A Long Islander went viral this week for predicting the Knicks’ NBA Finals run in his 2020 high school yearbook.
Evan Pfeufer of Kings Park shared a photo Thursday of his quote in Smithtown High School West’s yearbook, “Knicks in 6. 2026 NBA Finals” — and it racked up more than 5 million views in one day.
Evan Pfeufer predicted the Knicks’ 2026 NBA Finals run in his 2020 high school yearbook. Courtesy of Evan Pfeufer
The now-23-year-old told The Post how he decided on the very specific prediction.
“It’s so simple. Knicks in six 2026 rhymes so incredibly well,” he said.
The Knicks superfan recalled his parents’ disappointment when he showed them the book six years ago.
“It was so funny, my parents were like, ‘Evan, why?’ Why would you do this?'” he said.
Now, they are reconsidering, and likening their son to a modern-day Nostradamus.
“My dad is questioning if I’m a human or not,” he said.
“It’s so simple. Knicks in six 2026 rhymes so incredibly well,” Pfeufer told The Post. Courtesy of Evan Pfeufer
Pfeufer, whose impressive high school resume included serving as an officer in the Business Honor Society, purposely chose not to include any of his accomplishments on his yearbook page in order for his Knicks quote to stand out.
“They gave us an option, and I said, ‘No, I just want this,'” he recalled.
“Hand over Bible, I purposely didn’t put my honor societies and all the stuff I got because I was like, ‘What if this actually happens? Everybody else has this long a– quote with all their achievements, and me, I would get it right.'”
As it started looking like his 2020 prediction could actually come to fruition, he texted his childhood friend a photo of the yearbook page
“And I was like, ‘Imagine if this happens,'” he said.
Pfeufer’s classmates urged him to share a photo of his yearbook prediction on a larger social media platform. Courtesy of Evan Pfeufer
He then posted it on his private Snapchat page and his friends encouraged him to share it on a larger platform, so he submitted it to the sports Instagram account Overtime, which boasts 10.4 million followers, and it “instantly” went viral.
Pfeufer, who graduated from Adelphi University and now works as a sales rep, is hoping the post grabs the attention of the Knicks.
“My friend said, ‘If the Knicks don’t get you to one of the games or something, I would be livid,'” he said.
“I don’t expect anything, I’m just a guy with a prediction, but it would be pretty cool.”
Staten Islander Matt McAllister has a Mount Rushmore of Knicks greats inked across his back — including current MVP Jalen Brunson.
And when McAllister took his shirt off to reveal the jaw-dropping tattoo to Brunson himself, the captain was stunned.
Matt McAllister’s Mount Rushmore of Knicks legends was drawn by artist Tom Sanford and inked by Sonja Elise at Bullseye Tattoos on Staten Island. Courtesy of Matt McAllister
“He seems like he’s a guy of very little words . . . but he was like, ‘Oh, that’s hard,'” McAllister, 34, told The Post.
“Then he said, ‘But Rushmore’s only got four.’
“So I told him I had to add an extra just for him.”
Then shocked star guard Josh Hart “pulled out his phone. He’s like, ‘I gotta take a photo of this. Holy s–t!'”
McAllister presented the over-the-top tat — also featuring legends John Starks, Walt Frazier, Patrick Ewing and Carmelo Anthony — to Brunson and Hart in September at a meet-and-greet for the duo’s Roommates Block Party.
McAllister said the idea for the All-Star artwork came last season when the Knicks finished 51-31, but lost to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals — a round short of the NBA Finals.
Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart were stunned to see the jaw-dropping ink. Courtesy of Matt McAllister
“After that run we had last year, I was like, ‘Wow, this is really monumental. Let me think of a monument that I can honor everybody with.'”
The tat cost $9,000 and took 36 hours over six sessions to make. MSG was there to capture it for a commercial.
“I might only see this once in my lifetime again. I have no regrets,” he said.
Knicks superfans Nolan Parr, Ray Rosado and Mirko Falzone all opted for giant leg tattoos of the team’s captain. Nolan Parr, Ray Rosado, Mirko Falzone
Other Knicks superfans have opted for leg tattoos of the “King of New York.”
Ray Rosado, a native of Yonkers, got a $1,350 leg tattoo of Brunson two days after the Knicks lost the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals, “because I had a feeling they would go to the finals this year,” he said.
His tattoo artist warned him against the very permanent decision.
