Knicks aren't in position to win Game 1 of NBA Finals without Karl-Anthony Towns

SAN ANTONIO - A few notes after the Knicks’ win over the Spurs in Game 1 of the NBA Finals...

KAT-A-LYST

Victor Wembanyama didn’t leave the court on Wednesday with any overt concerns about himself or his team. 

“I'm not worried (in) the slightest,” he said after the Knicks’ come-from-behind win in Game 1. 

It almost sounded like Wembanyama was downplaying the impact of the Knicks' defense in Game 1. 

Karl-Anthony Towns and New York forced Wembanyama into tough shots all night, as he finished 6-for-21 with six turnovers. 

He shot just 2-for-12 when defended by Towns. 

But Wembanyama didn’t leave the arena worried about the Spurs’ chances in the series. 

“It's almost like I have to play normal, not even good. It's just like doing the right things is enough,” he said. “When we play bad, when I play bad, is when we shoot ourselves in the foot. This is why I'm not worried. We're going to be so much better. I'm going to be so much better.”

Towns got the better of Wembanyama on both ends of the floor in Game 1. 

He had 18 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and one block through three quarters. His play in the third quarter helped New York rebound from a double-digit deficit. Of course, Jalen Brunson took over from there, with 13 points in the final 7:30 of regulation to lift New York to an upset in Game 1. 

But the Knicks aren’t in position to win the game without Towns. 

“Honestly with KAT, I feel like when he’s locked in he’s not just doing the scoring, doing the assisting but he’s setting the pick (on the pick) and roll and he’s diving hard and then defensively he’s bringing a physical presence,” Miles McBride said after Game 1. 

“What he did for us was not just guard him at a high level but he kept him from getting those second chance opportunities which I think is something Wemby does phenomenal. I feel like that’s huge. Taking away a first shot is big but to take away that second one was big for us.”

JALEN DOES IT AGAIN 

Brunson was 7-for-22 through the first three quarters of Game 1, but as is usually the case, he was at his best in the fourth.

He scored eight unanswered points midway through the quarter and then hit a three-pointer off of his own tip rebound and a tough jump shot to help put the Spurs away. 

He did all of this after leaving the game for a long stretch due to an apparent leg injury. 

“He's a gamer, man. In the biggest moments, he shows up, and that's what MVPs are supposed to do,” Mike Brown said. “We put the ball in his hands and said we are going to live and die with him. And he got it done for us, and that's happened time after time after time. He got to his spots and he made plays."

MITCH BACK ON THE FLOOR

Less than 10 days after having surgery to repair a broken fifth metacarpal in his right hand, Mitchell Robinson was on the floor and impacting the game against San Antonio. 

He had six rebounds in 13 minutes and helped create quality shots for his teammates simply by being on the floor. 

“He was still a vertical threat,” Brown said of Robinson. “If you don't pull in to tag him, it's a dunk, and when he rolls like he rolls and creates that weak side to pull in, our guys have to spray the basketball. So it's one of the two: You throw it up, just kind of what have they do with Wembanyama. You throw it to Wembanyama or you throw it up to Mitch, and if the small pulls in and tags those guys, you've got to find the skip pass. And then defensively, I thought he was pretty good, defensively, as well, trying to rebound, keeping those guys off the glass.”

Robinson didn’t want to discuss what happened to his hand, which was not broken during a game or practice. It was a non-basketball injury. 

But Robinson said he was never concerned about possibly missing Game 1. 

“I’ve been here for eight years. There was no way I was going to miss this,” he said.  

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Knicks lead NBA Finals after late run beats Spurs

Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks handles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs
Towns, 30, was first overall pick in the 2015 draft [Getty Images]

The New York Knicks overcame a 14-point third-quarter deficit to snatch a 105-95 victory at the San Antonio Spurs in the opening game of the NBA Finals.

Jalen Brunson scored 13 of his 30 points in the final quarter as the Knicks scored 11 points without reply to surge clear in the final two minutes.

With their 12th win in a row, the Knicks matched the second best all-time post-season streak set by the Spurs in 1999.

That was in the Knicks' most recent appearance in the best-of-seven Finals, when the Spurs beat them to the title.

