Jalen Brunson comes up clutch as Knicks beat Spurs in Game 1 of NBA Finals, 105-95
· Yahoo Sports
By now, it’s a mistake to think this Knicks team will go down without a fight.
It was a mistake to think that with New York down 2-1 in a first-round series against the Hawks, and it was a mistake to think that down 22 points in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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And yes, it was again a mistake to think that with the San Antonio Spurs leading by 14 points in the third quarter of Wednesday night’s Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
What ensued was a 25-14 close to the third, which eventually turned into a strong fourth-quarter finish in what became a 105-95 Knicks win in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
The Knicks shut the Spurs out in the final 2:15 of regulation. The road team scored nine straight, including a Jalen Brunson fadeaway that put his team up six with 37.8 seconds remaining.
Brunson had 13 points in the fourth, finishing with 30 points, three rebounds and two assists.
For the first time this postseason, the Knicks began a series on the road. But it didn’t matter as they’ll leave San Antonio with at least a split regardless of what happens in Friday’s Game 2.
And they’ll take it, considering the multiple injury scares Brunson endured while getting off to a 5-of-15 start to Game 1.
Brunson, however, channeled some of his Eastern Conference finals Game 1 magic in the second half on Wednesday night, sparking a surge with unanimous Defensive Player of the Year winner Victor Wembanyama on the bench.
Then OG Anunoby, who was quiet for most of the night, followed up with seven consecutive points in the fourth, including a 3-pointer over Wembanyama to put his team up five at the 8:50 mark. Anunoby finished with 17 points on 5-of-12 shooting.
The Spurs walked the Knicks down, though.
Wembanyama’s traditional three-point play dwindled the deficit to one with just about three minutes remaining. He returned to the foul line again for two makes to give his team a one-point lead.
It was all downhill after that. The Spurs got off just three field-goal attempts while succumbing to the Knicks’ defensive pressure.
Wemby and the Spurs will look to avoid a 2-0 deficit on Friday night.
For most of the night, Game 1 was about the supporting cast — not the stars.
San Antonio’s Julian Champagnie torched the Knicks for five 3-pointers by halftime. Spurs rookie Dylan Harper (16 points, eight rebounds) looked anything but a neophyte with 12 points and six rebounds, too.
Wembanyama (26 points, 12 rebounds) was just 2 of 8 with nine points after two quarters. And the Knicks managed to trail by just seven with big minutes by Jose Alvarado (seven points) while Brunson struggled early.
Not to mention, Brunson appeared to injure his right knee minutes into Game 1 after Harrison Barnes collided with his lower body. Brunson limped to the locker room afterwards then returned in the second quarter when he suffered another injury scare — this time a left ankle tweak on a layup attempt.
No foul was called, which prompted the Knicks captain to shout at official Scott Foster. The mild-mannered star’s outburst headlined a first half when the Knicks tallied just three free throws. San Antonio shot 12.
The disparity contributed to San Antonio’s 20-3 run that gave the Spurs a 27-19 advantage at the end of the first. The run erased a 14-7 Knicks start.
Wednesday’s Game 1 of runs epitomized the cliche of basketball.
It was a see-saw battle the Knicks eventually edged out.
Another cliche of the 2026 postseason.