“He said, ‘You know, if you get it and they don’t go to the finals, it’s going to still be on your body,'” Rosado recalled.
Rosado chose the image of Brunson praying during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals last year, which he got inked by his tattoo artist, Chico. Courtesy of Ray Rosado
Rosado, 33, a teacher at New Rochelle High School — whose students alerted him when his tattoo went viral — explained why he chose the photo of Captain Clutch praying during Game 1 of last year’s conference finals.
“I’m not really religious myself, but I felt that was the moment to symbolize that great things are coming your way. You just have to wait for that moment. And that’s all that Brunson has been talking about this year, that the job’s not finished yet,” he said.
Parr got Brunson’s signature move inked by tattoo artist Josh Glasser last month. Courtesy of Nolan Parr
Nolan Parr of Queens got inked on May 23, two days before the Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals to make it to the final round.
The native of Red Hook in Dutchess County, NY — who went with a $800 tattoo of the three-time NBA All-Star doing his signature thumb-and-index finger move — has been a fan since he’s “been in diapers.”
“Because my father was a diehard Knicks fan from back in the day. So it’s always the classic, ‘Who’s better Clyde or Jalen,’ between me and him,” Parr, 32, said.
Falzone’s leg tattoo took artist Mirko Ponti 20 hours more than two days to complete. Courtesy of Mirko Falzone
Mirko Falzone of Bergamo, Italy, has never even been to a Knicks game, but in October, decided to get a huge tattoo of Brunson’s face on his leg, along with a smaller full-body image of the MVP on the court in his No. 11 jersey.
Falzone, 32, was always a fan of the NBA, but wasn’t watching regularly until Brunson joined the roster in 2022, and since Italy is ahead of New York by six hours, he’s been waking up at 2 a.m. to catch him playing.
“When Jalen Brunson arrived to New York, my passion came back,” he said. “And the desire to stay awake during the night here in Italy to watch the games.”
But in Italy, most have no clue who’s on his leg.
“Everyone here only knows LeBron James, Wembanyama,” he said, laughing. “Someone asked if it was Travis Scott.”
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 01: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Arizona Diamondbacks rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning at Chase Field on June 01, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Red Sox probably shouldn’t be buying with this roster, but if they choose to, there’s a mystery for us to pick apart.
ESPN’s Buster Olney reported on the “Just Baseball” podcast that the Red Sox were actively seeking a right-handed bat to upgrade the offense, even at the expense of taking on a bad contract to do so.
Should that really be the case when Boston probably has a few bad contracts to offload on its own end (i.e. Masataka Yoshida, etc.)? No, especially since this team still wouldn’t have enough to magically craft a postseason path.
Nonetheless, for whatever motives the front office has, should the group pursue a bat that fits that description, here are five names to consider.
NOLAN ARENADO – Diamondbacks
Arizona just acquired Arenado in the offseason, but never say never to another transaction months later.
The Red Sox were constantly linked to the third baseman two offseasons ago before they signed Alex Bregman early in spring training. The 35-year-old is under contract through the end of the 2027 season and he’s been fairly serviceable with an OPS just under .800 with his new team.
MATT CHAPMAN – Giants
The Red Sox traded a hefty contract to San Francisco with Rafael Devers last summer. Will the Giants celebrate the anniversary by returning the favor?
Chapman makes $25 million annually through the 2030 season, giving Boston a new staple at third base if the team moves on from the concept of Caleb Durbin filling that stop. Unlike Arenado, Chapman has been brutal this season with a .652 in his age-33 season with regression over the last two years in San Francisco.
MIKE TROUT – Angels
Rumors from 98.5 The Sports Hub went crazy about this last month. It WILL NOT happen, but we’ll throw it in here to be fun.
ISAAC PAREDES – Astros
Paredes swirled through the rumor mill in connection to Boston all offseason before the Durbin trade that sent Kyle Harrison to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Astros are terrible and could revisit the idea.
KETEL MARTE – Diamondbacks
Easily the most dynamic bat discussed in the Red Sox realm last winter, he’s a switch-hitter that instantly elevates the unit. This move would clearly be for beyond 2026 and require young pitching going back to Arizona.
Worth it now to start building a functioning offense for 2027?
BUFFALO, NY -- On May 29, the New York Islanders announced that they had hired Jay McKee to be the first-ever head coach of the Hamilton Hammers, the club's newest AHL affiliate.
McKee, who played 802 NHL games, has spent the last three seasons coaching the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs.
