Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby explained the New York Knicks' comeback victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Brunson was decisive in the fourth quarter despite a difficult shooting night, highlighting the locker room's confidence and the team's ability to keep fighting until finding a way back. Anunoby was crucial with his three-pointers down the stretch, summing up his impact through aggression and confidence.
Q. Obviously you've spent a lot of time with Josh. What do you think he has that allows him to impact the game without scoring?
JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah, that's just what he is. He's always been like that. I can't explain it. He just has a gift for doing things like that, and especially in crucial moments. That's a credit to what he is as a player.
Q. You've come back in so many games. Your resilience has been the story of the season. Is there a calm or familiarity in that situation when you're behind in the second half?
JALEN BRUNSON: I don't want to say calm, but I think we know what we need to do. I think we're a pretty united group. We're able to trust each other, keep having each other's backs, and know that we just have to keep chipping away, chipping away. That's a credit to the mentality we have as a team.
But we can't just settle for that. We have a long way to go and a lot of things we need to do to be better, but we're happy we got the win.
Q. In that fourth quarter, you had been struggling a bit. Does something change or is it just about continuing to do what you do?
JALEN BRUNSON: I guess it's a mix of both, but it's about continuing to trust in the things I've worked on my whole life. I think my teammates have confidence in me, and that gives me an extra boost too.
Like I said, we're out there together and no matter what happens, we're going to fight for each other.
Q. OG, 12 points in the fourth quarter, a couple of huge three-pointers, one of them off the dribble over Wembanyama. What allowed you to get going there at the end of the game?
OG ANUNOBY: Just my teammates finding me and being aggressive, being ready to shoot, shooting with confidence, and that's it.
Q. On the NBA Cup, do you think there are more similarities or differences in this game? Could you elaborate, please?
JALEN BRUNSON: The atmosphere is somewhat similar. Obviously, now we're playing at home and away, but I think no matter where you put that team, the San Antonio Spurs are going to come out ready to play.
That speaks well of their culture, their coaching staff, and the players they have there. There's nothing too different, but they compete always.
Q. I think at one point you were 5 of 18 from the field and yet you really imposed your will on the game in the fourth quarter. Where does that strength and composure come from on a night when you're struggling with your shot to still have that kind of impact in the fourth quarter?
JALEN BRUNSON: I think it starts with my confidence. It comes from my work ethic.
I think, most importantly, knowing that we're on the road and knowing that my teammates have my back, that's the biggest thing in an environment like this. The confidence they have in me and the confidence I have in them has brought us to this point. I mean, I'm very grateful for them every night we go out there together.
Q. For you, finally playing your first Finals game, doing your ritual, I know you always like to touch the floor when you come out on the court… What goes through your head compared to your last run with Toronto?
OG ANUNOBY: Just being grateful to be out there. I'm grateful to play with my teammates, with the coaches. Just enjoying the moment, you know.
Q. Last year you were down 20 twice in the second round against the Celtics and came back to win. You were down 22 in the first game against the Cavaliers and came back to win. Today, down 14 in the third quarter and you came back. Why do you feel comfortable when you're that far behind? What's the power in that?
JALEN BRUNSON: It's a position we obviously don't want to be in, but we always have a next-play mentality. We have to control the things we can control and our team is going to have runs. Things are going to happen and somehow we respond.
We keep finding a way and we just keep chipping away. We knew one play wasn't going to get us all the way back, but we kept chipping away.
Q. In the fourth quarter, did you feel like the Spurs were out of energy coming off a tough series and that you guys had rest? Did that give you a spark in the quarter?
JALEN BRUNSON: Not necessarily. It's a mix of us playing good defense and obviously we had a little bit of luck too.
But they come out ready to play more than any other team we've faced, so we have the utmost respect for them. We know we have to be ready for Game 2. We just found a way to make plays within the game.
Q. Mike mentioned this wasn't your best game. He didn't feel like you guys played your best game. I expected the same from the Spurs. In the stretch of the fourth quarter, getting close to the two-minute mark, you guys had gone a while without scoring and you had that tip-out on the offensive rebound, reset the ball, and the three came. Did you think it would take an ugly, broken-up play like that to get it done in the decisive moment?
JALEN BRUNSON: That goes back to having each other's backs. You never know what's going to happen. Being together on the court, plays are going to happen and you can't really script what's going to occur. Just make sure everyone is out there playing for each other.
We're all going to have moments, I think, when we have confidence in our teammates and things like that. And the way he was playing in the fourth quarter, the defensive style we have as a team, we just kept staying together. I know I sound like a broken record, but it really made the difference.
Q. At the end of the game, you made that big shot against Devin Vassell, but before you made it you rejected the screen from Mikal. Why did you reject that screen?
JALEN BRUNSON: It was more instinct. Being able to read a little bit how the defender's body was moving and read the play. I wasn't trying to decide beforehand what I was going to do. It was just something I read and went with it.