MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:
San Antonio Spurs fans are looking for those extra lucky good luck charms as the Spurs face a win-or-die finals game on Saturday night against the New York Knicks. Texas Public Radio's Brian Kirkpatrick has the story.
BRIAN KIRKPATRICK, BYLINE: There is still a glimmer of hope among fans that the Spurs can win their sixth NBA championship, but they must win three straight, beginning with Game 5 in San Antonio. Only one other NBA team has ever come back in the finals to win it all after starting 3 and 1. So fans are pulling out all the stops to beat the Knicks in this battle between big market NBA versus small market NBA. They've been wearing Spurs colors downtown. Cayla Moore has a unique way of dealing with the stress associated with this tense series that has seen very narrow losses by the Spurs and the historic comeback victory by the Knicks in Game 4.
CAYLA MOORE: I watch everything up until the second quarter, and then I go - I take a break from the second quarter, and then I only come back at the fourth quarter because, you know, third quarter, you know - what do you call it? - third quarter jitters, I get.
KIRKPATRICK: Elizabeth Provencio has a game time ritual she likes to follow.
ELIZABETH PROVENCIO: When they're on a streak and they're doing well, I don't change my seat. I don't change anything that I'm doing, so we can keep the vibe going and help them ride that way all the way to a win.
KIRKPATRICK: Deborah Garcia believes she brings the team luck with jewelry.
DEBORAH GARCIA: Yes, I wear a Spurs bracelet. And that's - like, I won't forget to wear it. I always wear it when I go see the games.
KIRKPATRICK: Tracey Calvert brings the team good mojo the same way as the Spurs sisters from St. John Bosco, who went viral on social media for their courtside prayers for the team during the playoffs.
TRACEY CALVERT: Just pray. That's all you can do (laughter).
KIRKPATRICK: Frankie Martinez says he has more than one superstition during game watching at his place.
FRANKIE MARTINEZ: You have to wear the same shirt you were wearing when they won and drink the same drink and have the same people over.
KIRKPATRICK: Martinez says there is a sense of family associated with the team and the city, often referred to as a big small town. And this team's fanbase is the same way. They're sort of the Green Bay Packers of the NBA.
MARTINEZ: It means everything. It means everything. The Spurs feed off of the fans. The fans feed off of the Spurs. It brings the city together.
KIRKPATRICK: There are lots of jitters across Spurs Nation, and some fans say, if the team does not win this year, they are holding on to hope that their young roster, led by superstar Victor Wembanyama, could bring the team's sixth trophy in the years to come. I'm Brian Kirkpatrick in San Antonio.
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