Before we get started, a half-hearted apology for the lack of writing lately. As a lifelong Knicks fan, these NBA Finals have had me riding every emotion imaginable, and honestly, finding the words felt harder than watching the games themselves. Between the anticipation leading up to the series and the intensity of the first two matchups, I've spent more time pacing around my backyard than sitting behind a keyboard.

Now that the dust has settled on Games 1 and 2, it's time to dive into everything we've seen so far. From clutch performances and momentum swings to the storylines shaping this championship battle, the opening two games have already delivered plenty to talk about.

If the first game felt like a game the Knicks stole, Game 2 felt like two heavyweight fighters trading punches for 48 minutes. Unlike the opener, where San Antonio slowly took control, this one was back-and-forth almost from the opening tip.

The Spurs jumped out to an early double-digit lead, but the Knicks never looked rattled. They settled in, responded with runs of their own, and by halftime had completely flipped the game and taken the lead.

The Knicks came out of the locker room with great energy, moved the ball well, defended at a high level, and slowly started building separation. What stood out most was a stretch where both Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns were off the floor.

Instead of just surviving those minutes, the Knicks thrived. Mikal Bridges was phenomenal, taking over offensively and helping extend the lead when it looked like the Spurs might make a push. Those minutes proved to be absolutely vital.

As great as Bridges was, Karl-Anthony Towns once again set the tone on both ends of the floor. KAT was outstanding throughout the night, continuing to battle Victor Wembanyama defensively while providing a consistent offensive force whenever the Knicks needed a bucket. Through two games, he has been everything the Knicks could have hoped for and more.

By the fourth quarter, New York had built what felt like a comfortable 14-point lead and looked well on its way to taking a commanding 2-0 series advantage. Then came the inevitable Spurs response.

San Antonio ripped off a stunning 14-0 run, completely erased the deficit, and eventually grabbed a 104-102 lead with the building reaching a fever pitch. Suddenly, a game that looked finished had become another nail-biter.

That's when Captain Clutch showed up once again.

Jalen Brunson delivered exactly when the Knicks needed him most. First came the game-tying basket. Then came a game-saving steal. Then came the free throw that ultimately gave New York the lead.

Time and time again throughout these playoffs, Brunson has answered the biggest moments, and Game 2 was no different.

The Spurs still had one final opportunity. Head Coach Mitch Johnson drew up a beautiful play that got the ball into the hands of Victor Wembanyama with a chance to win the game.

But Mitchell Robinson had other plans. Robinson defended the play perfectly, stayed disciplined, contested without fouling, and helped preserve another huge Knicks victory.

When the final buzzer sounded, the Knicks were heading back to Madison Square Garden with a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals. It wasn't always pretty, and it certainly wasn't easy, but it was another complete team win.

Towns dominated, Bridges delivered massive third-quarter minutes, Robinson came up with the defensive play of the game, and Brunson once again proved why he is one of the most clutch players in basketball. Two games down, two wins secured, and now the Knicks return home firmly in the driver's seat.

Game 1 was a roller coaster, and honestly, for a while there it felt like the Knicks were paying the price for having over a week off before the Finals started. They came out with great energy and looked sharp early, but after that opening stretch, the rust started to show.

Shots that normally fall within the flow of the offense just weren't going down, possessions got a little stagnant, and you could feel San Antonio starting to gain confidence.

Once the Spurs got the crowd involved, things started snowballing. Every big shot seemed to energize the building even more, and before long the Knicks found themselves fighting an uphill battle.

The first half was especially frustrating because Julian Champagnie was absolutely unconscious, knocking down seemingly everything he looked at, and by halftime San Antonio had firmly grabbed control of the game.

The start of the third quarter was probably the lowest point of the night for New York. The Spurs extended the lead, Victor Wembanyama was impacting the game defensively, and it felt like the Knicks were in serious danger of letting Game 1 slip away. But if there was one reason the Knicks stayed alive, it was Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT was phenomenal.

Defensively, he accepted the challenge of battling Wembanyama and did as good a job as anyone could ask for against the face of the NBA. Offensively, he was relentless, attacking mismatches, getting to his spots, and carrying the Knicks through stretches where nobody else could consistently generate points.

Little by little, the Knicks chipped away. They never completely flipped the game on its head, but they did exactly what great teams do, they kept it close enough.

They weathered every Spurs punch and refused to let the game get out of reach. And when they finally got it down to a manageable number late in the fourth quarter, they were able to unleash their ultimate weapon.

Jalen Brunson.

For three quarters, Brunson looked out of rhythm by his standards. Then the fourth quarter arrived and he completely took over the game. Tough fadeaways, contested jumpers, impossible-looking shots that somehow always seem to find the bottom of the net. Captain Clutch was simply ridiculous. Possession after possession, he delivered exactly what the Knicks needed and reminded everyone why he has become one of the most feared closers in basketball.

By the time the final buzzer sounded, the Knicks had completed one of their most impressive wins of the season, stealing Game 1 in San Antonio and taking a 1-0 series lead. Historically, Game 1 is the game you're hoping to steal on the road before the home team settles into the series. The Knicks accomplished that mission. As it turns out, though, they weren't satisfied with stealing just one.

Game 1 Knicks Top Performers Recap: 105-95 W

-Jalen Brunson: 30 points 2 assists 3 rebounds (13 points in 4th quarter)

-Josh Hart: 3 points 15 rebounds 6 assists 4 steals 1 block

-Karl-Anthony Towns: 18 points 12 rebounds 4 assists 1 block

-OG Anunoby: 17 points 3 rebounds 3 three-pointers 1 steal 1 block

-Landry Shamet: 13 points 1 rebound 3 three-pointers

Game 2 Knicks Top Performers Recap: 105-104 W

-Karl-Anthony Towns: 21 points 13 rebounds 4 assists 1 steal 1 block

-Mikal Bridges: 20 points 6 rebounds 6 assists 1 steal 4 three-pointers

-Jalen Brunson: 20 points 6 assists 5 rebounds 5 steals 2 three-pointers

-OG Anunoby: 17 points 4 rebounds 3 assists 2 steals 2 blocks

-Landry Shamet: 13 points 2 rebounds 2 assists 3 three-pointers 1 block