It is the fourth time that the Knicks have gone on to win in the second half having trailed by 10 or more points in these play-offs. They overturned a 22-point deficit in the opener of Eastern Conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Knicks are bidding to win their first Championship since 1973 and Karl-Anthony Towns said the fans have been inspiring their comebacks.

"It's something that's in the city, you feel that energy in the city," said Towns, who posted 18 points and 12 rebounds.

"The grit, the grind, the hard work you've got to put in to make it in the city.

"I think we reflect our fans and their lifestyles and what it takes to make it in New York City, when we step on that court with the Knicks jersey."

It was a quiet night for Victor Wembanyama. He was the top scorer for the Spurs but only scored six of his 21 shots from the field.

"We've been down in a series before - never in the Finals - but I'm not kicking myself about anything," said Wembenyama.

"I was bad, it's not more complicated than that. I'm not worried in the slightest."

The best-of-seven series continues in San Antonio on Friday before the teams head to Madison Square Garden for Game three on Monday.

Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson battles through injury to make mark off bench in Game 1

For Mitchell Robinson, playing in the NBA Finals was never in doubt. 

“I’ve been here for eight years,” he told reporters postgame. “There was no way I was going to miss this.”

The longest-tenured Knick did find himself listed as questionable, though, after having to undergo surgery to repair a fractured fifth metacarpal in his right hand last week.

Robinson was expected to be able to get back out there with the team, and he ended up officially being cleared by the training staff after going through pregame warmups. 

It still hasn’t been revealed exactly how the injury occurred, but it proved to be no hinderance as he made his presence felt in the Knicks’ Game 1 victory

Robinson was able to chip in 13 strong minutes off the bench for Mike Brown.

His lone basket came midway through the second quarter, when he threw down a slam to complete an alley-oop feed from Jalen Brunson,helping New York chip away at a Spurs advantage. 

The big man missed the free-throw trying to cap off the three-point play. 

Robinson also missed his only other field goal attempt on the night, but was still able to make his mark elsewhere, finishing third on the team with six rebounds (five defensive, one offensive). 

He also held up well in a defensive matchup with Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama, including a couple of possessions while the game was tight in the fourth quarter. 

Overall, it was the type of effort Brown and the Knicks were hoping for. 

“He was still a vertical threat,” the head coach said. “And I thought he was good defensively, as well.”

Even if he isn’t at full strength, the seven-footer could be huge for New York as they look to slow down Wembanyama as this series progresses. 

Victor Wembanyama sleep walks through long-awaited NBA Finals moment

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs fight for a rebound during Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals, Image 2 shows New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns defends San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama during Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals

SAN ANTONIO — It’s shocking how quickly this moment came.

We knew it was brewing when 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama became the most highly touted prospect since LeBron James.

We knew it was just a matter of time when we witnessed his alien-like abilities to patrol the paint as though he were playing on a toy model of a court.

Josh Hart and Victor Wembanyama fight for a rebound in the fourth quarter of 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

We knew how badly he wanted it when tears welled in his eyes after milestone wins.

It took Michael Jordan seven seasons to lead his Bulls to their first NBA Finals appearance. It took James and Kobe Bryant four years. Wembanyama has already sprinted past them, leading his team to the Finals in his third season in the league.

So how did his first appearance on a stage he’s expected to soon own go?

Not great.

Wembanyama had 26 points, 12 rebounds, three blocked shots and six turnovers in the Spurs’ 105-95 loss to the Knicks.

He slept-walked through much of the game offensively, finishing with just six made field goals, half as many as Jalen Brunson’s 12 made shots. He missed seven of his nine 3-point attempts. He shot 28.5 percent from the field.

“I’m going to figure it out,” Wembanyama said. “I was bad tonight. It’s not more complicated than that.”

It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that Wembanyama seemed to settle into his game a bit, scoring half of his field goals (three) and grabbing seven of his 12 rebounds. But with the Spurs trailing 99-95 with 1:11 left, he allowed Josh Hart to swipe the ball from him and then went on to miss a 3-pointer with 32.1 seconds left.

The player who has been entirely unafraid to claim the throne held by James for two decades as the face of the league seemed to slink into his shell for much of the game. He just didn’t quite meet the moment. He didn’t dominate.

Victor Wembanyama turns the ball over to Jose Alvarado during the second quarter of the Knicks’ Game 1 win over the Spurs.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

It was uncharacteristic. It was surprising. It was a stark reminder that he’s just 22.

It’s obvious Wembanyama is going to blame himself for this loss. The Spurs led by as many as 13 points midway through the third quarter before the Knicks erased their advantage heading into the fourth, tying the score at 76-76.

Wembanyama was still good. He made an impact defensively. He scored the second-most points of any player on the court behind Brunson’s 30 points.

But he didn’t play like him.

The Knicks scored 50 points in the paint. Wembanyama didn’t protect the area he normally owns. He didn’t make himself the daunting threat on both ends of the court that we’ve become accustomed to watching. He scored nearly half of his points (12) from the free-throw line.

“We got to get him moving in space and toward the rim, whether that’s on rolls or running in transition,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “But we need the pressure on the rim and the force in the paint.”

Karl-Anthony Towns defends Victor Wembanyama during the third quarter of the Knicks’ Game 1 win over the Spurs. Jason Szenes for the New York Post

Before Game 1, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he never wanted to place any expectations on Wembanyama, whose highlights took over the internet before he even stepped foot on an NBA court.

But the truth is, no one can stop this train.

Not even Wembanyama.

Wembanyama isn’t next. He’s now. He’s the present. He’s the future.

He gave a city whose life force is winning basketball a life-saving transfusion. He lifted one of the league’s smallest-market teams into the spotlight against one of the Goliaths of the NBA. He won Defensive Player of the Year and came in third in MVP voting.

Victor Wembanyama goes up for a shot during the third quarter of the Knicks’ Game 1 win over the Spurs. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

He sent the reigning champion Thunder home in the Western Conference finals. He outplayed two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He stormed onto the scene far earlier than anyone expected.

But with all eyes on him in Game 1, he faltered.

Maybe it was jitters. Maybe it was exhaustion from being days removed from a grueling seven-game series against the Thunder, while the Knicks had more than a week to rest after sweeping the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavaliers.

Whatever it was, it’s not going to be enough against the Knicks, who are hungrily seizing the moment in their first Finals appearance in 27 years.

No one knows that more than Wembanyama, who wants nothing more than to live up to the sky-high expectations that he has already begun shattering.

The city is behind him. Most businesses have Spurs signs on their windows. Pedestrians on the street shout “Go Spurs” as they walk past one another. Legendary Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was in the stands for Game 1, as were many other Spurs legends, including Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.

But more than that, the world was watching Wembanyama.

And even more importantly than that, he was judging himself more harshly than anyone else could.

And he wasn’t pleased.

“When we play bad, when I play bad, is when we shoot ourselves in the foot,” he said. “This is why I’m not worried. We’re going to be so much better. I’m going to be so much better.”

Multiple Knicks fans arrested celebrating team’s NBA Finals Game 1 win during first MSG watch party allowed in weeks

Multiple Knicks fans were arrested Wednesday night while celebrating their hometown team’s thrilling NBA Finals Game 1 victory at Madison Square Garden’s first outdoor watch party permitted by the city in weeks.

The celebratory sea of Knicks fanatics packed the streets surrounding the Garden, where they cheered the team’s 105-95 win against the San Antonio Spurs as hundreds of cops looked on — and a waving Mayor Zohran Mamdani was driven by in a black SUV, according to social media clips.

The outdoor event had been scrapped for weeks after the city pulled permits over concerns of unruly fan antics.

Multiple Knicks fans were arrested Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden’s outdoor watch party. Marie Pohl for NY Post
A smiling Mayor Zohran Mamdani was seen being driven by the event. @alyssasybella/TikTok

Wednesday night’s return outside the Garden acted as a sort of behavior test for blue and orange diehards since the city is only issuing permits for the watch parties on a game-by-game basis.

The crowds — while rambunctious and loud — were largely peaceful. The Knicks faithful waved flags, chanted, jumped up and down, crowd surfed and sat atop each other’s shoulders behind barricades set up by the NYPD.

A handful of rabble-rousers scampered up street poles and climbed atop vehicles and made up most of the arrests. At least four such fans were arrested, according to law enforcement sources.

The crowd chanted “let them go, let them go” as the few out-of-hand among them were handcuffed, The Post observed.

