It was a ruthless fourth-quarter explosion courtesy of Jalen Brunson, who literally carried the New York Knicks on his wide frame as the team clawed back from a 14-point second-half hole to stun the San Antonio Spurs, 105-95, in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Brunson poured in 30 points, including 13 in the final period, to drag New York across the finish line and extend the Knicks’ scorching playoff winning streak to 12 games. Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points and 12 rebounds, while OG Anunoby chipped in 17 as New York seized home-court advantage and struck the first heavy blow in the championship series.
The loss was historic for San Antonio. The Spurs had never lost Game 1 of an NBA Finals series, entering the night with a perfect 6-0 record in such games. But the Knicks shattered that streak with a vicious late surge, closing the game on an 11-0 run.
The two teams last met in an NBA Finals back in 1999, when the Tim Duncan-led Spurs defeated the Knicks, 4-1, to win the franchise’s first NBA trophy.
Brunson’s defining moment came in the final minute, when he buried a spinning jumper while falling to the floor with 38 seconds left, a cold-blooded basket that crushed San Antonio’s last hopes.
“He’s a gamer, man,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “In the biggest moments, he shows up. That’s what MVPs are supposed to do.”
Victor Wembanyama posted 26 points and 12 rebounds in his Finals debut, but the Spurs’ towering star struggled badly from the field, shooting just 6-of-21. He later owned up to the rough outing.
“I was bad tonight,” Wembanyama said. “It’s not more complicated than that.”
San Antonio also drew strong support from its young core. Stephon Castle scored 17 points, while Julian Champagnie added 16 points.
Dylan Harper, the Filipino-American rookie and the scion of another NBA great Ron Harper, also added 16, giving the Spurs flashes of promise despite the painful collapse. Harper also made a history-making strong impression as a rookie in his very first NBA Finals appearance, who, at 20 years old, became the youngest player to score over 10 points in any Finals game in NBA history. With his poise on the Finals stage, helping San Antonio stay dangerous before New York’s late-game execution took over.
The Spurs appeared in control after building a 14-point lead midway through the third quarter. But the Knicks answered with a furious 22-9 run to end the period, forcing a 76-all deadlock entering the fourth.
San Antonio briefly regained the lead, 95-94, after Wembanyama sank two free throws with 2:16 left. Brunson immediately responded with a corner three-pointer on the next possession, putting New York ahead for good.
“I think we let that one go,” Wembanyama said.
Game 2 is set for Friday in San Antonio, where the Spurs will try to recover from a brutal opener and prevent the Knicks from moving halfway toward their first NBA championship in 53 years.
“We have a long way to go,” Brunson said.