teamed up for a prerecorded sketch

Mariska Hargitay got an assist from the point guard of the New York Knicks.

Before the actor took the stage to host the Emmy Awards on Monday, Jalen Brunson appeared in the opening of a pre-recorded sketch that led into her opening monologue.

It opened with the two steaming their wardrobes -- Hargitay her gown and Brunson his No. 11 jersey.

"It’s just a lot of pressure," Hargitay told Brunson, who in June led the Knicks to their first NBA championship in 53 years. "Have you ever felt like you have millions of eyes on you and it all comes down to one night?"

"Seriously?" a dismayed Brunson responded.

"Hey, Jalen, it's just me, alright. I don’t have anyone to tap it in for me," Hargitay said, alluding to the iconic game-winning tip-in by Brunson's teammate, OG Anunoby, in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Music then began playing, and Hargitay rushed out, leaving an angry Brunson behind.

"Oh my gosh, the opening number!" she said. "It started. I gotta get to the airport. I don’t have time to sit around and steam outfits with you. I gotta go. Let yourself out."

Hargitay and Brunson formed a close friendship after Brunson joined the Knicks in 2022, with the star of NBC's “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” regularly seated courtside at Madison Square Garden, including earlier this year during the team's title run.

They bonded after the longtime Knicks fan learned that Brunson is a longtime “SVU” fan.

"I was so flattered and thrilled, because I was such a huge fan," Hargitay said last year on NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers.”

Brunson said on his podcast “The Roommates Show” that, while he was growing up, “SVU” was always on at his house.  

"I just remember my dad always watching the show," he said. "You just hear the iconic 'dun-dun' all the time in the house."

Brunson still watches the show, saying it’s part of his gameday routine.

"It's a pregame show for me," Brunson said on his podcast. "I've always loved that show."

So much so that he said he was starstruck when he first met Hargitay. The two now share an on-court embrace when Hargitay is in attendance for a Knicks win – making the team’s other courtside celebrity superfans jealous.

“The love that Mariska Hargitay gets from you postgame is the envy of every other Knicks celebrity fan,” Ben Stiller told Brunson on his podcast.

Hargitay – and Stiller -- even appeared on a float during the team’s championship parade down the Canyon of Heroes in New York City.   

Brunson, who will host the season premiere of "Saturday Night Live" on Sept. 26, has also cheered on Hargitay for some of her recent performances. Over the summer, he attended her Broadway show “Every Brilliant Thing,” and last year he went to the premiere of Hargitay’s documentary “My Mom Jayne” – for which she earned two 2026 Emmys.

Hargitay also recently hinted that she might be teaming up with Brunson on screen.

"I'm hoping that we might — don't tell anyone, but — see him on SVU," she said during an interview on "TODAY."

Hargitay, during a "TODAY" interview that aired Monday, was shown a video message that Brunson recorded for her ahead of her Emmys hosting gig.

"What's up Mariska? It's Jalen here," Brunson said. "Just wanted to say I'm really excited to see you host the Emmys. It's such an amazing opportunity for you, so I can't wait to watch, I can't wait to see…you're going to do great. Everyone is rooting for you."

"Was that just the GOAT wishing me good luck?" Hargitay asked "TODAY" co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.

"Yeah, he knows a little something about big stages," Guthrie said.

"I think he does!" Hargitay said.

“So, you’re ready!” Guthrie said.

“I’m ready now. I’m just taking it in,” Hargitay said. “I’m gonna play that at my house while I’m getting ready on a loop.”