The NYPD was unable to confirm the exact number of arrests or charges early Thursday.

Knicks fans were celebrating their hometown team’s NBA Finals Game 1 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Marie Pohl for NY Post

The city’s Street Activity Permit Office initially pulled the plug on the raucous watch parties ahead of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers, when the NYPD said out-of-control fans were causing too much chaos in Midtown.

But the outdoor celebration was revived after the mayor’s office and MSG discussed hosting the event again ahead of Wednesday’s game, officials said, though the NYPD did not take part in the discussions.

The city, however, will only be issuing permits on a game-by-game basis, a spokesperson said.

The watch party had been scrapped for weeks after the city pulled permits over concerns of unruly fan antics. William C Lopez/NY Post

Fans attending Wednesday night’s watch party said the event was a great outlet for the Big Apple to channel their excitement over the Knicks’ reaching the Finals for the first time since 1999.

“I’m very happy right now that they brought back the watch parties. I feel like it’s a W for the Knicks fans. We should all be united,” said Christian Cabrera, a 25-year-old content creator.


“I know we get a little bit rowdy. We do get chaotic, but we’re just doing this because we love the Knicks. We want to see our team win. We want to see the city win, and we’re just here for it. Let’s go!”

At least four fans were arrested, according to law enforcement sources. Marie Pohl for NY Post

Others cautioned against too much chaos.

“I think they should still keep the watch parties. It’s a way for us to celebrate our team, and it’s good for New York culture,” said Daniel Tejada, a 21-year-old from the Bronx. 

“It’s nice that we party outside on the street, but it’s not nice when you start climbing stuff, start destroying things. It’s not good. It’s not good, it doesn’t look good to us New Yorkers, and it’s just bad for the environment,” Tejada said.

Toni Palazzo, 55, was smoking a cigar and waiting for the train after work when cops told him to move to 34th Street.

“I was 29 years old, the last time they made it to the finals. Now I’m 55, so it’s been a long time. And I’m enjoying it, it’s a very likable team.
And I definitely think they’re going to win the championship,” Palazzo said.

“If they’re doing something wrong, they should get arrested, but I don’t think they should get arrested if they’re just having fun.”

D-Backs 0, Dodgers 7: Beat down in Downtown

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 03: Starting pitcher Zac Gallen #23 of the Arizona Diamondbacks reacts as he pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on June 03, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

At the beginning of this series, Mark Grace remarked that the Diamondbacks needed to take advantage of the starting pitching matchups in the first two games because – on paper at least – they favored the D-Backs. The first game featured a resurgent Eduardo Rodriguez against youngster Emmet Sheehan while the second one pitted the reinvented Michael Soroka against journeyman Eric Lauer. Grace’s recommendation was certainly heeded in the first game when Rodriguez went six innings and allowed just one run, but Soroka wasn’t quite able to take the baton the next night even if he ended stronger than he started. Frustratingly, the script flipped on starting pitching beginning with Shohei Ohtani and his otherworldly 0.82 ERA going tonight while Justin Wrobleski and his excellent 2.87 ERA will round out the series. As expected, the D-Backs ran headlong into the buzzsaw that Ohtani has been on the bump this season while Zac Gallen labored through just five innings and gave up five runs. There were essentially no highlights for the D-Backs tonight, just lowlights. Seriously, if you’re a Diamondbacks’ fan, go read a book or talk to a friend instead.

The vibes for the night started off poorly with Ketel Marte being scratched from the lineup late with “full body fatigue” that was later clarified to be more focused on his hamstring as Torey Lovullo explained that he would prefer to give him a day off today than push him through the pain. They did not improve through the night. After a scoreless first, Mookie Betts leadoff the second inning by reaching on a slightly off-target throw from Geraldo Perdomo that was immediately cashed in on a mammoth home run from Kyle Tucker off a flat Gallen fastball that sat middle-middle. The third also started with a pair of leadoff base runners with a walk to Ohtani, a double from Andy Pages, and a two-run single from Freddie Freeman. Max Muncy would add another run on a single that somehow eluded Gallen and Perdomo to reach the outfield and allow Freeman to motor around for a fifth LA run. Brandon Pfaadt came into the game in relief and failed to provide much confidence in his role moving forward. After collecting a couple quick outs, he loaded the bases on a Muncy double, a Will Smith walk, and an Alex Call hit by pitch that was again quickly cashed in by an Alex Freeland single up the middle that once again eluded the infield defenders.

