Karl-Anthony Towns had some extra inspiration behind his stellar performance that helped lead the New York Knicks to a comeback win in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
In an interview on ESPN's "Inside the NBA" studio show, Kenny Smith asked Towns what it felt like to play in his first NBA Finals.
"I don't know what it was, but I just felt a calm and a peace that had to be coming from the woman above," Towns said. "I felt really confident about today, I felt good. I felt like a kid. It was just fun out here. This is something that as a kid, you always dream about. You always just hope to be an NBA player, let alone to be in the NBA Finals. All day, it was just a weird feeling. It felt like I was a kid getting ready to go play in my Saturday AAU games."
He continued, "And in a way, I felt like I was seeing her in the stands. It was fun. And it was really comforting because Game 1 of the NBA Finals, you're told how the pressure's gonna be and everything is. I don't know. It felt like a certain presence was here that was very comforting and very loving."
Who was Karl-Anthony Towns' mom?
Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, better known as Jackie, died in April 2020 of complications resulting from COVID-19. She was 59.
Shortly after her death, Towns posted an emotional YouTube video detailing his mom's monthlong battle with the virus, which had her placed on a ventilator and in a medically induced coma.
Towns had a close bond with his mom, who he described as his biggest supporter throughout his basketball career. He's continued to speak openly about his grief in the years since and has become an advocate for mental health.
Towns' comments after Game 1 of the Finals are further evidence that Cruz-Towns is never far from his mind.
Jalen Brunson has stepped up and delivered for the Knicks whenever they’ve needed him over the years, and that was again the case in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night.
The three-time All-Star point guard overcame a quiet start and a couple of injury scares to push New York past the Spurs with one of his signature scoring barrages down the stretch.
“He was huge for us,” Mike Brown said. “He did what MVP candidates are supposed to do -- we just put the ball in his hands and he got the job done for us.”
Brunson recorded just three first quarter points, missing his next six shots and turning the ball over twice after drilling a three for the first bucket of the game.
He was then forced to the locker room after appearing to injure his right knee when San Antonio’s Harrison Barnes fell on him late in the quarter.
The guard limped to the bench before heading back to the locker room.
Brunson was able to return minutes into the second but then had another scare, as he limped to the bench again after appearing to injure his ankle after he was stepped on by Luke Kornet.
He showed no ill effects after a timeout, though, getting going with three straight buckets.
“You never know what the extent of an injury is,” Josh Hart said. “I knew once he got back in, he would get some blood flowing and I wasn’t worried about it.”
Brunson had just six points in the third quarter but then found his rhythm once again, coming off the bench in a back-and-forth tie game just five minutes into the fourth.
He immediately pushed the Knicks back in front with a personal 8-0 run.
The Spurs responded right back with Victor Wembanyama leading the way, but Brunson counterpunched with one last splurge to put New York’s 12th straight win away.
The former Clutch Player of the Year went 5-for-9 from the field in the frame, scoring 13 of his game-high 30 points to help steal the Game 1 victory on the road.
“He’s our captain for a reason,” Landry Shamet said. “He’s not afraid of the moment.”
“That’s what MVPs are supposed to do,” Brown added. “We put the ball in his hands, we said we were going to live and die with him, and he just went and got it done for us.”
SAN ANTONIO — The Knicks waited 27 years for this night.
Landry Shamet had been waiting all his life.
While several of his teammates struggled with the effects of a lengthy layoff and/or the magnitude of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Shamet delivered another strong performance off the bench, leading all reserves with 13 points (5-of-9 from the field, 3-of-6 3-pointers) in the Knicks’ 105-95 win over the Spurs at Frost Bank Center.
“Landry was huge off the bench,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “Not only [scoring, but] defensively he was huge for us.”
After losing his rotation spot early in the postseason, Shamet has become one of Brown’s most trusted options.
Shamet — who shot under 29 percent from the field and scored a total of 14 points in the first round, before adding three points in the first two games of their second-round series — clinched a place in franchise lore with his game-tying 3-pointer in the all-time comeback in Game 1 against the Cavaliers, then cemented his spot in the rotation by missing just one of his 12 3-pointers in the Eastern Conference finals.
Knicks guard Landry Shamet reacts after scoring during the first quarter of NBA Finals Game 1.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The 29-year-old has now scored at least 12 points in five of his past seven games, while shooting nearly 77 percent on 3-pointers (20-of-26).
