SAN ANTONIO. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals, completing a spectacular comeback after trailing by 14 points in the second half. Led by a brilliant Jalen Brunson, who scored 30 points, the Knicks secured home-court advantage and extended their playoff winning streak to 12 consecutive victories.
The victory puts New York just three wins away from capturing its first NBA championship since 1973 and marks the first Game 1 loss in an NBA Finals for the Spurs.
The start of the game showed a very aggressive Knicks team. The squad directed by Mike Brown took an early 14-7 lead, but San Antonio reacted quickly, capitalizing on several offensive mistakes by the visitors and strung together a 20-13 run to take control of the game.
Parity dominated much of the first half. Both teams exchanged leads constantly, and the second quarter featured as many as six lead changes. However, the Spurs closed out the second period more effectively and went into halftime with a 55-48 advantage, powered by Victor Wembanyama's interior work and the accuracy of their role players.
San Antonio maintained its momentum after the break. Midway through the third quarter, the Texans appeared to have the game under control after reaching a 14-point lead. Wembanyama was imposing his presence near the rim, and the Spurs seemed headed toward a victory that would keep their home-court advantage intact.
But then came the reaction that completely changed the game.
New York found defensive rhythm, elevated intensity on passing lanes, and began punishing every local mistake. The Knicks closed the third quarter with a dominant 22-9 run that erased all of San Antonio's lead and left the score tied at 76 heading into the fourth quarter.
That's when Jalen Brunson took over.
https://youtu.be/NAR216YbUxk?si=MFjN3zrQ93dC9Wg-
The Knicks star assumed all offensive responsibility in the decisive stretch. Brunson scored 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and was the primary reason New York took control of the game when pressure was at its peak.
Meanwhile, San Antonio began to lose offensive fluidity. The home team managed only 19 points in the entire fourth quarter, just six more than Brunson alone scored during that period.
The decisive moment came with just over two minutes remaining. Wembanyama converted two free throws to give the Spurs the lead back (95-94), but the response was immediate. Brunson punished them on the next possession with a corner three-pointer that gave New York control for good.
From there, the Knicks closed out the game with a devastating 11-0 run, leaving San Antonio without an answer and silencing the Frost Bank Center.
Beyond Brunson's 30 points, Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 18 points and 12 rebounds, while OG Anunoby added 17 points for a Knicks team that continues to show extraordinary form in these playoffs.
For the San Antonio Spurs, Victor Wembanyama posted a double-double of 26 points and 12 rebounds in his NBA Finals debut, though he later acknowledged he wasn't at his best after finishing the night shooting 6-for-21 from the field. Stephon Castle contributed 17 points, and both Julian Champagnie and Dylan Harper added 16 each.
The victory makes the New York Knicks just the seventh team in NBA history to string together at least 12 consecutive playoff wins and the third to accomplish it within the same postseason. Additionally, it breaks one of San Antonio's most striking historical statistics—the Spurs had won all six previous Game 1s they played in NBA Finals.
Now the pressure shifts. The Knicks have already seized home-court advantage and will travel to Game 2 with the possibility of returning to New York with a 2-0 series lead. The Spurs, meanwhile, are forced to respond quickly to prevent the series from taking a very dangerous turn.