The scene outside before MSG watch party

Knicks fans sporting jerseys honoring stars past and present – Jalen Brunson, Patrick Ewing, Walt Frazier – were still making their way to their seats at the Madsion Square Garden watch party as the starting lineups for Friday’s Game 2 was announced. The Knicks, particularly Brunson, received huge cheers. The Spurs were, not surprisingly, loudly booed.

This is a crowd that is still riding high from Wednesday’s 105-95 win in Game 1 in San Antonio, and these fans are rowdy and ready to rumble, even after the Spurs jumped to an early lead.

Outside the Garden, an hour before tipoff, there was a sense of anticipation as fans mingled with commuters and neighborhood locals on Joe Louis Plaza. Small groups gathered on the steps at Moynihan Train Hall.

The nearby bars – the Mollie Wee, the Blarney Stone, Tir Na Nog, Taboo – were packed with fans. The cannabis dispensaries were mostly empty, but judging by the cloud over 8th Avenue, many fans brought their own.

Singer Tyler James received huge applause as he hit the high notes of "The Star Spangled Banner" as effortlessly as Michael Jordan driving to the basket. The crowd erupted when past Knicks heroes such as Ewing, Allan Houston, Larry Johnson and Latrell Sprewell appeared in a scoreboard video to thank the NYPD for its service to New Yorkers.