The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 on Wednesday night in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals in San Antonio, Texas.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 30 points, overcoming an early exit in the first quarter due to knee and ankle issues.
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Brunson scored 13 points in the final seven and a half minutes, breaking an 86-86 tie with a personal 8-0 run.
After San Antonio briefly took a 95-94 lead, Brunson hit a corner three-pointer to put New York ahead for good.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson praised Brunson's performance, calling him a phenomenal player who is difficult to contain.
"He's a tremendous player that's skilled, picks his spots, knows his angles, shoots contested shots without being sped up," Johnson said.
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The victory marks the Knicks' 12th consecutive postseason win, a feat previously achieved only by the 1999 San Antonio Spurs and the 2017 Golden State Warriors.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns expressed relief when Brunson returned after the injury scare.
"When we all saw him limp off, we were worried not only because he's Jalen Brunson but more because he's our brother," Towns said.
New York has now overcome double-digit deficits three times this postseason, including a 22-point deficit against Cleveland and a 12-point deficit against Philadelphia.
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"We have to control the things that we can control," Brunson said. "We continue to find a way and just kind of keep chipping away."