“My job is my job, and it remains the same: to be ready for whatever situation or moment you’re asked to step into, and that’s the only thing I think about,” Shamet said. “I’m not thinking about how it started, anything in the past. … We’ll do the whole reflection and look back thing when it’s all said and done.
“We are all focused on our job and how we can best help each other try to get a win.”
Shamet — whose seven postseason appearances rank first on the Knicks — expected to be on this stage long before coming to New York.
He was on a title favorite in the 2020 playoff bubble with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George’s Clippers. He was part of the Brooklyn superteam, whose title dreams died on Kevin Durant’s toes. He played for a top-seeded Phoenix team with Devon Booker and Chris Paul that fell in the second round.
Now, after seeing limited playing time under Tom Thibodeau — averaging just 7.5 minutes during last year’s playoffs — Shamet is making the most of a moment that may be passed down to future generations.
Spurs guard De’aaron Fox tries to steal the ball from New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet during the third quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I’m a believer that everything you go through … prepares you for where you’re ultimately headed in one way or another, even if it doesn’t line up perfectly,” Shamet said. “I’m really grateful for all the highs and lows I’ve been through personally. All I know right now is that I’m here. Like I said, I’m trying not to get too reflective, open up that can of worms of looking back on everything, quite yet.”There’s [three] more wins between me and doing that, that I’m more worried about.
“I definitely think that everything you go through, everything you live through, good and bad, prepares you for where you’re headed.”
Karl-Anthony Towns drives by Victor Wembanyama during Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 3, 2026.
SAN ANTONIO — Karl Anthony-Towns played inspired basketball Wednesday night.
“I don’t know what it was. but I just felt a calm and a peace that I don’t know, had to be coming from the woman above,” he said in an on-court interview after the Knicks rallied from a 14-point deficit to take Game 1 of the NBA Finals, 105-95, over the Spurs at Frost Bank Center.
Towns was referring to his late mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, who died in April 2020 due to complications from COVID-19. The two were incredibly close.
Karl-Anthony Towns drives by Victor Wembanyama during Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 3, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“In a way I felt like I was seeing her in the stands,” he said.
Towns waited his entire life for this opportunity, and he rose to the occasion.
The Knicks big man, who had lost in the conference finals the previous two seasons, was the Knicks’ best player for large stretches of Game 1. Matched up with Spurs burgeoning superstar Victor Wembanyama, Towns more than held his own at both ends of the floor.
Karl-Anthony Towns celebrates during the Knicks’ Game 1 win. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
Towns helped rally the Knicks from 14 points down in the second half and finished his first NBA Finals game with 18 points, 12 rebounds and four assists as the Knicks took the series opener.
“You just trust your work and you trust your decision-making, and I always say [I want to be] aggressive in play-making,” he said.
Towns was terrific in the third quarter. He had a pair of three-point plays, a blocked shot that led to a runout in transition and 10 total points and four rebounds in the period.
Overall, it was what the Knicks have come to expect from Towns in the playoffs. Efficient offensively, a playmaker for his teammates and an improved defender. In his 34 minutes, the Knicks outscored the Spurs by 11 points.
Surprisingly, the Spurs started the game with Wembanyama on Towns, and the Knicks center didn’t back down. He went at Wembanyama. One time, it resulted in an emphatic rejection by the 7-foot-4 unicorn after Towns beat him off the dribble.
But that didn’t stop Towns from attacking the league’s first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year.
“He’s a problem. You put a small guy on him, he’s got a chance to offensive rebound. You put a big guy on him, he’s got a chance to pick-and-pop and go around guys,” coach Mike Brown said. “We have to just keep trying to move him around based on who is guarding him throughout the course of the ballgame, but he was huge for us with his double-double.”
Jalen Brunson was at his best in crunch time. Really, is anyone surprised?
Despite suffering knee and ankle injuries in the first half and starting 1-for-7 from the field, Brunson scored 13 of his game-high 30 points in the final quarter.
His 3-pointer with 1:50 left gave the Knicks the lead for good, and he added a rainbow jumper that pushed the lead to six and iced Game 1.
Zero
De’Aaron Fox missed 10 of 13 shots from the field and was a Spurs weak link.
The former All-Star had been inconsistent in the Western Conference finals, and he struggled in the series opener. His missed jumper in the lane that could’ve pulled the Spurs even with 1:31 left was apropos of his night.
