New York Knicks 105, San Antonio Spurs 104
Q. For both you guys since you were both involved in it. That play in the second quarter, four minutes left, you guys had four straight drive and kicks or Mike called sprays, I guess. Can you tell us what you were seeing on that play and how that kind of evolved for you guys?
JALEN BRUNSON: I mean, they were just reading and reacting. We were playing off each other. We saw the same thing you did.
KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: Like he said.
Q. When Wemby threw the ball off Castle, can you talk about what you saw there and how surprised were you that the ball came loose there?
JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah, I just saw he wasn't looking, so I just tried to go get it. Didn't know if it was going to go out of bounds. I just didn't want Wemby to come back and get it.
So I had to secure the ball and got fouled and went to the free throw line.
Q. What does it say that when they made that run to tie the game that, you know, there was no panic or no nervousness, that, you know, you've been in these situations before and you just went to work and executed?
JALEN BRUNSON: We had to do a good job of staying composed in those situations. 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. At this stage of the season, things aren't going to be pretty. It's going to be ugly. It's going to be grinded out. It's simple as that.
So no matter what the situation is, we're going to have each other's back.
Q. You mentioned a lot about your teammates having trust in you. You've got to trust in your teammates on a night like this. What can you say about how the group stepped up?
JALEN BRUNSON: That's just who they are. That's who my teammates are. 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.
When there's no cameras and when we're in the practice gym, when we're in film, when we're trying to be the best team that we can be, that's when -- in those moments, that's when we grow.
Q. Before the series started, you made a plan how to defend Wemby, in your mind, after the first two games, how has the plan come out, better or the same level you sought?
KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: It's all about the team success, so for us to be up 2-0, it's a testament to the coaches getting us a great game plan and to my teammates executing the game plan.
So it's a team effort, and we found a way to win these two games. So it's a shoutout to everyone coming together for the greater cause.
Q. You've been on the other side, a young team trying to figure it out against the more experienced ballclub. Is there a part of that you looks at a game like today, the way that it played out and think, it's our turn?
KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: I have been on the other side where you're a young team and you're trying to do a lot to win the game, and I think that for us, we keep leaning on experience and we keep leaning on the word "execution."
I think we did a good job when we needed to executing but we didn't do 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.
Q. For both of you guys, it seemed like there was an extra level of physicality and intensity on their part trying to even out the series here. Do you think that they can go to another level when it comes to that, or at this point, do you think you guys have all we've seen from both teams, essentially the highest level we've seen?
JALEN BRUNSON: Knowing them, there's going to be another level. We have to be prepared and be ready to match it and play for 48 minutes. No matter what goes on in the game, we have to have each other's back, what's going on, who is on a run, what's not, who is up, who is down, making sure we are playing together for 48 minutes is really important.
Q. Human nature being what it is, a lot of teams after winning Game 1 here might have settled for a split. What does it say that you played with the urgency and desperation of a team that was down 1-0 instead of up?
JALEN BRUNSON: Every single day, we chip away and try to be the best that we can be. I think our mindset was 0-0, not being up 1-0. Even with the series it is now, next game, mindset has to be 0-0 again. It's just how it has to be. You can't be comfortable. You can't be satisfied with anything. Just got to continue to push forward.
Q. Jalen talked a little about what your teammates did and seemed like you guys almost took turns tonight, guys contributing up and down the roster but also Mitch on the final play, just what you saw there, and what you feel for him, what he's gone through to come up with a play like that?
KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: Yeah, I feel like that last play was a culmination of the game, just downloading information as the game went on and Wemby throughout the game, on the last possession I think it's the best defense he's played on him all day. There was no better time for him to do that.
But Mitch is a hell of a defensive player and you expect him to make the best effort defensively.
And it just speaks to his resiliency, too, going out here, playing with the injury and coming up with the biggest play of the game. It just speaks to, like, again, 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.
Q. Karl just talked a lot about Mitch and the job he did on Wemby but can you talk about the job Karl has done, making him work for every point?
JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah. He's been great. I think he's been pretty phenomenal on both sides of the ball, the things he's been able to do throughout this entire playoffs but obviously here now, he's been great.
But we need more.
Q. After the game I asked Mike how this group has evolved him as a coach and challenged him, nothing but positive things to say obviously but for you how has his approach to coaching 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 blessed to have him.
Q. It's kind of for both of you, if you want to answer. Jalen, you've been talking about how nobody folds, play every game like it's 0-0. Karl, you referred to the experience. Is there any impact from the experience of being eliminated in the Conference Finals last year that continues to fuel the way you guys are playing through this streak right now?
JALEN BRUNSON: I would say a little bit. But I think after that, and obviously you come into the new year, it's a new journey, new pieces. Something's different. New set of goals and everything.
So it's all about growing together as a team, and just going through your battles, going through the journey, going through the ups and downs of it, and making sure that we're all focused on one thing.
So that may play a part. But I think the best thing we've been able to do is just find a way to get better every single day.
I know I sound like a broken record but it's really important.
Q. Question for both you guys. We've talked about resilience all season long and maybe last season as well. On a personal level for both you guys, what's your personal source of resilience? What do you draw on to fight back when things get tough?
JALEN BRUNSON: Each other.
KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: Yeah, each other, this team leans on each other. I think that's why we've gotten here. 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 do get tough, and the trials and tribulations do present themselves, this team doesn't disband. They don't go away from each other. We lean into each other even more. We trust each other even more to get out of the rut. That's what special teams do.
Jalen knows, he has a National Championship, and you've seen the camaraderie and unity they have. I didn't get one, so -- but I know the success I did have in my career has always came down to one thing: It's been the unity of the team. How well does that team truly enjoy being in each other's presence? Because the NBA season is a grind, and you're going to be with each other more than you're going to be with your families, your kids, and if you guys don't truly enjoy the grind and the work that needs to be put in together, I don't think success is possible.
So it's a testament to these guys, that's where resiliency comes from, that we don't want to let each other down. We do look at each other as family, as brothers, and we don't ever want to see each other not succeed.
Q. Does this feel like the best version of you that you've seen so far, putting it all together on both ends of the floor? And Jalen, a couple of tough shooting nights to start the series. How do you feel about the process of getting those shots? Do you like the looks you're getting?
KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: For me, I'm just happy to be finding ways to win, with J.B. and everybody, just -- I don't know, I'll leave that question to you and everyone else. I'm just worried about the team result, which is winning.
And for J.B., you call it rough shooting nights. I see him hitting the free throw to give us the game, get Mitch a chance to get the stop for us to win the game. The last game, he hit some of the craziest shots I've seen to give us the game.
So I don't know if you say a rough 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 actual -- the game, to winning the game, Number 11 can't be messed with.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports