Game 2 watch party gets a scare late

You could feel the confidence building at the Game 2 watch party at Madison Square Garden at the start of the fourth quarter, with New York up by nine points and the crowd chanting “Let’s go Knicks,” louder than a 747 engine.

The Knicks were firmly in charge of the game early in the fourth quarter when thousands of fans sang “I’m a Believer” by the Monkees during Karaoke Cam, and even the most hardened New York sports cynic had to think the team’s first NBA championship since 1973 – 53 years! -- was in reach.

And then…

And then San Antonio roared back with 14 straight points. The Spurs took the lead for the first time in the second half. The crowd at Madison Square Garden was stunned and silenced for the first time on Friday night -- defeat yet again snatched from the jaws of victory.

But this team is nothing if not resilient, and by the time Jalen Brunson put the Knicks ahead 105-104 with a free throw with 10 seconds left in the game, the crowd at the Garden was roaring again.

“MVP! MVP!” they chanted, again at 747 levels.

“Let’s go Knicks!” they chanted as they exited the Garden, with the Knicks up 2-0 in the NBA Finals. Now the series comes to New York. San Antonio, Knicks fans are waiting.