De’Aaron Fox struggles to keep the ball away from Landry Shamet during the Knicks’ 105-95 Game 1 win over the Spurs in the NBA Finals on June 3, 2026 in San Antonio. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
He was a monster on the glass (12 rebounds), efficient on the offensive end (7-of-15 shooting, 18 points) and made plays for his teammates (four assists).
He didn’t back down from the challenge of Victor Wembanyama — he met it head on.
Key stat
10.5: Spurs’ 3-point shooting percentage in the second half. They were 2-for-19.
Quote
“We just have a lot of tough guys, a lot of guys that don’t quit. Everybody in this locker room has faced adversity, and wouldn’t be here if they didn’t. So whenever we’re down, we don’t panic,”
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 03: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs defends against Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks during the third quarter in Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 03, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In December’s Emirates Cup Final, New York fell behind by 11 to the Spurs before rallying to win the fourth quarter 35-19 and steal the victory.
Tonight in Game One of the NBA Finals, the Knicks were considered the underdogs. All the talk was about the Spurs—how they’re the second youngest team to play in the Finals (after the 1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers); how they came in with a 6-0 record in Finals Game Ones; how you can’t spell VICTORY with “Victor.” The one-sidedness of it all was obnoxious.
Well, guess what? The Knickerbockers heard none of that noise. They arrived with two streaks on the line: 53 games without a championship, and an 11-game win streak. Through the first six minutes, they were rolling, but then the shots stopped falling and gradually the Spurs racked up a 14-point lead in the third quarter. And just like in the Cup Final, New York rallied in the fourth frame, limited the Spurs to 19 points, and took the win, 105-95.
Jalen Brunson drew first blood with a triple, Victor Wembanyama answered with a long two, and they were off to the races. We knew the sweat-mop crew would be busy tonight. The Knicks started at the same pace that made Cleveland so dizzy, and San Antonio struggled to keep up and keep their composure. While the home team missed eight of their first 11 shots, the visitors converted half of theirs and seized a seven-point lead. Inside, Wemby played difficult defense, as usual, but Karl-Anthony Towns was unafraid to drive against him.
Meanwhile, Josh Hart was a rebounding machine, hauling in five over his first six minutes. By the end of the game, Josh would have three points on 1-of-5 shooting. Which looks bad. But run your eye across the statline and let the truth reveal itself: 14 rebounds, six assists, four steals, a block, and a team-high +22 in his 27 minutes. His relentless energy rescued this game from the loss column.
After a hot start, the Knicks’ shooting cooled, and too many one-and-dones allowed the Spurs to chip away. Dylan Harper, San Antonio’s terrific rookie, picked off a Brunson pass and scored five straight points, and the Spurs went on a 20-3 run while Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, and Deuce McBride covered for Towns, Hart, and Bridges.
Around the two-minute mark, Harrison Barnes rolled into Brunson’s knee. Cap briefly turned to the bench, looking like he might exit. He didn’t—and Harper hunted him for his 10th point of the game. When coach Mike Brown called a timeout, Jalen retreated to the locker room. That capped a rough quarter for the captain, who had his jersey pulled and was mauled (without a whistle) time and again. Thankfully, due to a brief burst at the end, New York cut its deficit at quarter’s end to 27-19.
In the second period, the Knicks crept back and pushed their way ahead, especially when Wemby sat.
At the eight-minute mark, Brunson returned and New York reduced the differential to one. Two minutes later, Luke Kornet stomped on his ankle, and back to the bench he limped. He raged at Scott “The Extender” Foster as he went. With four-ish minutes on the clock, it was a Brunson floater in traffic (capping eight straight points) that gave them the lead again.
The score see-sawed from there. Bridges and Harper traded two-pointers, and Shamet and Keldon Johnson swapped treys. Jose Alvarado saw more floor time with Brunson needing rest, and he scored seven points in as many minutes, plus grabbed four boards and a steal. Good stuff, Jose! A fellow Brooklyn boy, he talked quite a bit of trash with Julian Champagnie, who had 15 points in the half on 5-of-6 shooting from deep.
The score was tight until Fox stole from Brunson for a pick-six and Champagnie swished from deep. Unable to close the quarter strong, New York went into halftime on the wrong side of 55-48.
The Knicks were fortunate the game was that close, frankly. Despite slightly better shooting and dominating the paint (26-18), they gave away too many easy points. The Spurs made more threes (+3), attempted more free throws (+9), committed fewer turnovers (five to New York’s eight), and owned a 14-2 edge in fast-break points. Turns out, the Spurs are more fleet-footed than Cleveland. Champagnie led all scorers with 15 points, and Brunson had 11 for New York.