Top draft prospect Caleb Malhotra, the son of former NHLer and recently named Vancouver Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra, played this past season for McKee and had glowing things to say about the newest member of the Islanders organization.
"I learned a lot," Malhotra said at the 2026 NHL Combine. "He's extremely composed as a coach, very intelligent, and very detail-oriented. So, I mean, he expected so much from us. We had a very good team there, and we had to prove it night in and night out that we were detail-oriented. So, learning from him on how to approach the game and what to take out of video work and how to apply it to your game...that was a big thing this year."
The Bridgeport Islanders, under the tutelage of Rocky Thompson, took massive strides after years of seeing prospects take steps back.
Thompson was a player's coach through and through but knew what he had to do to get players to play to the best of their abilities at a consistent rate and also keep themselves level-headed through adversity.
Because of his great work, Rocky was elevated to Pete DeBoer's NHL coaching staff.
When the Islanders were looking for Rocky's replacement, they needed to bring in someone who could build on the groundwork Rocky had just laid.
From all accounts, it sounds like McKee, who was a finalist for the Bellville Senators head coaching gig, is a slam-dunk hire at a critical time for the Islanders' growing prospect pool.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 22: (L-R) Celebrities Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Spike Lee react toward Donte DiVincenzo #0 of the New York Knicks during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 22, 2024 in New York City. The Knicks won 104-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I used to live in New York, Brooklyn to be exact. I remember how expensive it was compared to San Antonio, where I grew up and currently live. Over a decade ago, I paid rent on an 800 square foot apartment that to this day is more expensive than the mortgage on my house.
New York is a hub of culture — concerts, theater, symphonies, operas — but it will cost you.
Right now, there is no hotter ticket available than the NBA Finals. At last search, ticket prices continue to rise.
NBA Finals ticket prices are out of control 😵💫 – @JoeRaineri
Real Knicks fans are getting priced out. Game 3 tickets are around $8.2K for nosebleeds, Game 4 starts at $8.5K, and Game 6 tops $9K. That's more expensive than Super Bowl and World Cup tickets. Insane… pic.twitter.com/1mSHomqJKA
Game 3’s “get in” price is $8,200 for a nosebleed seat. That’s a $700 rise since Thursday alone. Game 4 starts at $8,500 and entry to a possible Game 6 will run you $9,000. That’s more than a Super Bowl ticket or even a seat at the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
On Thursday, the NBA held media day for both the Spurs and Knicks. Jalen Brunson got this question:
“I know you’re focused on tomorrow, but you know New York is going crazy for everything that you guys do. Ticket prices have been ridiculous. Last night after you guys won, they went crazy higher. There was a report that in the last row of the Garden, there are seats on sale for $7,500. What show would you pay that amount of money to go see?”
Brunson took a minute. His beathe was audible as he considered the premise.
“That’s a good question. A live Michael Jackson performance. That’s a good one. That’s a good one.”
Brunson smirked as he responded, revealing he was really taken aback by the question. His answer also reveals he some respectable old school tastes. Michael Jackson was one one of the greatest and most popular music artists, he was an amazing performer. To this day, Thriller remains the best selling album of all time.
For perspective, a ticket to see Michael Jackson in 1984 cost roughly $30, considered high at the time. In 1988, a ticket to see his Bad world tour at London’s Wembley Stadium was £17.50, or roughly $65 in American dollars today. $7,500 in the 80s should have yielded the concert, backstage passes, catered meal, limo to and from, private jet to the city of your choice, and singing Paul McCartney part on “The Girl Is Mine.”
As the series heads to The Big Apple, contemplate the question for yourself- is there a ticket worth $7,500 of your hard earned money?
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 4: Adolis García #53 of the Philadelphia Phillies smiles after the game against the San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park on June 4, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Padres 6-4. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What is the bare minimum you are expecting from Adolis Garcia the rest of this season? My hopes of his breaking out at any point have effectively been dashed by his poor play on the field, but I still reserve hope that he can at least be a threat in the box at any given time.
When Shohei Ohtani pitches, the chances are that his opponents won’t score.
Ohtani hasn’t allowed a run in five of his 10 starts this season. In another, he limited the damage to a solitary unearned run.
Only one run has been charged to him in the 25 innings he’s pitched over his last four starts.
Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani has been close to perfect this season, and he will need to continue to be if he hopes to stay in the NL Cy Young Award conversation. Getty Images
Ohtani has been close to perfect.
