The New York Knicks survived a thriller on the second night of the finals and went ahead 105:104 over the San Antonio Spurs - a win a hair from disaster, because the Spurs melted a 14-point deficit in the final quarter and nearly turned it all around. Nearly. And that "nearly" is exactly what now separates the Knicks from their first title in more than half a century.

The finish was nerve-shredding. Jalen Brunson made one of two free throws with 9.5 seconds left, and then Victor Wembanyama missed the jumper that could have decided the game. When the opposing team's best player misses for the win, you don't talk about a deserved victory - you talk about a survived one.

The Knicks extended their playoff winning streak to 13, the second best in NBA history. Karl-Anthony Towns led them with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Brunson and Mikal Bridges added 20 each. The balance they have - three players at 20 or more - is exactly what teams without it lack in moments like these.

On the other side, Wembanyama dropped 29 points and still walks away with his head down. The Spurs now travel to New York under enormous pressure, to Madison Square Garden where a crowd that smells blood awaits them. The series lead is 2:0 for the Knicks, and in an NBA final that's an advantage rarely let slip - but "rarely" doesn't mean "never," and the Spurs have already shown they know how to start from 14 down.