Even though the New York Knicks entered the 2026 NBA Finals on an 11-game winning streak, with Karl Anthony Towns averaging 15.8 points, 12.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game in the Eastern Conference Finals, many still doubted his ability to hold his own on the biggest stage. Those concerns only grew with Towns matched up against Victor Wembanyama, the youngest Defensive Player of the Year in NBA history, who had just outscored two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the Western Conference Finals.
However, through the first two games of the NBA Finals where the Knicks have won both contests in San Antonio. And the biggest credit for that should go to Towns for containing Wembanyama to just 17-of-42 shooting from the field in both games combined.
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Some may be surprised to see the six-time All-Star glide past Wemby on defense, repeatedly catch him off position, and put him in difficult positions on the offensive end, but Jeff Teague isn’t one of those.
In fact, the former NBA champion demands credit for predicting that would happen, even before the championship series commenced.
“I just wish people would give me my respect ’cause I just said this before the f–king series start. I said KAT gonna go at him,” Teague said on his show. “KAT not ducking him; KAT not scared of him. I said Wemby ain’t face nobody like KAT yet.”
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Towns has outplayed Wemby thus far
The fact that Wembanyama is outscoring Towns through the first two games, averaging 27.5 points compared to KAT’s 19.5, doesn’t tell the full story.
In these two games, Wembanyama hasn’t been able to dictate terms or dominate the paint like he usually does. That can be seen in the rebounding battle, where KAT has grabbed 25 rebounds over Wemby’s 21.
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Meanwhile, the pressure KAT is putting on the Frenchman is so high and intense that Wemby has already committed 10 turnovers over the first two games combined (had a total of 11 turnovers in the entire first-round series against the Trail Blazers).
A major reason why Wembanyama has been unable to impose his presence on both ends is that KAT presents a structural problem for San Antonio that goes beyond pure talent. Wemby thrives as a roaming rim protector, anchoring the paint while guards funnel drivers toward him.
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That system becomes far less effective against Towns. When New York deploys five-out lineups with Towns as the center, Wembanyama is forced to defend on the perimeter. That ultimately pulls him away from the basket.
So, in many ways, Towns isn’t just challenging the 7’4″ French phenom, but he’s forcing the Spurs to rethink the entire foundation of their defensive scheme.
Wemby needs to find a way to bounce back
That said, now that the Spurs are trailing 0-2 and the series is headed to New York, the challenge only gets steeper.
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Madison Square Garden will be hostile, as the home fans will make their presence felt every time Wembanyama touches the ball, and to make matters worse, the confidence of this Knicks team is only increasing, especially now when they have the second-greatest playoff streak of all time.
That kind of confidence is not something this young Spurs team has dealt with. Still, if there’s one thing coach Mitch Johnson’s team has shown all year, it’s resilience.
Wembanyama & Co. survived two elimination games against the defending champs. Can they do it once again? Remains to be seen.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.