NBA Finals: Brunson and Towns Steady Knicks After Another Clutch Finish: "Nobody Breaks"

Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns explained the New York Knicks' victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, a 105-104 triumph that puts the series at 2-0 for the New Yorkers. Both emphasized the group's composure, mutual confidence, execution in crucial moments, and Mitchell Robinson's impact on the final defensive possession against Victor Wembanyama.

Question. For both of you, since you were both involved in it. That play in the second quarter, with four minutes left, where you chained four consecutive penetrations and passes, or "sprays," as I think Mike calls them. Can you tell us what you were seeing on that play and how it evolved for you?

JALEN BRUNSON: I mean, we were simply reading and reacting. We were playing off each other. We saw the same thing you all saw.

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: Like he said.

P. When Wemby threw the ball against Castle, can you talk about what you saw there and how surprised you were that the ball came loose on that play?

JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah, I just saw that he wasn't looking, so I tried to go get the ball. I didn't know if it was going to go out. I just didn't want Wemby to come back and recover it.

So I had to secure the ball, I got fouled and went to the free throw line.

P. What does it say about you that when they made that run to tie the game, there was no panic or nervousness, that you'd been in these situations before and you just went to work and executed?

JALEN BRUNSON: We had to do a good job of maintaining composure in those situations. That speaks to the character this team has. Not folding in situations like that is key to winning games like this. At this point in the season, things aren't going to be pretty. It's going to be ugly. You're going to have to fight for it. It's that simple.

So no matter what the situation is, we're going to have each other's backs.

P. You've mentioned a lot the confidence your teammates have in you. On a night like this, you also have to trust your teammates. What can you say about how the group stepped up?

JALEN BRUNSON: That's just what they are. That's what my teammates are. Night in and night out, they come and compete. There are always going to be things said, no matter the situation, but I have the utmost confidence and faith in them for their work ethic and for the things we're capable of doing every single day.

When there are no cameras and we're in the practice gym, when we're watching film, when we're trying to be the best team we can be, that's where we grow.

P. Before the series started, you prepared a plan to defend Wemby. In your opinion, after the first two games, how has that plan worked out? Better or at the same level you were looking for?

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: It all comes down to team success, so for us to be up 2-0 is a testament to the work of the coaches giving us a great game plan and my teammates executing that plan.

So it's a team effort and we've found a way to win these two games. It's a credit to everyone coming together for a greater cause.

P. You've been on the other side, on a young team trying to figure out how to compete against a group with more experience. Is there a part of you that looks at a game like today's, the way it unfolded, and thinks: now it's our turn?

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: I've been on the other side, when you're a young team and you're trying to do a lot of things to win the game. And I think in our case, we continue to lean on experience and we continue to lean on the word "execution."

I think we did a good job executing when we needed to, but we didn't do it as well as we want to. So when we get back to New York, we'll get back to work. We'll get back to the gym and try to correct the mistakes we made tonight.

P. For both of you, it seemed like there was an extra level of physicality and intensity from them, trying to even the series here. Do you think they can go to another level in that regard or, at this point, do you think we've seen from both teams pretty much the highest level they can offer?

JALEN BRUNSON: Knowing them, there's going to be another level. We have to be prepared and ready to match it and play for 48 minutes. Whatever happens in the game, we have to have each other's backs: what's happening, who's hot, who's not, who's up, who's down. Making sure we play together for 48 minutes is really important.

P. Being human nature what it is, a lot of teams, after winning the first game here, might have been content with a tie. What does it say about you that you played with the urgency and desperation of a team that was down 1-0 instead of being ahead?

JALEN BRUNSON: Every day we keep chipping away and trying to be the best we can be. I think our mentality was 0-0, not that we were up 1-0. Even now, with the series where it is, going into the next game the mentality has to be 0-0 again. That's how it has to be. You can't be comfortable. You can't be satisfied with anything. You just have to keep pushing forward.

