The San Antonio Spurs squandered a very winnable Game 2 of the NBA Finals, highlighting the team’s inexperience, youth, and, potentially, a lack of available energy.
Despite San Antonio having chances to secure a victory after a late comeback, mistakes and missed shots became the culprits in their 105-104 loss to the New York Knicks. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 29 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks.
Veteran Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox finished with 20 points, while fellow starter Stephon Castle had 14. Rookie Dylan Harper came off the bench to contribute 15 points, six rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
He’s part of a San Antonio trio of young players who have quickly put the league on notice. While their first NBA Finals trip has been painful through two games, Harper reflected postgame on what his team needs to do to win in New York.
Read more: Victor Wembanyama Draws Harsh Criticism for Spurs’ Game 2 Loss to Knicks
“I think the biggest thing for us is just staying together, not putting our heads down. We just have to focus on the next game. It’s not the first to win two. So I mean, we can’t really hang our heads on that. We just have to come out with a mentality of just being more desperate,” Harper told reporters in postgame remarks.
They seemed to seize that desperate momentum with their surging comeback in Game 4, and a win likely would’ve carried over additional momentum. However, the late-game mistakes and misses will likely factor into their mindset.
Among the mistakes was a costly turnover late when Wembanyama attempted to pass the ball to his teammate, Castle, who was running past the half-court line. Castle had turned his head away from Wemby and was looking forward, so Wemby’s pass hit him in the back.
The 7-foot-4 Frenchman also had a chance to make a game-winning shot or play. However, Wemby’s final shot, a jump shot, missed the mark, and the Spurs suffered a disappointing loss.
Harper emerged quickly as one of the promising young talents to arrive from last June’s NBA Draft. The former Rutgers star filled a spot in the starting lineup during teammate De’Aaron Fox’s absences earlier in the playoffs. The 20-year-old guard is gaining valuable postseason experience, averaging 13.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game in his first playoff run.
This Spurs team has the talent, but its youthful roster needs time to gain more experience in crucial, high-stakes moments, such as an NBA Finals game. They may also need to better manage rest and recovery, which may be hindering their chances after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in a seven-game battle to win the Western Conference Finals.
Game 3 between the Knicks and Spurs occurs at 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday.
More news: Manu Ginobili Says Victor Wembanyama ‘Doesn’t Need Much’ From Spurs Legends
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