Meanwhile, the Ohtani show was in full effect tonight. He extended his no-hit streak another 3.2 IP until Gabriel Moreno broke up his no-hitter with a two-out double in the fourth – one of just two hits and three baserunners the Japanese ace allowed over six innings of work. The D-Backs would muster just two more baserunners for the remainder of the game with a two-out walk to Jose Fernandez and a fielding error on a ball Moreno put into play on the left side of the infield. They did little to generate any baserunners and continued to struggle to find any kind of offensive rhythm after their latest sweep of the Giants. The team is now just 1-5 since leaving San Francisco and looking for answers on both sides of the ball. Thankfully, regardless of how ugly a loss might be, they count the same as a a big blowout. Hopefully the boys are able to shower and relax before going for a series split tomorrow.

Knicks take 1-0 lead into game 2 against the Spurs

New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference)

San Antonio; Friday, 8:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Spurs -5.5; over/under is 214.5

NBA FINALS: Knicks lead series 1-0

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks visit the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals with a 1-0 lead in the series. The Knicks won the last matchup 105-95 on Thursday, led by 30 points from Jalen Brunson. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 26.

The Spurs have gone 32-8 at home. San Antonio is second in the Western Conference scoring 119.8 points while shooting 48.3% from the field.

The Knicks are 23-19 on the road. New York has a 23-23 record against teams over .500.

The Spurs' 13.6 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.3 fewer made shots on average than the 13.9 per game the Knicks allow. The Knicks are shooting 47.8% from the field, 2.7% higher than the 45.1% the Spurs' opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Wembanyama is scoring 25.0 points per game with 11.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the Spurs. Stephon Castle is averaging 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 51.2% over the last 10 games.

Brunson is averaging 26 points and 6.8 assists for the Knicks. Mikal Bridges is averaging 17.7 points, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 6-4, averaging 114.9 points, 49.2 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 8.0 steals and 6.6 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.4 points per game.

Knicks: 10-0, averaging 121.7 points, 45.1 rebounds, 28.2 assists, 9.7 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 52.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 99.0 points.

INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).

Knicks: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Vintage Josh Hart shows up for Knicks in NBA Finals Game 1 win

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Josh Hart steals the ball from Victor Wembanyama in the fourth quarter of NBA Finals Game 1 on June 3, 2026, Image 2 shows Josh Hart talks with Jalen Brunson during Game 1
Josh hart

SAN ANTONIO — It was classic Josh Hart: impacting the game without scoring. 

After being limited to seven minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, Hart left his imprint on Game 1 of the NBA Finals in a major way, providing major contributions in the Knicks’ come-from-behind, 105-95 win at Frost Bank Center on Wednesday night. 

In the second half, the Knicks outscored the Spurs by 17 points, and Hart played a major role. He rebounded like a madman (15 boards), created for his teammates (six assists) and defended (four steals). It seemed like he was in the right spot during every Knicks run, particularly on the defensive end. He finished with a team-best plus-22 rating in 27 minutes despite shooting 1-for-5 from the field. 

Josh Hart steals the ball from Victor Wembanyama during the Knicks’ 105-95 Game 1 win over the Spurs in the NBA Finals on June 3, 2026 in San Antonio. Jason Szenes for The New York Post

“That’s just who he is. He’s always been that way. I can’t explain it,” Jalen Brunson, his longtime teammate dating back to college, said. “He just has a knack for doing things like that, and in crucial times as well. It’s a credit to who he is as a player.” 

Hart was frustrated with himself in the first half, faulting himself for committing dumb and unnecessarily fouls. With Hart on the bench, the Knicks trailed by seven at halftime. It was a different story over the final 24 minutes. 

Josh Hart talks with Jalen Brunson during the Knicks’ Game 1 win. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“I had a lot of energy. I think I only played like seven minutes in the first half,” Hart said. “I knew I had to come out, be aggressive. It was just come in and inject energy.” 

He certainly helped the Knicks, who rallied from a 14-point deficit in the third quarter to extend their franchise-record playoff win streak to 12. Hart has been a key element to this run. On Wednesday, he proved to be pivotal without scoring. As Brunson alluded to, he has a knack for excelling at whatever his team needs.

