On the 'Matt': Nielsen's Spurs down 0-2 in Finals

• Wembanyama scored 29 points but committed a decisive late turnover.
• Jalen Brunson's free throw with 7.5 seconds left proved the winner.
• New York heads home leading the NBA Finals series 2-0.

Victor Wembanyama shouldered the blame after a costly late turnover helped the New York Knicks edge San Antonio 105-104 in Game 2 of the NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on Friday night (Saturday AEST).

It's put Australian Boomers and NBL legend Matt Nielsen's Spurs in a 0-2 hole heading back to New York for Game 3.

The French superstar finished with a game-high 29 points, nine rebounds and four blocks but his attempted outlet pass to Stephon Castle with 12.7 seconds remaining and the score tied at 104-104 bounced off his teammate's back and straight into the hands of Knicks star Jalen Brunson.

Brunson was fouled moments later and made one of two free throws to give New York a 105-104 lead before Wembanyama missed a contested jumper on the final possession.

"That's the most frustrating thing: to throw it away after putting in all this work," Wembanyama said.

"I threw that one away. I messed up.

"It's like the body reacts quicker than the mind. We needed to win that game. This game was ours."

The mistake spoiled a remarkable comeback effort from San Antonio, which trailed by as many as 14 points in the fourth quarter before Wembanyama led a charge back into contention with 10 points in the final period.

Wembanyama scored 22 of his 29 points after halftime, shooting 11-from-21 from the field while adding two steals and four blocks.

But the Spurs were unable to overcome 16 turnovers and a 44-42 rebounding deficit as New York escaped with consecutive road wins to open the championship series.

Brunson finished with 20 points, six assists and five steals despite shooting 7-from-25 from the floor, while Karl-Anthony Towns delivered 21 points and 13 rebounds.

Mikal Bridges added 20 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Knicks.

De'Aaron Fox scored 20 points and five assists for San Antonio, while Devin Vassell had 14 points and nine rebounds. Rookie Dylan Harper provided an important spark off the bench with 15 points and six rebounds in 32 minutes.

After leading 34-25 at quarter-time, the Spurs were outscored 59-41 across the second and third quarters as the Knicks seized control.

San Antonio mounted one final push in the fourth, outscoring New York 29-21, but Wembanyama's late turnover and missed jumper ensured the Knicks took a commanding 2-0 series lead.

No team has ever recovered from losing the first two games of an NBA Finals series at home to win the championship.

"We don't feel like we played well or up to our standard at least in the last two games," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said.

"New York has played very well, and they're a part of that. But we're going into Game 3. If we play our basketball up to our standard, we'll be just fine."

The series now shifts to New York for Game 3 with San Antonio facing a must-win situation.