Stephon Castle Addresses Bad Pass From Victor Wembanyama in Game 2 Loss

The San Antonio Spurs committed a costly turnover late in a very winnable Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks.

After rebounding the ball, San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama dribbled up the court, while his teammate, Stephon Castle, was ahead of him and briefly looked back at him.

Castle turned his head as he ran forward to keep running past the half-court line, and Wembanyama attempted to pass him the ball, only to toss it at his back since Castle wasn’t looking.

That allowed the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson to grab the ball, which forced Wemby to foul him with so little time remaining in the game. The Spurs’ big man was clearly disappointed over the mistake, and it drew plenty of criticism online.

More news: Victor Wembanyama Draws Harsh Criticism for Spurs' Game 2 Loss to Knicks

“I was looking at him when he first got the rebound, and I just started to take off, trying to give him some space to dribble up the court. I didn’t see him throw it to me,” Castle said regarding the mistake, per Tom Orsborn of San Antonio Express-News.

Ultimately, the Spurs had another chance when Brunson missed a free throw, leaving the door open as the Knicks led by 1 and the Spurs had 7.5 seconds on the clock. However, Wemby’s final shot missed, and the Knicks took both games in San Antonio, going back to New York with a 2-0 lead.

The Knicks received strong contributions from four starters, including another double-double from Karl-Anthony Towns of 21 points and 13 rebounds. Jalen Brunson had 20 points, six assists, and five rebounds, while Mikal Bridges also scored 20 in the loss.

The Spurs had 16 turnovers in the 105-104 loss, and half of them came from Castle and Wemby. Another four came from guard De’Aaron Fox.

Wembanyama led the Spurs’ near win in Game 2 with 29 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks, while Fox added 20 points, who looked to be hobbling a bit during the late stages of the game.

San Antonio seemed young and hungry coming into the NBA Finals, but now it seems wear and tear, along with inexperience, is catching up to them. They’re facing a 0-2 deficit as they go to hostile New York City for the series’ third game.

Game 3 occurs on Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET with coverage on ABC and ESPN.

Read more:Angel Reese Sends Cryptic Message After Dream Loss to Caitlin Clark, Fever

For more about the San Antonio Spurs and the NBA, visit Newsweek Sports.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published June 6, 2026 at 11:21 AM.