Yes, the headlining cast of characters are understandably getting the majority of the attention while the New York Knicks have shot out to a 2-0 series lead in their first NBA Finals in 27 years.
Jalen Brunson’s fourth-quarter heroics helped lead a second-half comeback to stun the Spurs in Game 1. Karl-Anthony Towns is playing the series of his life on both ends of the floor to neutralize Victor Wembanyama. OG Anunoby’s defense has come as advertised and his offensive contributions have been pivotal. Even Mikal Bridges’ red-hot shooting night in Game 2 helped pace the New York attack.
But what makes this Knicks team different, what has put them on the cusp of a first championship in 53 years, is the depth that Leon Rose has built, and the confidence head coach Mike Brown has put in it.
Their value was none more obvious than late in the third quarter of Game 2 when they helped the Knicks open a four-point lead at 76-72 with 3:19 to go to a nine-point lead by the time they left the floor with 10:15 left in the fourth quarter.
“That’s just who they are. That’s who my teammates are,” Brunson said. “Night-in and night-out, they come and bring it. 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 the work ethic and the things that we’re able to do every day.”
With Brunson struggling and Anunoby in need of a breather, Brown completed his wholesale changes: Jose Alvarado came in for Brunson, who had a miserable offensive showing by shooting 7-of-25 from the field, and Deuce McBride replaced Anunoby. The two joined Landry Shamet, who had been on the floor since the 8:56 mark because of Josh Hart’s foul trouble, and Mitchell Robinson, who entered with 6:01 to go after two ticky-tack foul calls forced the talismanic Towns to the bench.
Alvarado, Shamet, McBride, Bridges, and Robinson. Not quite the five many would have anticipated in such a situation.
McBride hit a 12-foot stepback jumper from the right elbow before two-straight makes from Bridges, who ended the night with 20 points, six helpers, and six assists. Robinson then thundered home an alley-oop through Wembanyama to cap off an 8-1 run and open a temporary 11-point lead before a late Spurs make shrunk the Knicks’ lead to nine at the end of the third quarter, 85-75.
The first minute of the fourth quarter embodied everything the Knicks’ bench is about. Robinson blocked a shot and hauled in a defensive rebound to send his side the other way. McBride then missed a jumper, got his own rebound, and kicked it out to Bridges. His three didn’t go, but Alvarado reeled in another offensive board and found an open Shamet, who simply does not miss from beyond the arc with that sort of time. His shot was true, and the Knicks were up 12, 87-75, with 59 seconds into the final stanza.
“A lot of contributions from a lot of guys, and that’s why you like having a team because it could be anybody’s night on any given night,” Brown said. “Our guys don’t care. They sacrifice for one another and we found a way to get a win.”
Shamet scored 13 points for the second straight Finals game while going 3-of-7 from three-point range. Since the start of the second round against the Philadelphia 76ers, the reserve guad has hit 24 of 37 threes — an astonishing 64.9%.
Alvarado and McBride, two of the smallest guys on the court, combined for four offensive rebounds during their limited minutes.
When the Spurs were in the penalty in the first half and resorted to the “Hack-a-Mitch” strategy of sending Robinson — the worst statistical free-throw shooter in NBA playoff history — to the line, the big man sunk 3-of-6 with his right hand wrapped following surgery last week. Every point counts in a one-point win.
But his most important contributions came in the final minute with his defense on Wembanyama. With the game tied at 104 apiece and with 30.3 seconds to go, the Spurs’ superstar was unable to make a jumper over Robinson. The Knicks managed to take a one-point lead after Brunson missed a jumper, but Wembanyama threw away the rebound off the back of his teammate, Stephon Castle. Brunson got the loose ball, was fouled, and sank one of two with 9.5 seconds to go.
After the Spurs called timeout to advance the ball to the frontcourt, everyone knew where the ball was going, and Brown stuck with Robinson. Wembanyam got a decent look, fading away on a 20-foot jumper to get it over the 7-foot-1 Robinson, but it clanged out, and the Knicks held on.
“Wemby is, I said it before, iconic,” Brown said. “There is nobody like from. He can score from all three levels. He wants the ball. Two big possessions at the end of the game we put Mitch on him. What I’m proud about more than anything else, Mitch defended him the right way. Wemby is iconic. If he makes a shot, he makes a shot. You’re not blocking a shot. You make him work, you lead with your chest. You show your hands and you embrace those details while trying to guard him and then box out. It started with Mitch and it ended with the other four guys boxing out. So just a heck of a job by Mitch guarding the most iconic player in the world on two possessions to possibly win the game. Phenomenal.”
“It just speaks to his resiliency, too, going out here, playing with the injury and coming up with the biggest play of the game,” Towns added. “I always tell y’all like how important he is to our team and the impact that he has on our team. He’s one of a kind. I don’t know if there’s maybe another Mitch Robinson in the league. I only think there’s Mitchell Robinson. There’s only one of him and we’re honored and blessed to have him.”
Game 3 from Madison Square Garden — the Knicks first home NBA Finals game in 27 years — tips off on Monday night at 8:30 p.m. ET.
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