The New York Knicks continued their remarkable winning streak, striking first in the NBA Finals with a 105-95 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 on Wednesday (Thursday AEST). Jalen Brunson led the way with 30 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points and 12 rebounds. The Knicks erased a 14-point second-half deficit to secure the win.
OG Anunoby contributed 17 points for New York, which has now won 12 consecutive playoff games, becoming the seventh team in NBA history to achieve such a streak. The Knicks finished the game on an 11-0 run, making history as the first team to beat San Antonio in a Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The Spurs had previously been 6-0 in such games. This also marks the first time the Knicks have trailed in a finals game before ultimately winning.
Spurs' Wembanyama Struggles in Finals Debut
Victor Wembanyama recorded 26 points and 12 rebounds for San Antonio, but shot just 6-for-21 from the field in his finals debut. Stephon Castle scored 17 points, while Julian Champagnie and Dylan Harper each added 16 points for the Spurs. Game 2 is scheduled for Friday in San Antonio.
Notable Attendees
The game featured several legendary figures, including former Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, franchise legends David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Bruce Bowen. Knicks great Patrick Ewing was also in attendance, along with famous New York fans Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan, Ben Stiller, Fat Joe, and Timothee Chalamet.
Game Flow
The Knicks jumped out to an early 14-7 lead, but the Spurs responded with a 20-13 run to take a 10-point advantage and eventually led 55-48 at halftime. San Antonio extended its lead to 14 points midway through the third quarter before New York mounted a comeback, finishing the period on a 22-9 run to tie the game at 76 entering the fourth quarter.
The Spurs led by eight points midway through the final period, but Brunson hit a corner three-pointer with the Knicks trailing 95-94, putting New York ahead for good. The Knicks closed the game on an 11-0 run to seal the victory.