Spurs let Game 1 slip away as Knicks steal opening game of NBA Finals

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 03: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the second quarter against the New York Knicks 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

For most of the night, the San Antonio Spurs looked like they were going to start open the 2026 NBA Finals with a statement win. Instead, they were left walking off the court in disbelief.

The New York Knicks closed the game on an 11-0 run over the final two minutes Wednesday night, turning a 14-point third quarter deficit into a 105-95 victory over the Spurs in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. With the win, New York stole homecourt and took a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-seven championship series.

Additionally, San Antonio lost its first NBA Finals Game 1 in franchise history.

“I do know there was a combination of a few times defensive breakdowns, whether it was communication or rotations,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said of the Spurs losing their double-digit lead in the second half. “There was a few times it felt like we didn’t have an appropriate offensive possession.”

The Spurs appeared to have weathered every punch that New York threw at them in the first half, taking a seven point lead into the locker room. Then, they built a double-digit lead in the second half, fed off a roaring home crowd, and watched Victor Wembanyama begin to slowly find his rhythm late.

Then Jalen Brunson took over for the Knicks. He scored 13 of his game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter as he powered his team to a stunning series opening win. Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points and 12 rebounds, while OG Anunoby chipped in 17 points for New York, who returned to the Finals for the first time since 1999.

Wembanyama had a Finals debut to forget, finishing with 26 points while shooting just 6-for-21 from the floor. He added 12 rebounds in a losing effort.

“I’m going to figure it out. I was bad tonight,” Wembanayama said after the game. “It’s not more complicated than that.”

“We need the pressure on the rim and the force in the paint,” Coach Johnson added. “They did a good job of obviously being physical and showing crowds. We need to do a better job of establishing that early on.”

With the Spurs’ star struggling offensively, the Spurs had to look elsewhere for points. Rookie Dylan Harper scored 16 points off the bench, Stephon Castle added 17, and Julian Champagnie provided an early spark with 15 points in the first half. De’Aaron Fox never found his offensive rhythm as he finished with just seven points on 3-for-13 shooting from the floor.

What began as a promising night for the Western Conference champions ended with a quiet arena and a celebration by the Knicks fans who made the trip to Texas as New York extended its playoff winning streak to 12 games.

The Spurs now face a familiar challenge: try to respond after a playoff loss. They dropped Game 1 of their second-round series against Minnesota before responding in Game 2 and were also down 2-1 and 3-2 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals before a thrilling Game 7 win to reach these Finals. To avoid heading to New York in a deep 0-2 hole, they’ll need a similar response when the series resumes Friday night in San Antonio.

“We’ve been down in a series before,” Wembanyama said. “Never in the finals, obviously. But I’m not kicking myself about anything. I’m not worried in the slightest.”

Game 1 offered a painful reminder of how slim the margin for error can be on basketball’s biggest stage. For 46 minutes, the Spurs looked ready to take early control of the NBA Finals.

The final two minutes belonged to Brunson and the Knicks.

Game Notes

  • As former coach Gregg Popovich used to say, the three-point shooting tells the story. The Spurs shot just 25 percent from deep compared to 30 percent for New York. That five percent difference matters in a close matchup like this.
  • The Spurs won’t win a championship giving up a second half lead or Wembanyama, Fox, and Vassell shooting a combined 13-for-45 from the field. Luckily, I don’t see those guys having this bad of a game again in these Finals.
  • As bad as the Spurs played, they were 2 minutes away from getting the win. That’s encouraging.
  • Rebounding is going to be key in this series and in Game 1, the battle was even.

Legend of Jalen Brunson grows as he takes over in fourth, lifts Knicks to first Finals win in 27 years

SAN ANTONIO — This is how legends are made.

In the first quarter, Jalen Brunson pulled himself out of the game and limped back to the locker room. Spurs wing Harrison Barnes fell into his knee after a collision with Landry Shamet, and while Brunson tried to stay in the game, he was clearly dealing with something. New York was down 10 when he hobbled off the court and it felt like things could go sideways for New York.

Instead, Game 1 of the NBA Finals will be remembered as the game where the legend of Jalen Brunson grew to almost mythical status.

