The Jalen Brunson-led New York Knicks have stolen Game 1 in San Antonio, producing a gutsy comeback to win a thriller and go 1-0 up in the NBA Finals, while ending a 9,845-day wait for a Finals victory.
The last time the Knicks won an NBA Finals game was June 21, 1999, and this result finally breaks that drought while extending their winning streak to 12 straight games in a fairytale playoff run.
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During his post-game press conference, Victor Wembanyama reflected on the Spurs’ missed opportunities, his own performance and the bizarre fan incident that briefly interrupted Game 1.
At one stage, San Antonio mounted a strong comeback and closed to within a single possession, but the Knicks repeatedly found ways to halt their momentum. Wembanyama pointed to New York’s work on the offensive glass as a major factor in the turnaround.
“We let them get an offensive rebound. So that’s on us. After that, that’s an experienced team, they know how to play with momentum. We had the momentum until late in that game. That’s why I said we let that one go.”
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson also suggested his team failed to establish enough presence inside the paint, a point Wembanyama agreed with when asked about his coach’s assessment.
“No, of course not. I agree with the coach. It’s the same: every team guards differently. I’m going to figure it out. Yeah, I was bad tonight. It’s not more complicated than that.”
Despite finishing with 26 points and 12 rebounds, Wembanyama endured an inefficient shooting night, going 7-for-21 from the field while committing six turnovers.
The French superstar was also asked about the unusual fan incident late in the game, when a spectator rushed onto the court and began taking selfies before being removed by security.
Wembanyama admitted he had never experienced anything like it, comparing it to one of the most memorable moments in Spurs history.
“I’ve never been in that situation. I didn’t know how to act. It really surprised me, almost as much as that time where a bat crossed the court.”
The comment referenced an iconic moment from October 31, 2009, when Spurs legend Manu Ginobili famously swatted a rogue bat out of the air with his bare hand during a Halloween night game against the Sacramento Kings.
For the Knicks, the mood could not have been more different.
New York had just snapped a 27-year NBA Finals win drought and extended its winning streak to 12 games, with confidence and belief continuing to grow inside the locker room. Leading the charge once again was Jalen Brunson, who overcame a difficult start to produce a game-changing second half.
After shooting just 5-for-18 at one stage, Brunson was asked how he managed to stay mentally locked in and work his way back into the contest.
“I think it starts with my confidence. It comes with my work ethic.
“I think most importantly, knowing we’re on the road, and knowing my teammates have my back, I think that’s the biggest thing in an environment like this. The trust they have in me and the trust I have in them, it’s got us to this point. I mean, I’m very thankful for them every single night we go out there together.”
It was another example of a trait that has defined the Knicks throughout their playoff run. Time and again, New York has found a way to stay within striking distance before making winning plays late, something Brunson believes stems from the group’s chemistry and collective belief.
“I don’t want to say calmness but I think we know what we have to do. I think we are a pretty together group. Be able to trust each other and still have each other’s back and know that we just have to keep chipping away, chipping away. It’s just a credit to the mentality that we have as a team.”
Despite the significance of the victory, Brunson made it clear the Knicks are not getting carried away after taking a 1–0 lead in the series.
“But we can’t just be satisfied with that. We have a long way to go and we have a lot of things to do to be better, but happy we came away with a win.”
The comments reflected the mindset that has carried New York to this point. While the Knicks celebrated a historic win and ended a drought that stretched back nearly three decades, their focus quickly shifted to the bigger task ahead, knowing four wins, not one, are needed to lift the championship trophy.
Brunson scored 13 of his game-high 30 points (12-of-31 shooting) in the fourth quarter to charge the Knicks to victory in a heroic performance after exiting the game with a knee injury scare in the first quarter.
Brunson outdueled Victor Wembanyama (26 points on 6-of-21 shooting, 12 rebounds, three blocks) in rough shooting nights for both superstars.
Meanwhile, De’Aaron Fox went scoreless in the fourth quarter to end with seven points in a dour showing from the All-Star guard, who’s in the first year of a four-year, $223 million (AUD $312 million) deal.
It was a rollercoaster from start to finish, with San Antonio controlling long stretches before New York closed with authority when it mattered most.
“One of the great playoff runs in NBA history is still alive, what a winning streak,” commentator Michael Breen said post-match.
The Spurs set the tone early, finishing the first quarter ahead 27-19 behind a strong opening burst from Dylan Harper, the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper. Victor Wembanyama helped establish early control with his presence on both ends, finishing the opening quarter with five points, a steal and a block, while Stephon Castle and Julian Champagnie also chipped in as the supporting cast found rhythm.
The standout of the opening quarter came from the bench. Dylan Harper delivered an instant spark with 10 points on a perfect 3-for-3 start, including an and-one finish that swung momentum firmly San Antonio’s way.
It was a far more disrupted start for the Knicks, who began brightly before Brunson’s night took a worrying turn after an accidental collision led to a knee issue. He briefly left for the locker room before returning, but the rhythm was already broken. The second quarter only added to the chaos, with Brunson later appearing to roll his ankle on a drive after contact with Spurs centre Luke Kornet. The frustration boiled over, with ESPN’s broadcast noting, “Jalen Brunson is screaming at Scott Foster!”
Despite everything, New York stayed within reach. San Antonio went into half-time with control of the tempo, but the Knicks refused to fade, with Karl-Anthony Towns stepping up in key stretches to keep them alive. He finished with a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds, carrying much of the offensive load while Brunson battled through.
Brunson’s own night remained a grind through the first half, where he shot 5-for-15 for 11 points while dealing with multiple knocks and stops in momentum. Across the floor, Julian Champagnie was outstanding, leading all scorers with 15 points on 5-of-6 from three, while Harper added 12 points and six rebounds in a breakout showing.
San Antonio still looked in control midway through the third quarter, stretching the lead to 14 points, but couldn’t capitalise while Wembanyama spent time on the bench. The game swung again late in the period, and by three-quarter time it was locked at 76–76.
That set the stage for Brunson’s takeover.
After a quiet first half, he erupted for 19 second-half points, hitting clutch shot after clutch shot to drag New York over the line. He finished with 30 points, three rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes, delivering when the game was on the line.
Josh Hart also played a crucial supporting role, scoring just three points but impacting the game everywhere else with 14 rebounds, six assists and four steals, highlighting the strength of the Villanova connection alongside Brunson.
For the Spurs, Wembanyama still produced 26 points and 12 rebounds, but it came on an inefficient 7-for-21 shooting night with six turnovers. San Antonio also struggled from deep, hitting just 11-of-43 from three at 26 per cent, while the Knicks managed 31 per cent.
In the end, it came down to execution in the biggest moments, and this time it was Brunson who made the difference as New York claimed a statement road win.
A late talking point came when a fan ran onto the court, briefly filming himself surrounded by confused players before security quickly intervened and escorted him off the floor.
It wasn’t the only fan incident of the night. After the final buzzer, while Brunson was speaking with official Scott Foster, a fan appeared to get under his skin, prompting his teammates to step in and move the situation away from him.
Game two of the NBA finals will be on Saturday, June 6, 10:30am AEDT with the Spurs looking to even out the series.
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