He will have to remain that way until the end of the season if he is to have any chance to win the National League’s Cy Young Award.
The season isn’t even 40% complete and Ohtani is already 25 ⅓ innings behind the Phillies’ Cristopher Sanchez, who has started three more games than he has.
In starts and innings, Ohtani is also behind other Cy Young Award contenders such as Jacob Misiorowski (12 starts, 71 innings), Chris Sale (12 starts, 72 ⅔ innings) and Paul Skenes (13 starts, 70 innings).
The Phillies’ Cristopher Sanchez already has pitched 25 innings more than Shohei Ohtani this season. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Overcoming such a deficit in quantity will require Ohtani to maintain a sizable advantage in quality.
Even the greatest pitchers are due for an occasional stinker, but Ohtani can’t afford to have one.
Sanchez was pounded by the Cubs for six runs in 5 ⅓ innings on April 23.
Misiorowski’s ERA in April was 3.58.
A game like Sanchez’s or a stretch like Misiorowski’s will likely end Ohtani’s Cy Young Award candidacy.
Ohtani is pitching as if he knows that’s the case.
“I think a lot of starting pitchers, you feel your way into the game, give up a couple (of runs) early and you bear down,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “But I’ve noticed with Shohei, every run is a premium. He’s literally trying to throw a shutout every time out there where I don’t know that every starter has that mindset.”
In Roberts’ view, Ohtani doesn’t just bear down with runners on base.
“He’s not trying to sit back and let the stress be created,” Roberts said. “He’s doing a good job of minimizing it from the onset.”
To Roberts’ point: Ohtani allows an average of 0.79 walks plus hits per inning pitched.
Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski is among the front-runners for the NL Cy Young Award. AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith
Now, it should be pointed out here that in the one year in which Ohtani was a qualified pitcher, in 2022, he pitched better and better as the season progressed.
He made a career-high 28 starts that season, pitching 166 innings for the Angels to finish fourth in AL Cy Young Award voting.
By season’s end, he was arguably the best pitcher in baseball. In his last 12 starts of the year, Ohtani’s ERA was 1.73. In his last seven, it was 1.00.
Ohtani thinks he’s trending upward, saying he felt better in his win over the Diamondbacks on Wednesday than he did in his previous start when he pitched six no-hit innings against the Rockies.
“Well, I think it was better than last time,” Ohtani said in Japanese. “I don’t know if it was really good, but I think it was definitely better than last time.”
Ohtani has completed seven innings in two of his starts this season, but performances like that should become increasingly common for him. He should be a qualified pitcher.
Even then, Sanchez will have him beat in innings pitched by a substantial margin. Ohtani’s challenge is to make his ERA look equally small by comparison.
I live in Harlem, and there’s a middle-aged man named Michael who grew up in Queens and holds court on a bench along the fringes of Morningside Park, where he chats with neighbors who stroll by.
I met Michael the same way I met Jonah, who’s turning 30 and grew up upstate, near Woodstock — through our dogs.
Jonah is a die-hard Knicks fan who endured Frank Ntilikina and Noah Vonleh starting lineups in the late 2010s. When I cover playoff games at Madison Square Garden, I make sure to stash the rally towels and T-shirts staffers leave draped over each seat because I give them to Jonah. His texts, these days, are downright giddy.
These New York Knicks hold this ineffable quality of linking friends and strangers, of galvanizing people from disparate religions, races, economic classes and from all over the political spectrum. There are few things these days that can do that.
And as the team has seized a commanding 2-0 lead over the San Antonio Spurs, winning both games on the road, the Knicks are not only poised to end a 53-year title drought, they can do it in a sweep, at home in the mecca of basketball.
The energy here feels feral. You cannot walk more than a few blocks without seeing royal blue and orange somewhere on someone’s body. The other day, again walking my dog, I was listening to music (I’ve been big on “A Love Supreme” these days) but overheard the unmistakable word “Anunoby” from the mouth of a passerby, who was chatting with someone else.
Flags hang outside the windows of fifth-floor walkups. Local bars are running specials. You walk outside and hear Knicks in four.
The New York Knicks are flying home with a 2-0 lead.
“It has been an honor to be part of this team, be part of this organization that’s bringing the word, ‘hope’ back to the city,” Karl-Anthony Towns said Monday, June 1. “To have the Knicks be where we’re at right now and be so respected in the city — I’ve talked about it on the Jadakiss and Fat Joe podcast — the greatest currency you could earn in New York City is not money, but it’s respect. And to have the respect of the fans and the city, we’re rich beyond belief.”
