The New York Knicks, who secured a 105-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday to take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals, are bracing for a fierce response from the Spurs in Game 3 on Monday. The win marked another instant classic in the championship series, with the Knicks holding off a late surge by the Spurs.
Knicks Focus on Next Game
Despite the momentum, Knicks star Jalen Brunson stressed the importance of maintaining focus. "Every single day we chip away and try to be the best that we can be," Brunson said. "Even with the series (the way) it is now, next game, mindset has to be 0-0 again. You can't be comfortable. You can't be satisfied with anything. Just got to continue to push forward."
The Knicks are just the third team in NBA history to win the first two games of the Finals on the road, joining Michael Jordan's 1993 Chicago Bulls and the 1995 Houston Rockets. Both of those teams went on to win the championship. New York has now won 13 straight playoff games, the second-longest postseason streak ever, as they close in on their first title since 1973.
Fan Excitement and Security Concerns
The Knicks' success has sparked a frenzy in New York City. Thousands of fans packed San Antonio's Frost Bank Center for Games 1 and 2, and ticket prices for Games 3 and 4 at Madison Square Garden have soared. Outside the Garden, a watch party for Game 2 drew about 6,000 people, but celebrations turned unruly. New York authorities reported that a police officer was assaulted and 26 people were arrested outside the arena.
However, the Knicks remain laser-focused on the Spurs, led by 22-year-old French star Victor Wembanyama. Despite their youth, the Spurs posted the second-best regular-season record and eliminated the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games in the Western Conference finals. "Knowing them, there's going to be another level," Brunson said. "We have to be prepared and be ready to match it and play for 48 minutes."
Spurs Remain Confident
The Spurs are not conceding anything. Guard Stephon Castle said, "It was going to take everything to win the series anyway. Putting ourselves in this type of predicament is going to be tough, but I don't think it's anything we can't handle." The Spurs aim to bounce back in Game 3, hoping to shift the momentum of the series.
