Jalen Brunson scores 30 as Knicks take Game 1 of Finals over Spurs
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Game 1 lived up to the billing thanks to a terrific performance from its biggest star, Jalen Brunson.
The San Antonio Spurs couldn’t hold on to the Knicks in Game 1, and New York took a 1-0 lead in the series with a 105-95 victory.
The Knicks have won 12 consecutive postseason games. The Knicks’ 12-game postseason winning streak tied the 1999 Spurs for second all-time.
Only the 2017 Warriors won more in ’15, putting New York within reach.
Most Knicks fans had “win on the road” on their championship bingo card. Their team did not disappoint.
KNICKS FANS SENT NYC TO CHAOS AFTER THE FRANCHISE REACHED THEIR FIRST NBA FINALS SINCE 1999
Jalen Brunson attacks the basket during the Knicks’ 105-95 Game 1 victory over the Spurs in the NBA Finals (Photo: Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo: Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images))
Brunson held off Victor Wembanyama to help New York outlast the young and inexperienced Spurs.
Game 1 delivered drama early.
In the first quarter, Brunson left the game with an apparent leg injury, frequently grimacing and favoring his right knee.
The scare on Brunson’s knee was short-lived.
After a brief visit to the locker room, Brunson quickly returned to the bench and eventually re-entered the game.
The Knicks came out of the first half slow and fell behind by 13 points in the third quarter. But New York never seemed shaken.
Already a postseason hero, Brunson took several tough hits throughout the night, including a minor ankle replacement following a collision with Luke Kornet. Concerns about his health disappeared as the match progressed. Brunson brought on reinforcements in the second half, attacking the Spurs defense and showing little sign that his knee was bothering him.
San Antonio relied heavily on three-point shooting but had little success. Spurs were able to score in only 11 of their 43 attempts from behind the arc.
Despite boasting a 7-foot freak on Wembanyama, San Antonio repeatedly fired from deep and came up empty.
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson struggles for a rebound against Spurs star Victor Wembanyama in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals. (Photo: Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo: Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images))
Brunson eventually returned to hero form, leading the Knicks with 30 points and taking over in the fourth quarter when it mattered most.
Social media quickly lit up with praise for the Knicks star. “Brunson is the best fourth quarter player I have ever seen,” one reaction read, echoing the sentiments of fans watching one of his postseason masterpieces.
KNICKS RALLY IN THE SECOND HALF TO WIN GAME 3, EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS HOPES WILL REMAIN ALIVE
The Knicks’ supporting cast stood by their stars.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson stands up to take a shot against the San Antonio Spurs during Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. (Photo: Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo: Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images))
“Most of the night wasn’t my night. But we just kept chipping away. We kept finding a way,” Brunson said after his MVP-worthy performance.
“Our chemistry, we know 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 hit in Game 1.
The combination of Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby reached 35 points. New York’s bench also made significant contributions.
José Alvarado played important minutes while Brunson evaluated in the locker room. Landry Shamet added 13 points off the bench, while Miles McBride scored 7 points in 11 minutes.
The Spurs missed out on more production from De’Aaron Fox, who had an outstanding performance (seven points), forcing San Antonio to lean on its young core.
Wembanyama, one of the major stars of this series, had his usual disruptive presence in the defensive paint but struggled to make a bigger impact elsewhere. He currently leads San Antonio with 26 points.
At the end of the day, the lights appeared too bright for the Spurs, and the Knicks took a 1-0 lead into Game 2 of the Finals.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
New York City will have a lot to celebrate after the Knicks opened the finals with a clear win.
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com Follow on /x: @alejandroaveela