The MTA, or Metropolitan Transportation Authority, is getting in on it.
The MTA, actually, is another thing that unites New Yorkers. It can be late, unreliable and dirty, though it does shuttle us everywhere.
Anyway, the MTA painted the Penn Station subway stop entrance at 34th and 8th — which is normally forest green — royal blue and orange. Madison Square Garden, for those not familiar, is located directly above the train station. Indelible Knicks superfan Fat Joe, who has been at literally every game I’ve covered, was the first-ever special guest conductor recently on the 1 train.
“It’s like, you’re torn as a New Yorker and as the mayor,” he said recently on Sidetalk. “As a New Yorker, you’re like ‘I cannot wait for this.’ As the mayor, absolute chaos.”
The Knicks are also on an absolute heater. They’ve won 13 consecutive playoff games, second-most in NBA history. Should New York close it out in four and complete the sweep, the Knicks will tie the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors for the longest winning streak (15) in a single postseason.
As an NBA reporter, I’m thrilled to head into Madison Square Garden Monday, June 8 for Game 3. From the celebrities, to the organ, to friendly ushers with thick accents, there is no place better to take in a high-stakes game.
Yet, somehow, once this is all done, I’m just as hyped to grab beers with my friends Michael, Jonah and Kevin (Suns fan; also met through our dogs) to relive it all once more.
India named Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in their T20 squad on Saturday, handing the 15-year-old sensation his maiden international call-up after a string of breathtaking performances in the domestic league.
Teenager in squad for T20s against Ireland and England
Set to be youngest India debutant since Tendulkar
The teenage phenomenon Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been handed his maiden India call-up for their T20 series against Ireland and England.
An array of outrageous knocks in the Indian Premier League led to the 15-year-old opener collecting the most valuable player award after amassing 776 runs at a staggering strike-rate of 237.30.
May 31, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) smiles back at his teammates after his bloop hit fell between two Athletics fielders during the third inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images | D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
ESPN | Jorge Castillo and David Schoenfield: In light of Aaron Judge’s rib fracture, the whole baseball world is now wondering what the captain’s absence will mean for the Yankees. Most immediately, it presses Spencer Jones into duty, but it will also open up ample opportunity for Jasson Domínguez and Giancarlo Stanton once healthy. It places the spotlight on Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Trent Grisham, two talented players who have had uneven seasons thus far. And it also influences their trade deadline plans, though don’t expect the team to rush out and try to find an outfield replacement, especially considering Judge is likely to return at some time in the second half.
MLB Trade Rumors | Anthony Franco: The Yankees made a surprising move after last night’s loss to the Red Sox, optioning backup catcher J.C. Escarra and calling up Ali Sánchez from Triple-A. Signed to a minor-league deal prior to the start of 2026, Sánchez has a .702 OPS for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2026, and has struggled in limited time in the majors, posting a .454 OPS in 50 games for five different teams this decade. That being said, the Yankees have been interested in getting a righty-hitting option at catcher, and the lefty/lefty tandem of Escarra and Austin Wells has been downright anemic in 2026. So even though Sánchez doesn’t have much of a track record either … well, why not roll the dice in the short term? They’ll be browsing the trade options regardless. Sánchez could be in the lineup tonight with the lefty Ranger Suarez ready to go for Boston.
MLB.com | Max Ralph: Judge’s injury primarily affects the Yankees, obviously, but it also sends shockwaves throughout the league. Ralph looks at some of the ways Judge’s absence will affect the whole baseball landscape, from the ways it could affect the trade deadline, to how the AL MVP race is now wide open, and will presumably have a winner that isn’t Judge or Shohei Ohtani for the first time since 2020.
The Athletic | Chris Kirschner*: After days of speculation, Judge’s prolong absence is a reality. The question now is: do the Yankees have what it takes to withstand it? As devastating as Judge’s injury is, there is reason to believe the club is better equipped to weather the storm than they were, say, in 2023, when Judge missed a total of 56, with the Yankees putting up a 25-31 record in those games. Now, they have two other MVP candidates in Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger, not to mention bats like Stanton and Domínguez on the mend. That said, the Yankees will need some of the hitters towards the bottom of the order to step up; Jazz Chisholm Jr., Austin Wells, and Ryan McMahon can’t be zeroes all at once if the Yankees want to stay towards the top of the AL.
