Knicks strike first in NBA Finals, rallying past Spurs in Game 1 classic
SAN ANTONIO — The New York Knicks' improbable postseason march added another chapter Tuesday night, and this one came with a title series twist. In a game that flipped like a switch after halftime, the Knicks erased an early double-digit deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 at a stunned Frost Bank Center, taking a 1-0 lead in the NBA Finals. The victory extended New York's winning streak to nine games — a run that began in the Eastern Conference semifinals and now has them within three wins of a championship.
The first half belonged entirely to the Spurs. San Antonio sprinted out to a 27-19 lead after the first quarter, powered by Victor Wembanyama's interior presence and a stifling defense that limited the Knicks to just 36.8% shooting in the opening period. The Spurs extended their advantage to as many as 14 points early in the second quarter before New York finally found traction. Jalen Brunson, quiet in the first 12 minutes, began to assert himself, scoring 11 points in the second quarter as the Knicks chipped away. A Josh Hart buzzer-beating putback cut the Spurs' halftime lead to 55-48, but more importantly, it signaled a shift in momentum.
That shift became a full-scale avalanche in the second half. New York outscored San Antonio 28-21 in the third quarter, finally seizing control when Hart and Brunson combined for 13 points and the Knicks' defense forced the Spurs into a disastrous 3-for-17 shooting performance from the field. The Spurs, who had shot 47.7% in the first half, managed just 30.2% after intermission. Wembanyama finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds, but he was the only Spur to score more than 14, and San Antonio's supporting cast — De'Aaron Fox had just 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting — went silent when it mattered most.
Brunson led all scorers with 30 points, adding 7 rebounds and 4 assists while shooting 11-of-24 from the field. Hart was everywhere, posting a stat line of 15 rebounds, 6 assists, and 10 points that belied his impact. The Knicks shot 41.5% from the field overall and 30.6% from three — both modest numbers, but far superior to the Spurs' nightmarish 36.0% from the floor and 25.6% from beyond the arc. New York also dished 20 assists to San Antonio's 16, a telling margin for a team often criticized for isolation-heavy offense.
For the Spurs, the numbers tell a grim story of missed opportunities. Despite grabbing 54 rebounds — five more than the Knicks — they could not convert second chances, shooting just 28.6% on putbacks. Wembanyama's 26-12 double-double was a silver lining, but his four turnovers and the Spurs' total of 14 giveaways proved costly. San Antonio also attempted 14 fewer free throws than New York, a disparity that highlighted the Knicks' aggression in the paint.
The result sends a clear message: the Knicks are not satisfied just to be here. After a regular season in which they won 53 games — nine fewer than the top-seeded Spurs — New York has now won eight straight road playoff games, including two in San Antonio. Game 2 remains in Texas, but the Knicks have stolen home-court advantage and shown they can weather an early storm. For the Spurs, the adjustment is urgent: their offense ground to a halt against New York's switching defense, and Brunson's pick-and-roll mastery poses problems that no single defender — not even Wembanyama — can solve alone. The series has its first pivot point, and the Knicks have already turned the page.