New York's winning streak has continued and they struck first in the NBA Finals.
Jalen Brunson scored 30 points, Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, and the Knicks erased a 14-point second-half deficit to beat San Antonio 105-95 in Game 1 of the finals on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).
OG Anunoby had 17 points for New York — who have won 12 consecutive games, just the third team to do that in a single post-season. The other two — the Spurs in 1999 and Golden State in 2017 — became NBA champions.
"He's (Brunson) a gamer, man," Knicks coach Mike Brown said.
"In the biggest moments, he shows up. That's what MVPs are supposed to do."
13 in the 4th quarter.
— NBA (@NBA) June 4, 2026
30 for the game.
JALEN BRUNSON STEERS NEW YORK TO VICTORY IN GAME 1 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rvHkihKBAC
And the Knicks, who finished on an 11-0 run, made a little more history. They became the first team to beat San Antonio in a Game 1 of the title series — the Spurs were 6-0 in those — and this is also the first time they have ever trailed a finals before the finish.
"We have a long way to go ... I think we know what we have to do," Brunson said.
"I think we are a pretty together group. Be able to trust each other and still have each other's back and know that we just have to keep chipping away, chipping away. It's just a credit to the mentality that we have as a team."
Victor Wembanyama had 26 points and 12 rebounds for San Antonio, but he shot six for 21 from the field in his finals debut. Stephon Castle scored 17, while Julian Champagnie and Dylan Harper each had 16 for the Spurs.
Game 2 is Friday in San Antonio.
"I was bad tonight," said giant Frenchman Wembanyama.
"It's not more complicated than that ... I think we let that one go."
Former Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was at the game, as were franchise legends David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Bruce Bowen.
So were Knicks great Patrick Ewing and the world's most recognisable New York fans: Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan, Ben Stiller, Fat Joe and Timothee Chalamet.
The Knicks led 14-7 early, the Spurs answered with a 20-13 run to go up by 10 and eventually take a 55-48 lead into halftime.
San Antonio pushed the lead out to 14 midway through the third quarter before New York stormed back, finishing the period on a 22-9 run and sending the game into the fourth tied at 76.
Their lead was eight midway through the final period, but Brunson made a corner three when trailling 95-94 to put the Knicks on top for good.
