The New York Knicks stole another one on the road. Mike Brown’s survived two late-game gaffes by Victor Wembanyama to secure a 104-103 win in Game 2 over the San Antonio Spurs.
Notably, they did so in a game in which Jalen Brunson struggled mightily with his shot and — once again — thanks to Karl-Anthony Towns.
The Knicks big man has made a strong case for Finals MVP, not only for his offense but also for his ability to disrupt Victor Wembanyama’s rhythm.
That’s why, following the game, Hall of Famer Charles Barkley had a brutally honest assessment of the matchup.
Charles Barkley reacts to KAT’s dominance over Victor Wembanyama
“Wemby’s in shock right now,” Barkley said. “It’s probably been a long time since he got his (expletive) kicked like this. Wemby’s spinning — he’s throwing the ball all over the place. It’s a shock to his system.”
Wembanyama scored 29 points in the loss, but he’s been erratic, making wrong decisions time and time again. Plenty of that has had to do with Towns’ presence:
“He is so flustered right now,” Barkley said of Wembanyama. “He’s 22. He’s gonna own the league soon, but right now he is being owned. Big KAT is just taking his (expletive) to the woodshed. Plain and simple.”
Towns has always been praised for his floor-spacing offensive skills, and he’s rebounding, but he’s never been known as a defensive stalwart.
Moreover, his critics have questioned his character since he entered the league, especially in matchups against other elite big men.
This series has been a major vindication for him, and it has also showed that, as physically gifted and talented as Wembanyama is, he’s not ready yet.
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