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The first game lived up to expectations thanks to a dynamite performance from their biggest star, Jalen Brunson.
The San Antonio Spurs couldn’t hold off the Knicks in Game 1, as New York took a 1-0 series lead with a decisive 105-95 victory.
The Knicks have won 12 consecutive postseason games. The Knicks’ 12-game playoff winning streak is tied with the 1999 Spurs for second all-time.
Only the 2017 Warriors won more with 15, putting New York within reach.
Most Knicks fans had “win on the road” on their championship bingo card. His team did not disappoint.
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Jalen Brunson attacks the basket during the Knicks’ 105-95 Game 1 victory over the Spurs in the NBA Finals (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images))
Brunson rose to the occasion against Victor Wembanyama, helping New York survive the young and inexperienced Spurs.
The first game generated drama from the beginning.
In the first quarter, Brunson came out with an apparent leg injury, grimacing frequently and favoring his right knee.
The scare over Brunson’s knee was short-lived.
After a brief trip to the locker room, Brunson quickly returned to the bench and eventually re-entered the game.
The Knicks came out of halftime slowly, falling behind by 13 points in the third quarter. But New York never seemed disturbed.
Brunson, already a postseason hero, took several hard hits throughout the night, including a minor tweak to his ankle after colliding with Luke Kornet. Any concerns about his health faded as the match progressed. Brunson turned to reinforcements in the second half, attacking the Spurs defense and showing little sign that his knee was bothering him.
San Antonio relied heavily on the three-point shot, but with little success. The Spurs connected on just 11 of 43 attempts from beyond the arc.
Despite having a 7-foot-4 monster in Wembanyama, San Antonio repeatedly shot from deep and came up empty-handed.
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson battles for the rebound against Spurs star Victor Wembanyama during Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals. (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images))
Brunson finally returned to his heroic form, leading the Knicks with 30 points and taking charge in the fourth quarter when it mattered most.
Social media quickly filled with praise for the Knicks star. “Brunson is the best fourth-quarter player I’ve ever seen,” read one reaction, echoing the sentiment of fans watching another postseason masterpiece.
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The Knicks supporting cast lived up to their star.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson rises to shoot against the San Antonio Spurs during Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images))
“It wasn’t really my night most of the night. But we kept working. We kept finding a way,” Brunson said after his MVP-worthy performance.
“Our chemistry, knowing that we have each other’s backs,” Brunson said when asked about the team’s comeback from a 13-point deficit.
“I’ll be fine,” Brunson added after taking a hit in Game 1.
Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby combined for 35 points. New York’s defense also made key contributions.
José Alvarado played crucial minutes while Brunson was in the locker room being evaluated. Landry Shamet added 13 points off the bench, while Miles McBride scored seven points in 11 minutes.
The Spurs missed more production from De’Aaron Fox, who had a mediocre performance (seven points), leaving San Antonio to rely heavily on its young core.
One of the breakout stars of this series, Wembanyama was his usual disruptive presence in the paint on defense but struggled to make a bigger impact elsewhere. He still led San Antonio with 26 points.
At the end of the day, the lights seemed too bright for the Spurs, and the Knicks head into Game 2 with a 1-0 lead in the Finals.
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New York City will have a lot to celebrate after the Knicks opened the Finals with a spectacular victory.
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