The Finals MVP conversation now runs through Karl-Anthony Towns after the Knicks opened a 2-0 lead in the series. New York has leaned on Towns at both ends, and his impact has been large enough to put him at the top of the ladder for now.
That rise comes with strong context, since he has done it against Victor Wembanyama and a Spurs team that has had real chances to swing both games. Towns has answered with efficient scoring, steady rebounding, and timely passing, while the Knicks have moved two wins from a title.
Towns sets the tone for New York
Through two Finals games, Towns has averaged 19.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. His shooting line has been even more striking at 56-43-100, a level of efficiency no other player in the series has matched.
The Knicks have also benefited from his work as a defender, where he has helped limit Wembanyama’s damage in key stretches. That two-way value has made the trade that brought Towns to New York look even more important on the league’s biggest stage.
A historic road performance for the Knicks
Towns’ Game 2 production carried extra weight because of the setting in San Antonio. He became the first Knick with a 20-point double-double in a Finals road game since Dave DeBusschere in 1973, a note that also underscores how long it has been since New York last won a championship.
He finished Game 2 with 21 points and 13 rebounds, giving the Knicks a reliable scoring option while also controlling the glass. Jalen Brunson put it plainly afterward, saying, “He’s been great. He’s been phenomenal on both sides of the ball.”
Brunson keeps closing games
Jalen Brunson remains right behind Towns on the ladder because his scoring has still mattered most in the moments that decided both games. He is averaging 25.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists, even while shooting just 19-for-56 in the series.
The Spurs have tried to make Brunson uncomfortable with constant double teams, and the strategy has created cold stretches. Still, Brunson has delivered the late buckets that ended both games in New York’s favor, and he added six assists and five steals in Game 2.
Wembanyama still looms despite the deficit
Victor Wembanyama remains very much in the race even with San Antonio down two games. He is averaging 27.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks, and there have been stretches where his impact has shown on both ends.
The concern for the Spurs is that the biggest possessions have not gone their way, including missed fourth-quarter shots and a turnover on a pass that did not connect cleanly. One mid-range jumper in Game 2 also would have given San Antonio the lead, which shows how thin the margin has been.
Harper and Anunoby add value in support roles
Dylan Harper has given San Antonio a steady scoring lift off the bench, which has been one of the few encouraging signs for the Spurs. The 20-year-old is averaging 15.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, and he has scored in double figures in both games while shooting 54.5%.
OG Anunoby has been just as important for New York in a different way, using his length and strength to defend multiple spots. He is averaging 17.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while shooting 45% from deep, and his dunk over Wembanyama was one of the defining moments of Game 2.
Read more at: www.nba.com
