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Game 1 lived up to its billing thanks to a dynamite performance from its biggest star, Jalen Brunson.
The San Antonio Spurs couldn’t hang with the Knicks in Game 1 as New York took a 1-0 series lead with a 105-95 victory.
The Knicks have now won 12 straight postseason games. The Knicks’ 12-game postseason 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 cards. Their team did not disappoint.
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Jalen Brunson drives the basket during the Knicks’ 105-95 Game 1 win 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 and helped New York survive the young and inexperienced Spurs.
Game 1 provided drama early.
In the first quarter, Brunson left with an apparent leg injury, often grimacing 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 sluggish, trailing by 13 points in the third quarter. But New York never looked crippled.
Brunson, already a postseason hero, took several hard hits during the night, including a minor ankle adjustment after colliding with Luke Kornet. Any concerns about his health faded as the game progressed. Brunson turned on the boosters 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 finished on just 11 of 43 attempts from beyond the arc.
Despite boasting a 7-foot-4 freak in Wembanyama, San Antonio repeatedly shot from deep and came up empty.
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson battles for a 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 eventually returned to heroic form, leading the Knicks with 30 points and taking over the fourth quarter when it mattered most.
Social media quickly lit up with praise for the Knicks star. “Brunson is the best fourth quarter performer I’ve ever seen,” read one reaction that echoed the sentiments of fans watching another postseason masterpiece.
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The Knicks’ supporting cast was delivered along with their star.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson rises for a shot 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))
“Wasn’t really my night most of the night. But we just kept chipping away. Kept finding a way,” Brunson said after his MVP-worthy performance.
“Our chemistry, knowing 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 getting beat up in Game 1.
Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby combined for 35 points. New York’s bench backcourt also made important 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 turned in an unremarkable performance (seven points), leaving San Antonio to lean heavily on its young core.
Wembanyama, one of the marquee stars of this series, was his usual disruptive presence in the paint defensively, 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 enter Game 2 with a 1-0 lead in the Finals.
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New York City will have plenty to celebrate after the Knicks opened the Finals with a statement win.
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