Both teams played solid defense, but more crappy shooting by New York (Brunson was 5-of-16 and counting, Towns was 3-of-9) allowed the Spurs to start on an 8-2 run. We’d start to panic if tonight’s lead tracker didn’t so closely resemble the NBA Cup game’s. (Okay, with so many shots rimming out and so few fouls being called, we’ll admit to a slight twinge of nervousness.)
Little was going right. Mikal Bridges, who had made all 19 of his free throws in the playoffs, missed from the line. Wemby subbed out, and New York cooked up eight unanswered points, cutting the gap to six. Through seven-ish minutes in the quarter, they shot 1-of-9 with Wemby on the floor; while he sat, they made all four shots. One clear advantage was Towns. The home team had no answer for him with Victor out. Thanks to a KAT putback plus a foul, our heroes were close to tying the score—and they did after a Wemby offensive foul led to Brunson magic at the other end.
Frost Bank Center shook with chants of MVP! when Brunson stepped to the charity stripe, and the adage holds true: Wherever you go, you’ll find Knicks fans. The French delight slammed an authoritative dunk late, but McBride swished his second bomb of the game as the quarter wound down to knot the score at 76.
Early in the fourth, my friend observed that Wemby had shot the same number of free throws as the entire Knicks team (10). Weird, no? Anyway, Anunoby was inconsistent through three quarters but scored eight points to give the good guys a brief four-point advantage. The Spurs weren’t folding up yet, though. Devin Vassell laid out Shamet under the rim (no call) and tipped in a layup to tie the score again with seven-plus minutes left.
Out of a timeout, the Knicks scored eight unanswered, all by Brunson. KAT was on the bench during that stretch, with Robinson fighting hard with Wemby for position in the paint. Following a couple of Knicks misses, Victor swished a three-pointer around the five-minute mark, and Brown decided it was time to reintroduce Towns to this fracas. While New York missed four shots in a row, Wemby shot a mess of free throws to regain a one-point lead heading into the final two minutes.
More Hart rebounds—he’s at 14 and counting by this point—kept the ball alive. It swung to Brunson, who swished from the corner, and two Bridges free throws made it 99-95. With under a minute left, Josh stripped Wemby around the three-point line, resulting in a dagger jumper by Jalen. 101-95.
Victor missed from 27 feet, and Fox fouled Anunoby, who added two more points. 103-95. With 21 seconds left, Fox lost the ball out of bounds. That, plus two more freebies for OG, was the final nail in the coffin.
Brunson closed the books with 30 points, shooting 12-of-31 and 2-0f-9 from deep. He was clobbered all night, yet shot just four free throws and came up big when the Knicks needed him most. Captain Clutch, indeed.
Charles Barkley made time for an outdoor workout while on his work trip to San Antonio for the 2026 NBA Finals.
Charles Barkley made time for an outdoor workout while on his work trip to San Antonio for the 2026 NBA Finals.
During “NBA Tip-Off” on ESPN, Barkley explained that the now-viral video of him doing chairlifts on the San Antonio River Walk was all part of his workout before Wednesday’s Game 1 win for the Knicks over the Spurs.
“I took my walk today, everybody was fantastic,” Barkley said as an image of him lifting a chair over his head was showed on the broadcast.
“Somebody took a picture of me doing my exercises. I’m picking up a chair, I do sets of 25. I was down on the river walk. I’m sorry I was down on the creek walk. That’s a creek, that’s not a river.”
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz, who appeared on “NBA Tip-Off,” disagreed, telling Barkley that she is proud of the river walk, which is the top tourist spot in the state.
Ortiz also chided Barkley over his previous remarks — when he said that San Antonio is the home of “some big ol’ women” while on-air in 2014.
“I learned a long time ago, you can’t teach courage. You can’t teach class,” Ortiz said. “And Mr. Barkley reminds us of that.”
Barkley laughed and added that he’s “just joking around.”
Charles Barkley on “NBA Tip-Off” on durin Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 3, 2026. YouTube
Barkley is open about his weight loss journey.
In April 2025, he became an ambassador for Ro, a GLP-1 weight-loss medication promoted by Serena Williams.
Harper, the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft who turned 20 in March, became the youngest player in Finals history to score at least 10 points in a game. Harper has now scored 251 points during the 2026 playoffs, passing David Robinson's 243 points for most points in a single postseason by a Spurs rookie.
