The New York Knicks erased a 14-point second-half deficit and closed on an 11-0 run to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 on Wednesday night, taking a 1-0 lead in the NBA Finals.
Jalen Brunson scored 30 points and delivered his strongest stretch in the fourth quarter, finishing with 13 points in the final period as New York seized control late. Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points and 12 rebounds, while OG Anunoby contributed 17 points for the Knicks, who extended their playoff winning streak to 12 games.
San Antonio appeared poised to protect its home court after building a double-digit lead in the third quarter. The Spurs led by as many as 14 points before New York mounted another comeback, tying the game by the end of the period and setting up a tense final quarter.
Victor Wembanyama finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks for San Antonio, but the Spurs struggled offensively down the stretch. San Antonio shot poorly in the fourth quarter and committed key turnovers as the Knicks pulled away in the closing minutes.
Brunson’s late scoring burst proved decisive. After battling through a difficult shooting night early and briefly dealing with knee and ankle issues, the All-Star guard hit critical shots in the final minutes, including a go-ahead 3-pointer and a jumper that helped seal the victory.
The victory gave New York home-court advantage in the series and moved the franchise three wins away from its first NBA championship since 1973. The Knicks also became the first team to defeat the Spurs in a Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Game 2 is scheduled for Friday night in San Antonio before the series shifts to New York.