"He's a gamer, man," Knicks coach Mike Brown said. "In the biggest moments, he shows up, and that's what MVPs are supposed to do. We put the ball in his hands and said we are going to live and die with him. And he got it done for us, and that's happened time after time after time."

Brunson returned to the court in the second quarter — and stayed in the game after Luke Kornet stepped on his ankle — then took over with 13 points in the fourth quarter, including some epic plays.

"With the ball in his hands, I'm never surprised," Karl-Anthony Towns said of Brunson. "I tell you, that last shot, I think it was a shoot floater, that was nasty. I ain't going to lie. "

"I think it starts with my confidence. It comes with my work ethic," Brunson said of his career of making clutch plays. "I think most importantly, knowing we're on the road, and knowing my teammates have my back, I think that's the biggest thing in an environment like this. The trust they have in me and the trust I have in them, it's got us to this point."

They put their trust in the right place.

Team win for New York

Those teammates gave Brunson plenty of help.

That started with Karl-Anthony Towns — his play in the first three quarters kept this game close for the Knicks. He finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, but that doesn't tell the real story — he stood toe-to-toe with Wemby and held his own on both ends of the court.

In more than eight minutes of game time with KAT as the primary defender, Wembanyama shot 2-of-10 from the floor (based on NBA tracking stats). Towns also went at Wembanyama on the offensive end.

"I try to be aggressive in playmaking," Towns said, as he again served as a hub of the Knicks' offense for much of the night. "Early in the game, you never know what the defense is going to give you. You don't know what is going to unfold but I just wanted to be aggressive, especially early in the game, Game 1 in the NBA Finals, and trying to bring that energy for our team."

Then there was OG Anunoby, who has a championship ring from his time with the Raptors and showed that experience with 12 points in the fourth quarter, including a clutch 3-pointer over Wembanyama.

It was a night when the healthy number of Knicks fans in the building grew louder and louder late, as New York went on an 11-0 run to close out the game — this Knicks team is their team. The Knicks players feed off that, especially in their comebacks. The Knicks came back from 22 down in the fourth quarter to beat the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and they came from 14 down in the third quarter against the 62-win Spurs.

"It's something in the city. You feel that energy in the city, the grit, the grind, the hard work you've got to put in to make it in the city," Towns said of where the team's comeback energy comes from. "I think we reflect all our fans and lifestyles and what it takes to make it in New York City when we step on the court with a Knicks jersey."

Those fans will be back in Game 2, and the Spurs are going to have to find a way not just to grab the lead but also hold on to it, something no team has done for a dozen games.

Bottom line: San Antonio has to find a way to keep the legend of Jalen Brunson from growing any larger.

Shohei Ohtani delivers latest two-way masterpiece in Dodgers’ rout of Dbacks

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Shohei Ohtani pitching in a baseball game, Image 2 shows Shohei Ohtani running on the field in a Dodgers uniform

PHOENIX –– Shohei Ohtani isn’t supposed to be making it look this easy.

Not after a second career Tommy John surgery. Not in his first full two-way season in three years. Not with the eyes of the baseball world watching his every move, wondering exactly how long he can keep this level of dominance up.

And yet, there Ohtani was on Wednesday night at Chase Field, looking every bit the part of “the best player that’s ever walked this earth,” as catcher Will Smith put it.

Shohei Ohtani throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning. AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

In a 7-0 rout of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Dodgers’ unicorn talent continued what has become a magical campaign thus far. 

He delivered a scoreless six-inning outing on the mound that lowered his ERA to 0.74 through his first 10 starts –– third-lowest that deep into a season since earned runs first became a stat in 1913.

If that wasn’t enough, he also went 3-for-4 as a hitter while drawing two walks, pushing his batting average back above the .300 mark for the first time since opening day.

“I’m pleased with where I’m at right now,” Ohtani, understated as ever, said through an interpreter.

Ohtani runs to first base after getting a hit. AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

There’s no debating Ohtani’s status as the game’s preeminent superstar right now.

After Wednesday, the bigger question is whether he’s also baseball’s best current pitcher, as well.

Granted, he doesn’t have –– and will not finish the year with –– as many innings as some of the game’s other top arms. He is still technically below the minimum innings threshold to be considered a qualified pitcher, albeit by only one.