Right from Game 1's opening tip, Harper played with a poise and intensity that belied his inexperience on the NBA's biggest stage. In the first quarter, he shot a perfect 3-for-3 from the field and scored 10 points in just six minutes. According to ESPN Research, it was the most points by a rookie in the first quarter of Game 1 of the Finals since the play-by-play era started in 1998.
Harper's early scoring outburst helped the Spurs end the first quarter up 27-19, the only quarter in which they outscored the Knicks.
The only other Spurs rookie besides Harper to score double figures in a Finals game is Manu Ginobili, who did it three times in 2003.
Magic Johnson holds the rookie record for most points scored in an NBA Finals game, which he set in 1980 when he scored 42 points and delivered the Los Angeles Lakers the championship with a decisive Game 6 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 3: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks during Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 3, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs came onto the biggest stage in basketball and encountered a team that was tough as nails mentally and physically. Jalen Brunson took a licking and kept on ticking, and Karl-Anthony Towns got to every loose ball and turned them into points. The Spurs had some great performances as Dylan Harper was able to get to the hoop on demand, and Julian Champagnie hit some great shots, while Wembanyama was off with his shot, Fox had a tough night. The Spurs were able to come back and lead by a point with 2 minutes left in the game, but were put away by the Knicks 11-0 closing kick as the visitors took home court away from the favored Spurs.
For the Spurs to beat the Knicks, they are going to need Wembanyama to dominate, because the Knicks have so many good players that they can neutralize the rest of the Spurs roster, and if De’Aaron Fox can’t hit his shots, it’s a bad night for the Silver and Black. Hats off to Jalen Brunson, who didn’t let some poor shooting to start off discourage him, as the Knicks took over the game in the last two minutes left the home court fans bereft, except for a loud Knicks fan contingent who were ecstatic with their team’s road victory.
It was a tough night for the Silver and Black, but not the first time they’ve lost the opening game of a playoff series, and they’ve been able to overcome it before in the Timberwolves series. They’re going to have to do it again if they want to win the championship, and they will need to break the Knicks 12 game winning streak on Friday night to get started on that task. Four more wins, people, and that starts with the first one in Game 2 in a couple of days.
Observations
“Impatience can be a virtue ..”—Victor Wembanyama. He’s ready to win now, and doesn’t see the need to wait to ‘pay his dues.’ Because even at his young age, he’s already paid his dues, with talent and dedication.
“Pressure busts pipes.”—Shaquille O’Neal. He oughtta know. It’s a little different twist on the saying about diamonds, but I’ll allow it. The prevalent narrative is that the Knicks are the veteran team that can handle the pressure of a finals more, but I think that Mitch Johnson has done a great job of preparing the team to be able to perform under pressure.
KAT won the opening tip and got the ball to Brunson for a quick triple. NYC got off to a quick 12-7 start as the Spurs started off cold and the Knicks red hot after their long layoff.
Luke Kornet took over for Wemby halfway through the first as the Spurs won the first quarter minutes with the big guy on the bench, retaking the lead on a Dylan Harper and-one with a little over 4 minutes left in the quarter, and the Spurs led 22-17 when Wemby returned with a little over 2 minutes left.
Brunson had to go to the locker room in the first quarter when Barnes fell into his leg after being fouled, and looked like he might have hyperextended his right knee.
The Spur led 27-19 at the end of the first quarter, completely negating New York’s hot start with a 10 point explosion from Dylan Harper.
NYC was tough to start the second quarter, as they stepped up the defense and made some hustle plays to cut into the deficit. Brunson re-entered the game after a puzzling challenge from the Spurs where Victor knocked KAT on his ass. Shows what I know, the Spurs won the challenge.
The Spurs were in the penalty for 8 minutes in the second quarter, but they couldn’t take advantage with only 4 free throws in the quarter.
Brunson brought the Knicks back into the game with his scoring, until the Spurs finished on a late surge to lead 55-48 at the half, with Julian Champagnie getting open looks and knocking them to become the game’s leading scorer with 15 points at the half.
The Knicks only scored 2 points in the first 5 minutes of the second half, and it felt like a missed opportunity that the Spurs only scored 8 to take a 13 point lead. Wemby had to sit, and a 6-0 run from the Knicks brought them back within 6 of the home team, 61-67.
Towns took control of the game in the third quarter as he got to every loose ball and punished the Spurs on the offensive boards to cut the deficit to two, with Brunson tying it up 71 each with 2 minutes left in the third.
