The New York Knicks are halfway to their first NBA championship since 1973, but Jalen Brunson made it clear that nobody inside the locker room is celebrating yet.
After New York’s dramatic 105-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Friday night at Frost Bank Center, Brunson repeatedly pointed to the same themes that have defined the Knicks’ playoff run: composure, trust and constant improvement.
“We got to do a good job of staying composed in those situations,” Brunson said after the Spurs erased a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and briefly took the lead in the final minute. “It’s a credit to the character that this team has. Not being able to fold in situations like that is key to winning games like this.”
The Knicks improved to 14-1 in the playoffs and pushed their winning streak to 13 games, one of the longest postseason streaks in NBA history. Brunson said those results are rooted in the group’s ability to stay connected when games become difficult.
“At this stage of the season, things aren’t going to be pretty,” Brunson said. “It’s going to be ugly. It’s going to be grinded out. As simple as that. So, no matter what the situation is, we’re going to have each other’s back.”
Brunson finished with 20 points, six assists and five rebounds despite shooting 7-for-25 from the field. His most important contribution came in the final seconds when he converted the go-ahead free throw after forcing a turnover sequence that began with Victor Wembanyama’s errant pass.
Reflecting on the play, Brunson said his focus was simple.
“I just saw he wasn’t looking so I just tried to go get it,” Brunson said. “I didn’t know if it was going to go out of bounds. I just didn’t want it to come back and get it and just had to secure the ball and got fouled.”
The Knicks have now won the first two games of the Finals on the road and return to Madison Square Garden with a 2-0 series lead. Despite that position, Brunson insisted the team is treating every game as a fresh challenge.
“I think our mindset was 0-0, not being up 1-0,” Brunson said. “And even with what the series is now, next game has the mindset to be 0-0 again. It’s just how it has to be.”
He added: “You can’t be comfortable. You can’t be satisfied with anything. It’s just got to continue to push forward.”
Brunson also credited his teammates for carrying the Knicks through another high-pressure finish. Karl-Anthony Towns posted 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Mikal Bridges added 20 points and six assists.
“That’s just who they are,” Brunson said of his teammates. “There’s always going to be things said regardless of the situation, but I have the utmost trust and faith in them just because of their work ethic.”
When asked where the team’s resilience comes from, Brunson and Towns immediately shared the same answer.
“Each other,” Brunson said.
That bond will be tested again Monday night when the Finals shift to New York. The Knicks are now two wins away from ending a 53-year championship drought, but their captain’s message remains unchanged.
“Every single day now we chip away trying to be the best thing we can be,” Brunson said.
