense has shown signs of slowing after heavy minutes from core players. San Antonio\u2019s energy, crowd boost and urgency should create early separation, and the Spurs&#8217; ability to score in waves at home gives them a strong path to covering the number.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The Over 215 also fits the way this game projects to unfold. San Antonio\u2019s offense rarely stays quiet in back\u2011to\u2011back home games, and its spacing tends to improve after a poor shooting night. New York has played faster than expected during this playoff run, and its transition pace has pushed several totals higher than the market anticipated. Both teams have enough shot\u2011makers to create scoring bursts, and the Spurs\u2019 need to dictate the tempo should keep possessions moving. With both sides capable of efficient stretches, the total has room to climb.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The combination of San Antonio\u2019s bounce\u2011back profile and New York\u2019s faster style makes the Spurs\u2011and\u2011Over pairing a natural fit. The Spurs should attack earlier in the clock, and the Knicks have consistently answered with quick counters during their win streak. That rhythm usually produces long scoring runs rather than grinding half\u2011court possessions. If San Antonio settles in offensively and New York continues pushing pace, this matchup leans toward a higher\u2011scoring game with the Spurs controlling enough stretches to cover.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Final Predictions: San Antonio -5.5 &amp; Over 215<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a9 Geoff Burke-Imagn Images<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The NBA Finals continue this evening as the New York Knicks battle the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of their best-of-seven series. The Knicks surprised the Spurs with a 105-95 win in game one and have now won their last 12 games in a row. The Spurs are now 12-7 in the postseason, and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5785,"featured_media":199061,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,62,50437,12,3,34],"tags":[50477,664,1417,49405,213,1484,1082,49264,4669],"class_list":["post-199034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-nba","category-nba-predictions","category-knicks","category-news","category-spurs","tag-2026-nba-finals","tag-deaaron-fox","tag-jalen-brunson","tag-julian-champagnie","tag-karl-anthony-towns","tag-mikal-bridges","tag-og-anunoby","tag-stephon-castle","tag-victor-wembanyama"],"modified_by":"Jordan Pagkalinawan","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199034","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5785"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=199034"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199034\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":199062,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199034\/revisions\/199062"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/199061"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=199034"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=199034"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=199034"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}