*We shared this article yesterday as well, but it’s a good assessment and worth a re-up in case you missed it yesterday.
FanGraphs | Michael Baumann: The Yankees signed Gerrit Cole to a nine-year, $324-million contract in December of 2019, likely committing him to the Yankees until he turned 38-years-old. When a contract like that gets inked, the end of the term feels infinitely far in the future; at the moment Cole and the Yankees put pen to paper, a contract running through 2028 seemed like it might as well run until the end of time. But Baumann notes that for Cole, and a whole lot of other stars who signed mega deals, we are closer to the end than it may seem. Cole is tethered to the Yankees for just 2.5 more seasons, Giancarlo Stanton’s 13-year contract expires next year, and even Bryce Harper’s 13-year deal, which runs from 2019 through 2031, is on the back nine.
Jalen Brunson scored the winning basket - and only five of 37 teams who have taken a 2-0 Finals lead have then failed to win the championship [Getty Images]
The New York Knicks survived a late rally by the San Antonio Spurs to win 105-104 and take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals as they seek a first championship in 53 years.
With nine and a half seconds remaining on the clock, Jalen Brunson stole possession after Spurs' Victor Wembanyama passed the ball into team-mate Stephon Castle's back.
Wembanyama then fouled Benson, who converted the free-throw to give the Knicks the decisive point.
There was still time for Wembanyama to attempt to tie the game for the Spurs, but he missed from 20 feet on the buzzer to hand the Knicks their 13th successive play-off victory.
Wembanyama has been at the centre of much of the drama in the NBA Finals so far - in game one, he was approached by a spectator who ran on to the court, filming himself on his phone.
Appearing in the Finals for the first time since 1999, the Knicks are the third team to win the first two games of a Finals away from home.
The Chicago Bulls did it in 1993, and the Houston Rockets in 1995. Each side went on to win the championship.
After a quiet first-half performance, Wembanyama led a Spurs' comeback, scoring 22 second-half points as they caught up with 14-in-a-row in the final quarter.
In the final seconds, the scores were level as the Frenchman passed the ball into Castle's back, which gave Brunson a chance to grab the winning basket.
"We need to never get too high and never get too low," said the 22-year-old, appearing in the Finals for the first time. "Personally, I think I could have been better in recovering from the high of the conference finals.
"I threw that [misplaced pass] away. I messed up.
"Am I going to regret it? Yes, of course. Am I going to use that to fuel me and to fuel us next game? Absolutely."
"I think most importantly, knowing we're on the road, and knowing my team-mates have my back, I think that's the biggest thing in an environment like this," Brunson said.
"The trust they have in me and the trust I have in them, it's got us to this point."
The best-of-seven series continues on Monday, when the Knicks host the Spurs at Madison Square Gardens in New York City.
US president Donald Trump, who was born in New York City, plans to attend as the Knicks hunt their first championship since 1973.
The Knicks still owe the Nets four first-round picks as part of the Mikal Bridges trade. They’ll send them over with a smile if Bridges continues to perform like he did on Friday night. The wing had 20 points on 13 shots while adding six rebounds and six assists to help the Knicks take a commanding 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals.
Bridges’ points came at some opportune moment as Knicks captain Jalen Brunson struggled with his shot. In the second and third quarters, Bridges hit all eight of his attempts for 20 points. Brunson was 2-for-8 with two turnovers in the same stretch.
All in all, Bridges is averaging more than 16 points per game on roughly 60 percent shooting during the Knicks’ 13-game winning streak. For the second straight season, Bridges has had big moments in the playoffs following a so-so regular season.
What is it that makes Bridges a playoff riser?
“Just that desperation,” Bridges said. “You know, that desperation of trying to be the last team standing and trying to do whatever it takes to help my team win. There's nothing after June. You don't play again until October. So just try to give it all that I got and do whatever it takes for this team.”
Thanks in part to Bridges, the Knicks are two wins away from their first NBA championship in 53 years.
ROBINSON ROLLS
Mitchell Robinson defended Victor Wembanyama late in Game 2 -- and it worked out well. Mike Brown used Robinson on Wembanyama in the closing moments and Robinson delivered, helping to force Wembanyama into two missed shots.
“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.”
With two more wins, Brown will draw accurate comparisons to Joe Torre in 1996. A low-key manager takes over for an intense coach and gets results in Year 1.
