Mitchell Robinson and his coach credit this one surprising thing for his defense on Wemby

SAN ANTONIO — On the other side of Victor Wembanyama’s two missed shots at the end of Game 2 is a bearded country music fan in a locker room full of hip-hop listeners.

This is real. The New York Knicks coach and the player he was trying to praise both said “country music” had something to do with Mitchell Robinson’s defense on Wembanyama in Friday’s closing 30 seconds. Wemby missed twice, and the Knicks took a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals with a 105-104 win.

“I’m a huge fan of country music,” Knicks coach Mike Brown began. “So, I think when he (Robinson) listens to country music, he gets the chill vibes, because I know I do.”

The explanation for a musical genre affecting Robinson’s defense goes something like this: Robinson held his ground against Wembanyama twice — on 17- and 20-foot jumpers — without fouling him. Robinson contested both shots, and both missed, although San Antonio Spurs followers believe the shot Wemby took near the buzzer was a good one.

“In my mind, I was just like, ‘Defend without fouling,’” Robinson said. “So … just a great contest, and just kind of how it went.”

So, which country tune is appropriate for the moment? It’s easier to think of songs more fitting for where the Spurs are right now: “Friends in Low Places,” “Brokenheartsville”? And for Robinson and the Knicks, how about “How Do You Like Me Now?” or “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive”?

The Knicks have won 13 in a row, the second-longest playoff winning streak in NBA history, and Robinson was getting surgery on a broken right pinkie finger last week.

“I love my country music,” Robinson said. “That’s all I listen to. Dealing with these guys, they don’t listen to it. So that’s why, you know, I got my headphones now.

“Maybe if they listened to it, they’ll understand, but they’re silly.”

Robinson finished with 7 points, three rebounds and a block in 14 minutes. He logged only two minutes in the final quarter. He was on the floor guarding Wemby when Wemby missed with about 30 seconds left. Brown subbed him out, only to reinsert him for the final possession, with the Knicks up a point and everyone in the building believing the ball was going to Wembanyama.

“It’s just how he’s built, man,” Brown said. “He doesn’t seem like he ever gets too high. Doesn’t seem like he ever gets too low. We play him for 30 seconds and pull him out. We play him for seven minutes and pull him out, and he’s the same all the time.”

“He just went and did his job,” Brown continued. “But that country music probably had something to do with it.”