LI Knicks fans show up en masse at The Spread in Lindenhurst

More than 250 patrons were already diving into baskets of nachos and buffalo wings and buckets of Michelob Ultra and Surfside spiked iced tea by 8 p.m. Wednesday at The Spread, a downtown Lindenhurst sports bar. With a half hour until the game, rock and rap from AC/DC to Jay-Z blared through speakers that flanked the outdoor inflatable screen arranged before a still-growing number of beach and camping chairs brought from home.

"I wanted to do something that would be memorable for the event," said Shawn Fentoa, one of three owners of The Spread and a lifelong Knicks fan. "With the Jets and Giants or the Mets and the Yankees, there's a lot of rivalry. With the Knicks, it feels like everybody comes together."

Some groups of friends were tailgating in a municipal parking lot near the bar ahead of the game, during which many said they were sure to keep imbibing, and with reason to celebrate.

“The goal is to get drunk by the first quarter,” Jeremy Selden, 31, of Selden, said.

Selden and his lifelong friends since kindergarten try to watch every Knicks game together, whether it’s at one of their houses or at a bar. On Friday, they plan to attend a viewing party outside the team’s NYC home.

"We want to be outside," Selden said of why they like viewing parties. "It's a better environment, better vibe. If someone scores, you want to be around people."

Tims said he was confident the Knicks would win Game 1 “by 20 points.” He even thinks the team will sweep the series in four and will head into Manhattan to celebrate.

"The Spurs are coming off a hard-fought battle." Tims, 32, of Selden, said. "The Knicks are well rested."

Inside the bar, TV screens airing "Jeopardy" went entirely ignored by the friends and family occupying the sparce table and bar top seating. Patrons engaged in conversation about the Knicks' once-in-a-generation season. While many gathered sported Brunson and Hart jerseys, the only two basketball players Jamey Patrick is a fan of are who two sons, Michael and James, who joined her Monday evening.

"I watch it with them just to see how happy and crazy they get," Patrick, 49, of Lindenhurst, said. "It brings us all together."

By 8:30 p.m., the sea of fans swelled to around 500. Seven minutes later, they rose and removed their hats for the national anthem. They stood silent until Sean Tims screamed “Let’s go Knicks,” instantly rallying the crowd.

Soon after, a smattering of boos and the occasional obscene phrase or hand single were lobbed at the inflatable outdoor screen as the Spurs entered their court. Cheers of joy and applause greeted the Knicks. The first three-pointer of the game, courtesy of Brunson, raised Bella Russo to her feet. She screamed at the next successful shot seconds later.

"This is like history and I'm so excited," Russo, 19, of Lindenhurst, said. She often watches games with her father Vinny Russo, who tagged along with her mother Kim Russo. She wasn't expecting to watch with hundreds others at their local sports bar that's hosted many a family outing.

"All the energy everyone's giving, it's so exciting to be with people just as enthusiastic as me," she said.

As the Knicks fell behind, she added: "it's not over until it's over. I have faith in our boys."