Photo: Peter Baba

As Victor Wembanyama rose for a 20-foot jumper that could have put San Antonio ahead in the final moments on Friday night, there was little doubt among his teammates about the outcome.

According to Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News, the Spurs’ bench and players on the floor fully expected the shot to fall.

“He’s made that shot a thousand times,” Stephon Castle said.

Dylan Harper shared the same confidence, noting, “That’s a shot he makes in his sleep,” while De’Aaron Fox emphasized just how reliable Wembanyama is in those situations, saying, “He makes that shot nine times out of 10.”

This time, however, the result was different. The shot struck the back rim and bounced away, and before San Antonio could create another quality opportunity, the final horn sounded.

The miss sealed a frustrating finish for the Spurs, who now trail the series 2-0 as the NBA Finals shift to New York.

The closing sequence was especially difficult for Wembanyama, whose late-game struggles began moments earlier with a costly turnover.

Attempting to ignite a fast break, he threw an outlet pass that unexpectedly hit the back of Castle, who was not looking for the ball, resulting in a lost possession at a critical stage of the game.

Despite the disappointment, Wembanyama made it clear he has no intention of dwelling on the mistakes.

While acknowledging the frustration of the moment, he also expressed determination to channel it into a stronger performance moving forward.

“Am I going to regret it? Yes, of course,” Wembanyama said. “Am I going to use that to fuel me and fuel us next game? Absolutely.”

ICYMI: Victor Wembanyama is using the devastating ending of Game 2 as motivation for Game 3, plus more notes on the Spurs. https://t.co/r0PAOACkEp