The score was tied 76-76 at the end of the third, due to a Deuce McBride circus shot that somehow went in after bouncing off the backboard on it’s way in from the short corner.
Anunoby went nuclear to start the fourth, and did something you hardly ever see, beating Wembanyama one-on-one for a pure three point shot … nothing but net, as the Knicks took a five point lead. The Spurs tied it up on a Castle three and a Vassell tip-in and the game was tied 86-86.
An unfortunate incident happened
The Knicks took an eight point lead with 5 minutes left with the Spurs looking a bit like the pressure was too much for them, and the NYC contingent in the crowd going wild as Brunson took over for the Orange and Blue. It was definitely the low point of the game for the Silver and Black.
The Spurs retook the lead with an 8-0 run to lead 95-94 with a little over 2 minutes left. A critical tip from Brunson on the next possession allowed him to get the ball back for a cold-blooded triple to retake the lead for the Manhattan team.
The Knicks scored 9 in a row and led by 8 with 20 seconds left, and it was capped with a couple of Anonuby free throws as the Knicks won by double digits.
Up next
The Spurs are back in the Frost Bank Center on Friday night at 7:30 PM. That’s right, same Bat Time, same Bat Channel. See you there.
Jalen Brunson fends off Dylan Harper as he leads his team to victory in Game 1 of the NBA finals.Photograph: Eric Gay/AP
The New York Knicks entered Game 1 of this year’s NBA finals on one of the hottest streaks in playoff history: 11 games won in a row with opponents humiliated, humbled and crushed along the way. On Wednesday night in San Antonio many believed that streak would end as they faced the Spurs, who had knocked out the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the previous round, and are led by the most exciting player in the world, Victor Wembanyama.
The Knicks won anyway, keeping Wembanyama quiet for long stretches in a 105-95 victory on the Spurs’ home court. They are now just three wins from their first title since 1973.
Not that it was easy. At one point in the third quarter the Spurs led by 14 points but the Knicks, who overcame a 22-point deficit to beat the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, fought back to lead 78-76 early in the fourth. The Spurs briefly threatened to take control as the clock ticked down before the Knicks went on an 11-0 run to close out the game.
Jalen Brunson, an inspiration for the Knicks throughout these playoffs, came alive once again when it mattered as he saved his best for the closing minutes, ending the game with 30 points, 13 of them coming in the fourth quarter.
“Just sticking together – it wasn’t really our night and wasn’t really my night most of the night but we kept finding a way, kept chipping away,” Brunson said when asked how his team had managed to pull away from the Spurs. “Just knowing we have each other’s back – there’s a lot of things we could have done better, but I think our togetherness was really the biggest difference.”
Wembanyama, who briefly limped off court in the third quarter before returning, led the Spurs with 26 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. However, he was far from his dominant best and shot just 6-of-21 from the field.
It wasn’t just Brunson who delivered for the Knicks in the final minutes though. OG Anunoby scored 12 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and the team had no turnovers in the fourth quarter. The Spurs wilted in front of their home crowd though: they committed five turnovers in the fourth quarter while shooting 28.6%.
“I was bad tonight, it’s not more complicated than that,” said Wembanyama, who denied that the occasion had got to the Spurs. “It definitely felt special for sure, but nothing close that could be an excuse. [Nerves were] not a factor in our performance.”
Brunson had an injury scare of his own. At the end of the first quarter, he collided with San Antonio’s Harrison Barnes and left the game with a knee injury. He returned in the second quarter and appeared to hurt his ankle after a layup but stayed in the game.
The action was briefly interrupted in the second-half when a man ran on to court and attempted to take a selfie with Wembanyama. He was quickly removed by security but the Spurs will be concerned how easily the person was able to get so close to the players.
Game 2 is on Friday night in San Antonio before the best-of-seven series heads to what is sure to be a raucous contest at Madison Square Garden on Monday.
In their first NBA Finals game in 27 years, the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 on Wednesday night.
New York has won 12 straight games, as they open a 1-0 series lead.
Here are some takeaways...
- Both teams were ready to go from the opening tip, as expected. The stars were letting it fly early, as Jalen Brunson and Victor Wembanyama scored the first two buckets of the game, and New York's hot shooting continued to open a seven-point advantage just over five minutes into the contest.
- After a sloppy stretch, though, the Spurs were able to get into a rhythm. Starting with the non-Wemby minutes, they put together a thunderous 20-3 run to push their first lead of the game all the way out to double-digits, led by Dylan Harper's 10 points off the bench in his first NBA Finals action.
