Jalen Brunson shakes off first-quarter knee scare, scores 30 as Knicks steal Finals Game 1 from Spurs

Game 1 lived up to the billing acknowledgment to a dynamite show from its biggest star, Jalen Brunson.

The San Antonio Spurs couldn't bent with the Knicks successful Game 1, arsenic New York took a 1-0 bid pb with a clutch 105-95 victory.

The Knicks person present won 12 consecutive postseason games. The Knicks' 12-game postseason winning streak is tied with the 1999 Spurs for 2nd all-time.

Only the 2017 Warriors won much astatine 15, putting New York wrong reach.

Most Knicks fans had "winning connected the road" connected their title bingo card. Their squad did not disappoint.

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Jalen Brunson attacks the handbasket during the Knicks' 105-95 Game 1 triumph implicit the Spurs successful the NBA Finals (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images))

Brunson roseate to the juncture against Victor Wembanyama, helping New York outlast the young and inexperienced Spurs.

Game 1 delivered play early.

In the archetypal quarter, Brunson exited with an evident limb injury, often grimacing and favoring his close knee.

The scare implicit Brunson's genu was short-lived.

After a little travel to the locker room, Brunson rapidly returned to the seat and yet re-entered the game.

The Knicks came retired of halftime sluggishly, falling down by 13 points successful the 3rd quarter. But New York ne'er looked rattled.

Brunson, already a postseason hero, took respective hard knocks passim the night, including a insignificant ankle tweak aft colliding with Luke Kornet. Any concerns astir his wellness faded arsenic the crippled wore on. Brunson turned connected the boosters successful the 2nd half, attacking the Spurs' defence and showing small motion that his genu was bothering him.

San Antonio relied heavy connected the three-point shot, but with small success. The Spurs connected connected conscionable 11 of 43 attempts from beyond the arc.

Despite boasting a 7-foot-4 freak successful Wembanyama, San Antonio repeatedly fired from heavy and came up empty.

New York Knicks halfway Mitchell Robinson battles for rebound against Spurs prima 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 yet returned to heroic form, starring the Knicks with 30 points and taking implicit the 4th fourth erstwhile it mattered most.

Social media rapidly lit up with praise for the Knicks star. "Brunson is the champion fourth-quarter performer I've ever seen," 1 absorption read, echoing the sentiment of fans watching different clutch postseason masterpiece.

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The Knicks' supporting formed delivered alongside their star.

New York Knicks defender Jalen Brunson rises for a changeable against the San Antonio Spurs during Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals astatine Frost Bank Center. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images))

"Wasn't truly my nighttime astir of the night. But we conscionable kept chipping away. Kept uncovering a way," Brunson said aft his MVP-worthy performance.

"Our chemistry, knowing that we person each other's backs," Brunson said erstwhile asked astir the team's comeback from a 13-point deficit.

"I'll beryllium alright," Brunson added aft getting banged up successful Game 1.

Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby combined for 35 points. New York's seat backcourt besides made cardinal contributions.

José Alvarado played important minutes portion Brunson was successful the locker country being evaluated. Landry Shamet added 13 points disconnected the bench, portion Miles McBride scored 7 points successful 11 minutes.

The Spurs missed much accumulation from De'Aaron Fox, who turned successful an unremarkable show (seven points), leaving San Antonio to thin heavy connected its young core.

Wembanyama, 1 of the marquee stars of this series, was his accustomed disruptive beingness successful the overgarment defensively but struggled to marque a larger interaction elsewhere. He inactive led San Antonio with 26 points.

At the extremity of the day, the lights appeared excessively agleam for the Spurs, and the Knicks caput into Game 2 with a 1-0 pb successful the Finals.

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New York City volition person plentifulness to observe aft the Knicks opened the Finals with a connection win.

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