Victor Wembanyama took full blame for the San Antonio Spurs' Game 2 loss to the New York Knicks Friday night, a defeat that puts them in a 2-0 hole in the NBA Finals.
San Antonio erased a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter and briefly led after a Wembanyama three-point play. With the score tied and seconds left, Knicks star Jalen Brunson missed a jumper, and Wembanyama grabbed the rebound.
Instead of holding the ball, Wembanyama passed to teammate Stephon Castle, who was not looking. The ball bounced off Castle's back and back to Brunson. Wembanyama fouled Brunson, sending him to the free-throw line.
"I threw that one away. I messed up," Wembanyama said. "I need to have more poise. More control over the game."
Brunson made one of two free throws, and New York led by one. Wembanyama missed a potential game-winning jumper, sealing the 105-104 Knicks victory.
The Spurs become the third team in NBA history to lose the first two Finals games at home, a deficit no team has ever overcome to win the title.
The series now shifts to Madison Square Garden, which hasn't hosted an NBA Finals game since 1999. Game 3 is Monday night, with secondary market prices surging to approximately $12,000.