P. Jalen spoke a bit about what your teammates did and it seemed like you were almost taking turns tonight, with players contributing throughout the entire rotation, but also Mitch on the final play. What did you see there and what do you feel for him, for everything he's been through, to come through with a play like that?

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: Yeah, I feel like that last play was the culmination of the game, of unloading information as the game went on. And with Wemby throughout the game, on that last possession I think it was the best defense he played on him all day. There wasn't a better time to do it.

But Mitch is a tremendous defensive player and you expect him to make the best defensive effort.

And that also speaks to his resilience, going out there, playing through injury and coming through with the biggest play of the game. That speaks, again, to what I always tell you guys about how important he is to our team and the impact he has on our team. He's unique. I don't know if there's maybe another Mitch Robinson in the league. I think there's only Mitchell Robinson. There's only one like him and we're honored and blessed to have him.

P. Karl just spoke a lot about Mitch and the work he did on Wemby, but can you talk about the work Karl has done making him fight for every possession?

JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah. He's been great. I think he's been pretty phenomenal on both sides of the floor, for the things he's been able to do throughout these playoffs, but obviously here, now, he's been great.

But we need more.

P. After the game I asked Mike how this group has made him evolve as a coach and how it's challenged him. Obviously he only had positive things to say, but for you, how has his approach as a coach helped you grow this season?

JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah, his approach has been great, when he's not barking like he did the other day.

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: I don't know what that was.

JALEN BRUNSON: He challenges us every day to be better than we were the day before. We challenge him, somehow, some way, but we're fortunate to have him.

P. It's a bit for both of you, if you want to answer. Jalen, you've been talking about nobody breaking, about playing each game like it's 0-0. Karl, you've referred to experience. Is there any impact from the experience of being eliminated in the Conference Finals last year that continues to fuel the way you're playing during this run right now?

JALEN BRUNSON: I'd say a little bit. But I think after that, obviously you enter a new year, it's a new journey, new pieces. Something is different. A new set of goals and all that.

So it's all about growing together as a team, going through your battles, going through the journey, the ups and downs, and making sure we're all focused on one thing.

So that might play a part. But I think the best thing we've been able to do is find a way to improve every single day.

I know I sound like a broken record, but it's really important.

P. Question for both of you. We've talked about resilience throughout the season and maybe last season too. On a personal level, for both of you, what is your personal source of resilience? What do you draw from to respond when things get tough?

JALEN BRUNSON: Each other.

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: Yeah, each other. This team leans on one another. I think that's why we've gotten this far. That's why we had the success we had during the regular season, even when things weren't going great, because at the end of the day, when things get tough and trials and tribulations come, this team doesn't fall apart. We don't pull away from each other. We lean in even closer to one another. We trust each other even more to get out of the rut. That's what special teams do.

Jalen knows it, he has a national championship, and you've seen the camaraderie and unity they had. I didn't get one, so… but I know the success I've had in my career has always come down to one thing: the unity of the team. How much does that team actually enjoy being in each other's presence? Because the NBA season is a daily battle, and you're going to be with them more than you're going to be with your families, your kids, and if you really don't enjoy the battle together and the work that has to be put in, I don't think success is possible.

So that speaks to these guys. That's where the resilience comes from, from not wanting to let each other down. We look at each other as family, as brothers, and we never want to see one of us not succeed.

P. Do you feel like this is the best version of yourself you've seen so far, putting it all together on both sides of the floor? And Jalen, a couple of tough shooting nights to start the series. How are you feeling about the process of getting those shots? Do you like the looks you're getting?

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: In my case, I'm just happy to find ways to win, with J.B. and with everyone. I don't know, I'll leave that question for you and everyone else. I'm just concerned with the team result, which is winning.

And about J.B., you call it tough shooting nights. I see him making the free throw to give us the game, to give Mitch the chance to get the stop and for us to win the game. The game before he made some of the craziest shots I've seen to give us the game.

So I don't know if I'd call it a bad shooting night. I see Captain Clutch doing what he's always been doing since I got here, and I see… you know, he's a huge part when it comes down to the real moment of the game, winning the game. You don't play around with number 11.