- Brunson had a nightmare opening quarter, hitting just one of his seven shots, and he was forced to limp back to the locker room late in the frame after appearing to injure his right knee after Harrison Barnes fell on him.
- Jose Alvarado stepped up nicely for New York with four points and four boards off the bench in the opening minutes of the second, before the captain was ready to make his way back onto the floor (without a knee brace) in a one-possession game just four minutes into the quarter.
- Brunson went down again and had to limp to the Knicks' bench minutes later after Luke Kornet stepped on his ankle on a drive to the basket, but he was right back out there after a timeout. He immediately showed no ill-effects, giving the Knicks a brief lead with three consecutive buckets.
- New York's eighth turnover and a red-hot Julian Champagnie helped the Spurs carry a seven-point lead into the break. The St. John's product led all scorers with 15 first half points, drilling five of his six threes, with everyone else shooting a combined 26 percent from behind the arc.
- Momentum stayed in San Antonio's favor coming out of the break, as the Knicks scored just two points to open the third, making just one of their first 10 shots from the field. Wemby's presence was being felt down-low, and the Spurs were able to open their largest lead of the night at the time (13).
- Wemby limped to the bench after appearing to injure his knee, but immediately waved off trainers. New York took over from there, though, as an aggressive Karl-Anthony Towns led them on a much-needed run and a Miles McBride banked corner three evened things at 76 heading to the fourth.
- The teams traded buckets early in the fourth, then it was Brunson time. The reigning Clutch Player of the Year award winner returned to the floor just over five minutes into the quarter and immediately took things over, scoring the next eight points to create some separation.
- New York then missed their next eight shots as Wemby led the Spurs on a run, before Brunson and the Knicks counterpunched one last time with a splurge of their own to put this one away. Captain clutch scored 13 of his 30 points in the fourth to lead the way for New York, once again.
- Wemby finished with 26 points and 12 boards on 6-of-21 shooting from the field. Josh Hart had just three points but did a tremendous job on the star big man and once again chipped in everywhere else, pulling in a game-high 15 rebounds while dishing out six assists and swiping four steals.
- Towns had 18 points and 12 rebounds, Anunoby 17 points, and Shamet 13 points off the bench.
Game MVP: Jalen Brunson
Brunson came alive when the Knicks needed him the most, as always.
It doesn’t matter. Jalen Brunson is a bad, bad man.
You knew it was coming.
Anyone who has watched the Knicks this postseason should have known it was coming.
Brunson carried the Knicks as they erased a 14-point third-quarter deficit to steal Game 1 of the NBA Finals with a 105-95 win over the Spurs on Wednesday night. It marked their 12th straight win and an important first punch in the series.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson celebrates hitting a 3-pointer against the Spurs during Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 3, 2026. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
It wasn’t at quite the same scale, but it felt similar to Game 1 of the conference finals against the Cavaliers. The familiar script felt like it truly got started midway through the fourth quarter.
The score was tied 86-86 with 7:37 left in the game as Brunson checked back in. The Knicks have broadcast this same movie so many times before. The Brunson takeover was inevitable.
“We put the ball in his hands and said we are going to live and die with him,” coach Mike Brown said. “And he got it done for us, and that’s happened time after time after time.”
Right away, Brunson got into the paint and made a layup to reestablish the Knicks lead. After a stop, Josh Hart corralled the rebound, led a fast break and dished to Brunson, who drew a foul and made both free throws to put the Knicks up four. Hart stole the ball on the other end, started another fast break and once again passed to Brunson, who finished it off.
Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns (32) goes up for a shot against Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) during Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 3, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Knicks led by six as Spurs coach Mitch Johnson called timeout. The first real audible “Let’s go Knicks” chants could be heard inside the Frost Bank Center.
Another stop after the timeout. Another Brunson bucket. It was an 8-0 Knicks run, with all points scored by Brunson.
It was like clockwork.
But it wasn’t straightforward. The Spurs immediately responded with a 9-0 run — seven of which were scored by Victor Wembanyama — to retake the lead.
No problem. Brunson went back to work.
He batted OG Anunoby’s missed 3-pointer to Mikal Bridges, got it back, then drilled a 3-pointer to put the Knicks back ahead. De’Aaron Fox missed on the other end, and Bridges subsequently got fouled and hit two free throws. Wembanyama then dribbled the ball off his leg, and Brunson came down and hit a circus-like fadeaway over Devin Vassell to put the Knicks up six. That pretty much put away the Spurs.
