Camille Naredo

Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 3, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Juan Ocampo, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 3: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 3, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE  Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Juan Ocampo / NBAE / Getty Images / Getty Images via AFP)

Article (news)

2026 NBA Finals - New York Knicks v San Antonio Spurs

Agence France-Presse

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17805438337771000000617.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 3, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Juan Ocampo, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP"/>Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 3, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Juan Ocampo, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP</div>SAN ANTONIO (UPDATED) -- Jalen Brunson scored 30 points as the New York Knicks erased a 14-point second-half deficit to stun the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 and take a 1-0 lead in the NBA Finals on Wednesday.Knicks talisman Brunson shrugged off an early injury scare to inspire a magnificent fightback and give New York a precious early advantage in the best-of-seven series, with game two set for Friday.Brunson upstaged Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama with a masterful clutch fourth quarter display, scoring 13 points in the final frame as the Knicks closed out a win to silence an expectant home crowd in Texas.The game was tied with just over two minutes to go, but Brunson marshalled the Knicks brilliantly and a late burst of scoring put the game out of the Spurs&#x27; reach.&quot;Just sticking together -- it wasn&#x27;t really our night and wasn&#x27;t really my night most of the night but we kept finding a way, kept chipping away,&quot; Brunson said afterwards.The Knicks playmaker said the team&#x27;s &quot;chemistry&quot; had helped them climb out of their 14-point hole in the third quarter.&quot;Just knowing we have each other&#x27;s back -- there&#x27;s a lot of things we could have done better, but I think our togetherness was really the biggest difference,&quot; added Brunson, who left the court in the first quarter with a knee injury before returning.Brunson was one of four Knicks to finish in double figures, with Karl-Anthony Towns adding 18 points, OG Anunoby 17 and Landry Shamet 13.Wembanyama led San Antonio&#x27;s scoring with 26 points but had a poor shooting night, making just 6-of-21 from the field while pulling down 12 rebounds with three blocks.&quot;I was bad tonight, it&#x27;s not more complicated than that,&quot; said Wembanyama, who denied nerves had been a factor in the Spurs defeat.&quot;It definitely felt special for sure, but nothing close that could be an excuse,&quot; Wembanyama said. &quot;It was not a factor in our performance.&quot;Stephon Castle had 17 points and Dylan Harper and Julian Champagnie added 16 points apiece.<div> </div><div>- Brunson injury scare -</div>An absorbing first half saw the Knicks make a bright start to take a 14-7 lead before San Antonio hit their stride with a 9-0 run to claim their first lead of the game at 16-14.A pair of three-pointers from Champagnie helped the Spurs suddenly accelerate into a 10-point lead with two minutes remaining in the first quarter.The Knicks were then given a huge scare in the final two minutes of the first when Brunson left the game with a worrying-looking knee injury sustained after a collision with San Antonio&#x27;s Harrison Barnes.Brunson returned to the game in the second quarter, and although there was another injury scare when he appeared to hurt an ankle after a layup, he remained in the game to play the decisive role.After trailing 55-48 at half-time, the Knicks were in danger of conceding an insurmountable lead as the Spurs built a 14-point advantage in the third quarter.But they were handed a lifeline when Wembanyama limped off after taking a knock to the knee, seizing that opportunity to cut the lead to single digits.The Knicks sustained that momentum when Wembanyama re-entered the game, and the score was tied at 76-76 heading to the fourth.A pair of threes from Anunoby helped New York take an 86-81 lead, and soon the Knicks were eight points clear at 94-86 after a sublime Brunson layup.Yet San Antonio hit back with a Wembanyama three and a layup, and the Spurs edged into a 95-94 lead with just over two minutes left.But Brunson&#x27;s three-pointer put the Knicks back in front at 97-95 and the Knicks rattled in eight more unanswered points to claim the win.

The New York Knicks erased a 14-point third-quarter deficit to beat Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 in game one of the NBA Finals on Wednesday.

The New York Knicks erased a 14-point third-quarter deficit to beat Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 in game one of the NBA Finals on Wednesday.

NBA: Knicks rally to beat Spurs in Finals Game 1 thriller

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NBA: Knicks rally to beat Spurs in Finals Game 1 thriller

Agence France-Presse

Published June 04, 2026 11:31 AM PHT

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Updated June 04, 2026 11:59 AM PHT

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