The Knicks withstood the Spurs' nine-point advantages in the first and fourth quarters, the latter of which included a 21-5 run over five minutes and a two-point San Antonio lead with 57 seconds left, before emerging from Friday's 105-104 NBA Finals Game 2 win.

"It's an amazing feeling, as a coach, to know how mentally tough your team is -- no matter what the situation is in front of 'em," Mike Brown said. "To see them continue to fight and fight and fight and fight -- no matter what the score is, no matter how much time is on the clock -- it's just a fantastic feeling. I'm telling you, man, the NBA is tough. You don't experience what I'm experiencing with this group a ton, and it is a fricking joy to be around."

New York needed Jalen Brunson's game-tying bucket at the fourth quarter's 39-second point and 1-of-2 mark from the free-throw line 20 seconds later before surviving on Victor Wembanyama's go-ahead attempt, which missed with two seconds left and secured the Knicks' 2-0 series lead.

"It's 0-0 at this point, as far as we're concerned," Josh Hart said. "Being up 2-0 means, really, nothing. This team's going to come out on, what, Monday with an unbelievable amount of energy and desperation and we've got to be better."

Regardless of New York's outlook, the MSG environment figures to be a raucous one with the Knicks two wins away from the franchise's first NBA championship since 1973.

"Hectic," Miles McBride said as New York's focus shifts to Monday's 8:30 p.m. Game 3 at The Garden. "I'm sure it's going crazy right now. We heard New York here, down in San Antonio, so ... I don't even know what I'm expecting, honestly. It's going to be great. I'm excited."