NBA Finals: Wembanyama’s late mistakes, coaching calls questioned as Knicks top Spurs

In the NBA Finals, ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst argued that Victor Wembanyama’s late-game decision-making hurt the Spurs. He criticized Wembanyama for an ill-advised pass followed by a bad foul, saying the move became a turning point. Windhorst also questioned Spurs coaching decisions. He said Mitch Johnson should have called a timeout with about 10 seconds left to set up the best play, potentially involving Jalen Brunson if he was on the floor. The discussion extended to late-game strategy. Windhorst warned that rushing for a two-for-one shot can backfire in the NBA Finals, reducing shot quality when time pressure is highest. On the other side, Windhorst praised the Knicks’ teamwork as the reason they beat the Spurs. He said the Knicks look like a “perfect team,” with strong contributions across the roster rather than relying solely on Brunson. He dismissed unsubstantiated “tampering” claims around the Knicks as “loser talk,” and added that luck and momentum (including the psychological impact of comebacks) also mattered in major playoff outcomes. Overall, the NBA Finals narrative in this segment is clear: Spurs’ execution and coaching came under scrutiny, while the Knicks’ cohesion looked more reliable under pressure.