The Knicks closed on an 11-0 run. They outscored the Spurs by eight points in the fourth quarter. Brunson had 13 points in that quarter.
“I don’t want to say calmness, but I think we know what we have to do,” Brunson said about the Knicks’ comfort when trailing. “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.”
Brunson hurt his right leg — Landry Samet pushed Harrison Barnes into him — in the first quarter, checked out with 1:27 left in the period and went back to the locker room. He returned with 8:03 left in the second quarter. Brunson said afterward that he is “fine.”
New York Post New York PostKnicks guard Jalen Brunson puts up a shot in the paint against the Spurs during Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 3, 2026. Jason Szenes for the New York PostJalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks shoots against Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first half of the 2026 NBA Finals – Game One at Frost Bank Center on June 3, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. Getty Images
He was 7-for-22 overall and 1-for-8 from 3-point range across the first three quarters. Then, as he seemingly always does, he figured it out down the stretch.
Chalk up another win for David vs. Goliath, as Brunson, who finished with a game-high 30 points, bested Wembanyama. The Spurs star had 26 points but on rough 6-for-21 shooting from the field. His defensive presence in the paint was felt early, but Brunson and the Knicks found ways to avoid him as the game went on.
“I was bad tonight,” Wembanyama said. “It’s not more complicated than that. … I think we let that one go.”
It wasn’t just a one-man Brunson show, though. Anunoby, who had been a nonfactor up until that point, had 12 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 17. He drilled back-to-back 3s early in the period, the second of which was right in Wembanyama’s face.
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart and San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama fight for a rebound. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points, 10 of which came in the third quarter. It was really him who sparked the comeback and powered the offense for stretches when Brunson was struggling.
Towns and Hart had 12 and 15 rebounds, respectively, bravely battling Wemabanyama on the boards.
Landry Shamet provided 13 points off the bench, drilling 5 of 9 3-pointers. Mitchell Robinson played 12 minutes and grabbed six rebounds. Miles McBride and Jose Alvarado provided important minutes off the bench.
Brunson’s supporting cast answered the call when needed. But this comeback doesn’t happen without Brunson delivering his latest — and so far, most important — signature clutch-time performance.
Jalen Brunson goes up for a shot in the fourth quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Knicks fans had to wait 27 years to get back to the Finals. Forget that now, though.
It’s been 41 days since the Knicks last lost. The dream run has reached new heights.
A fan ran onto the court in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ Game 1 win in the NBA Finals, seemingly attempting to get a selfie with Spurs star Victor Wembanyama and New York’s Mitchell Robinson.
Security at Frost Bank Center quickly descended on the interloper and ushered him off the court.
Wembanyama seemed to enjoy the bizarre scene, while Robinson was visibly befuddled. The fan ran onto the court with 6:32 left. It was a pivotal moment as the Knicks just took the lead 92-86, and the Spurs looked to answer back.
The fan seemed to have come from the opposite side of the team benches, and play was halted for roughly a minute.
“A fan just ran on the floor and wants to take a selfie. Security quickly takes him away. Crowd gives him the appropriate boo, fortunately nobody hurt,” ESPN broadcaster Mike Breen said on air as the whole thing went down.
A fan just ran on the court during the NBA Finals to take a selfie with Victor Wembanyamapic.twitter.com/IyLFgK9dAy
— internet hall of fame (@InternetH0F) June 4, 2026
A fan runs onto the court and takes a photo with Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter in Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks at Frost Bank Center on June 3, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. Getty Images
“It’s just too good for that to happen,” analyst Tim Legler added on-air.
The referees were left to sort things out in the aftermath, opting to give the Spurs possession at midcourt. With the momentum altered, the Spurs, after the delay, went back on offense and missed a key shot.
The Knicks continued their strong second half and finished it out, winning 105-95.
The moment seemed to be more reminiscent of something that might happen at a soccer match than an NBA game.
Wembanyama seemed to enjoy the scene, while Robinson was befuddled. ESPN
In the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, a young man ran onto the court and pulled his phone out to take a selfie. Security quickly swooped in and escorted the fan off the court in San Antonio.
Victor Wembanyama, who the fan was seemingly trying to get in the selfie, was standing next to Mitchell Robinson. The Spurs center laughed while the Knicks big man looked confused.
A fan runs on the floor during a live game to take a selfie with Victor Wembanyama (with a replay).
