Knicks beat Spurs in NBA Finals Game 1

The New York Knicks opened the 2026 NBA Finals with a 105-95 road win over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, June 3, at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. Jalen Brunson scored 30 points, and New York closed on an 11-0 run to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Spurs led by 14 in the third quarter before the Knicks rallied. Victor Wembanyama finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds in his first NBA Finals game. ### How did New York win after falling behind by 14? San Antonio led 76-62 in the third quarter before New York turned the game with its defense and late shot-making. The Knicks outscored the Spurs 29-19 in the fourth quarter and held San Antonio scoreless over the final stretch as the game slipped away. Brunson carried the closing offense after struggling early. NBA.com said he scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, and ESPN reported he finished with 30 points as the Knicks extended their playoff winning streak and stole home-court advantage in the series. ### What did Brunson do through the injury scares and poor shooting? Brunson fought through an uneven night before taking over late. The Athletic reported that he played through injuries and poor shooting to lead New York past San Antonio in the opener, while other game coverage showed he started cold before finding his rhythm in the final period. Yahoo’s game report said Brunson and the Knicks overcame early offensive struggles, and ESPN’s recap said he finished with 30 points despite a difficult shooting night for long stretches. The game turned when New York kept getting stops and Brunson kept getting to his spots in the half court. ### What did Wembanyama and the Spurs get from Game 1? Wembanyama opened the Finals with 26 points and 12 rebounds, according to NBA.com’s series page. San Antonio controlled much of the first half and built its biggest lead in the third quarter, but the offense stalled late as New York’s defense tightened. The Spurs entered the series with a 62-20 regular-season record and home-court advantage. ABC7 New York framed the matchup as another New York-San Antonio Finals meeting, this time with Wembanyama in the role once occupied by Tim Duncan for the Spurs’ earlier title teams. ### Why was there so much attention in New York even with the game in Texas? New York’s Game 1 atmosphere extended beyond San Antonio. Patch reported that the watch party outside Madison Square Garden went ahead after an earlier ban was reversed, giving Knicks fans in Manhattan a public gathering point for the opener. ABC7 New York also tracked the local buildup around the game, including watch-party plans and broadcast details. The Knicks are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 and are chasing the franchise’s first championship in 53 years, according to ABC7’s coverage. ### What happens next in the series? Game 2 is scheduled for Friday, June 5, at 8:30 p.m. ET in San Antonio, according to NBA.com’s Finals schedule. The series then shifts to New York for Game 3 on Monday, June 8, and Game 4 on Wednesday, June 10. The NBA’s official Finals page lists the remaining if-necessary games for June 13, June 16 and June 19. New York takes a 1-0 series lead into Friday’s game, with Brunson and Wembanyama again at the center of the matchup.