Knicks silence San Antonio crowd, override Wembanyama in Finals opener

Jalen Brunson delivered 13 fourth-quarter points as the Knicks executed an 11-0 closing run to secure a 105-95 victory over the Spurs at the Frost Bank Center.

Photo: AFP

The NBA Finals opened with an explosive mixture of psychological warfare, relentless physical defense, and high-stakes drama. The New York Knicks erased a 14-point second-half deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 at the Frost Bank Center, securing a 1-0 series lead and immediately seizing home-court advantage in the championship round.

The pre-game atmosphere in Texas carried an antagonistic edge, as the Spurs’ arena staff chose to play cartoon music during the introduction of the visiting team. The provocation failed to rattle the Knicks, who responded with the poise of an elite unit, extending their remarkable postseason winning streak to 12 consecutive games after dismantling the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers earlier in their run.

San Antonio controlled the early tempo through rookie guard Dylan Harper, who scored 10 points in the opening quarter—the highest scoring output by a rookie in a Finals debut since statistical tracking began in 1998. The Knicks faced serious adversity when star point guard Jalen Brunson momentarily exited to the locker room with a knee injury following a collision with Harrison Barnes. Brunson returned to steady the ship, but a blistering five-of-six shooting display from deep by Julian Champagnie pushed the Spurs ahead 55-48 at halftime.

San Antonio extended their cushion to 62-50 early in the third quarter as New York opened the half shooting a dismal 1-of-10 from the field. However, the Knicks relied on their collective defensive identity to weather the storm. Karl-Anthony Towns anchored the interior, recording a crucial double-double with 18 points, while OG Anunoby added perimeter firepower to level the contest at 76-76 heading into the final 12 minutes.

The fourth quarter evolved into an intense, heavyweight exchange. Victor Wembanyama, making his Finals debut after capturing the Western Conference MVP award, attempted to carry the hosts by scoring 11 of his 26 points in the final frame. Yet, the physical defensive game plan anchored by Josh Hart—who recorded 14 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals—completely disrupted Wembanyama's efficiency, holding the French phenom to an inefficient 6-of-21 from the floor.

With San Antonio clinging to a 95-94 lead with just over three minutes remaining, Brunson took absolute command of the game. The Knicks' star guard scored 13 of his game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter, highlighted by a critical corner three-pointer. New York closed out the contest on an unanswered 11-0 run, completely shutting down the execution of the Spurs. The victory moves the Knicks just three wins away from ending a 53-year championship drought, with Game 2 scheduled for Friday night back in San Antonio.