NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
Game 1 did the trick thanks to a dynamite performance from its biggest star, Jalen Brunson.
The San Antonio Spurs couldn’t hang with the Knicks in Game 1, as New York took a 1-0 lead in the series with a 105-95 victory.
The Knicks have won 12 consecutive postseason games. The Knicks’ 12-game postseason winning streak is tied with the 1999 Spurs for second all-time.
Only the 2017 Warriors have more than 15 wins, making New York within reach.
Most Knicks fans have “won on the road” on their championship bingo card. Their team did not disappoint.
KNICKS FANS SENT NYC TO THEIR HEADS AFTER FRANCHISE REACHED FIRST NBA PLAYOFFS SINCE 1999.
Jalen Brunson drives the basket during the Knicks’ 105-95 Game 1 win over the Spurs in the NBA Finals (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images))
Brunson stood up for Victor Wembanyama, helping New York get past the young and inexperienced Spurs.
Game 1 brought the drama early.
In the first quarter, Brunson came out with a leg injury, he was still sore and loved his right knee.
The fear over Brunson’s knee was short-lived.
After a short trip to the locker room, Brunson quickly returned to the bench and finally re-entered the game.
The Knicks came out of halftime sluggish, trailing by 13 points in the third quarter. But New York didn’t look confused.
Brunson, already a postseason hero, took some serious hits throughout the night, including a sprained ankle after colliding with Luke Kornet. Any concern for his health faded as the game progressed. Brunson turned on the boosters in the second half, attacked the Spurs defense and showed little sign that his knee was bothering him.
San Antonio relied heavily on three-point shooting, but had little success. The Spurs connected on 11 of 43 attempts from beyond the arc.
Despite boasting a 7-foot-4 freak in Wembanyama, San Antonio repeatedly blew up deep and came up empty.
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson fights back against Spurs star Victor Wembanyama in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals. (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images))
Brunson finally returned to championship form, leading the Knicks with 30 points and taking over the fourth quarter when it mattered most.
Social media was quick to praise the Knicks star. “Brunson is the best quarterback I’ve ever seen,” one reaction read, echoing the sentiments of fans watching another clutch postseason masterpiece.
KNICKS RALLY IN SECOND PART TO WIN GAME 3, EASTERN CONFERENCE FANS HOPE SUSPICION LIVES
The Knick’s supporting cast was brought along with their star.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson goes up for a shot against the San Antonio Spurs during Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images))
“It wasn’t really my night all night. But we kept coming out. We kept finding a way,” Brunson said after his MVP-worthy performance.
“Our chemistry, we know we have each other’s backs,” Brunson said when asked about the team’s comeback from a 13-point deficit.
“I’ll be fine,” Brunson added after the Game 1 hit.
Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby combined for 35 points. The New York bench also made important contributions.
José Alvarado played significant minutes while Brunson was in the locker room being evaluated. Landry Shamet added 13 points off the bench, and Miles McBride had seven points in 11 minutes.
The Spurs missed more production from De’Aaron Fox, who had an incredible performance (seven points), leaving San Antonio to rely heavily on its young core.
Wembanyama, one of the stars of the series, was used to disrupting the paint defensively but struggled to make big plays elsewhere. He still leads San Antonio with 26 points.
At the end of the day, the lights seemed to shine brighter for the Spurs, and the Knicks entered Game 2 with a 1-0 lead in the finals.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
New York City will have plenty to celebrate after the Knicks opened the Finals with a statement win.
Send us your comments: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow on X: @alejandroaveela
