The New York Knicks extended their impressive winning streak with a victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Jalen Brunson contributed 30 points while Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points and 12 rebounds. This helped the Knicks overcome a 14-point second-half deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 105-95.
OG Anunoby scored 17 points for the Knicks, marking their 12th consecutive playoff win. This feat places them as the seventh team in NBA history to achieve such a streak. Additionally, this game holds significance as the Knicks became the first team to defeat San Antonio in a Game 1 of the finals. Previously, the Spurs maintained a 6-0 record in such situations. This is the first occasion the Spurs find themselves trailing in an ongoing finals series.
Victor Wembanyama put up 26 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs in his finals debut, though he struggled with a six for 21 shooting performance. Stephon Castle added 17 points, with Julian Champagnie and Dylan Harper each contributing 16.
Game 2 is scheduled for Friday in San Antonio. Watching from a suite, former Spurs coach Gregg Popovich attended the game. He has witnessed every finals game in Spurs history. Legendary Spurs players like David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Bruce Bowen were also present.
Among notable Knicks fans at the game were Patrick Ewing and celebrities such as Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan, Ben Stiller, Fat Joe, and Timothée Chalamet. Many other Knicks supporters traveled to witness the game. Tommy Sherlock, an auto sales manager from Brooklyn, noted that attending Game 1 in San Antonio proved more economical than tickets for Game 3 in New York, even including airfare and hotel expenses.
The action-packed game had the Knicks leading 14-7 initially. The Spurs responded with a 20-13 run, moving ahead by 10 points. The second quarter saw six lead changes, with San Antonio holding a 55-48 advantage at halftime. Midway through the third quarter, San Antonio pushed the lead to 14, but the Knicks finished the quarter with a 22-9 run, tying the game at 76 going into the fourth quarter.
Halfway through the final period, New York led by eight points. Wembanyama’s free throws gave the Spurs a 95-94 lead with 2:16 remaining, but Brunson’s corner three secured the victory for the Knicks.
San Antonio’s history of not trailing in the finals faced several close calls over the years. They had tied scores with New Jersey in 2003, Detroit in 2005, and Miami in 2013 and 2014. Although they did not trail prior to this current series, the Knicks’ triumph in Game 1 alters that record.
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