Still, no one is preventing runs as clinically as he is at the moment.

Ohtani leaves the mound after getting through an inning. Getty Images

At no point this season has his ERA even reached 1.00.

“I’ve noticed with Shohei, every run is a premium,” manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s literally trying to throw a shutout every time out there.”

He did once again on Wednesday, mowing through the Arizona lineup in a two-hit, one-walk, six-strikeout gem.

The right-hander retired the first 11 batters he faced, extending his hitless streak to 9 ⅔ innings dating back to last week’s six-inning start against the Colorado Rockies. He stranded a double that Dbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno poked down the first-base line with two outs in the fourth, in one of his rare moments of stress all night.

The Dbacks wouldn’t put another runner aboard until the sixth, when Tommy Troy walked and Geraldo Perdomo hit a single. But then, as if dialed up on command, Ohtani got Corbin Carroll to immediately hit into a double-play grounded that ended the inning.

Ohtani fist pumps after getting through another inning. Getty Images

He punctuated his pitching performance with a calm fist pump as he walked off the mound for the final time.

“He just has a really good feel for the game,” Smith said.

All that, and Ohtani also reached base five times (all three of his hits were singles) on a night the Dodgers jumped to an early five-run lead on Kyle Tucker’s two-run blast in the second and run-scoring singles from Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy in the third.

It isn’t supposed to be this easy.

Ohtani is making it look so anyway.

“I don’t throw 100, so I can’t relate or know what he goes through,” Tucker quipped. “But he’s given us everything he has every single time he goes out there, every single day. So he’s done a phenomenal job.”

Kyle Tucker celebrates his home run with Will Smith. Getty Images

What it means

The Dodgers (40-22) have won 16 of their last 20 games, and are in position for a sixth-straight series win entering Thursday’s finale of this four-game set.

Unsurprisingly, that run has coincided with Ohtani’s best stretch of the season.

For all he’s done as a pitcher, the four-time MVP has also rediscovered his swing as of late.

With Wednesday’s 3-for-4 performance, he is now hitting .435 over the team’s last 20 games with 16 RBIs, 12 extra-base hits and an OPS of 1.254.

For the season, it has raised his batting average to .301 (ninth-best in the National League) and his OPS to .941 (representing the league’s third-best mark).

“Honestly, I think his at-bats the last three weeks have just been better in total,” Roberts said.

Shohei Ohtani scores in the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Who’s hot

Ohtani, obviously.

The only real question is whether that’s more true of his bat or his arm.

On the mound, Ohtani has still yet to allow more than two runs in any of his starts this year. Wednesday was the fifth time he didn’t give up any.

Even more encouraging this time was his improved command in an efficient 89-pitch outing, which was only cut short because the score had gotten so out of hand.

After eight combined walks in his three previous pitching starts, he issued only the one free pass on Wednesday.

“Today was definitely a lot better than last time,” he said.

Ohtani still didn’t even seem to be at his absolute best with his arsenal. He leaned mostly on fastballs and sweepers, and only got nine total whiffs.

No matter. With pitch speeds ranging from 100.4 mph all the way down to 68 mph, he kept the Dbacks (32-29) off-balance, out-of-rhythm and unable to do much of anything.

He might have company in the Cy Young race. But he’s already well on his way to another MVP honor.

Kyle Tucker gets showered in sunflower seeds after hitting a home run. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Who’s not

This category had belonged to Tucker over the past few days.

But after a three-hit showing Wednesday, it no longer applies for now.

Tucker’s home run in the second inning came on what he said was his best swing of the year: A 424-foot blast over the pool in deep right-center with a season-best 107.6 mph exit velocity.

“That’s kind of the swing I’ve been searching for the whole time,” he said. “It’s good to get that off and kind of carry that over for a few at-bats after that.”

Indeed, he lined a single on a low curveball in the third inning, then another on a low slider in the fifth.

It marked Tucker’s fourth three-hit game of the year, and got his average up to .243.

“I just felt he looked much more comfortable tonight,” Roberts said.

Up next

The Dodgers conclude this four-game series on Thursday, when Justin Wrobleski (7-2, 2.87 ERA) faces right-hander Ryne Nelson (2-4, 4.82 ERA).

Victor Wembanyama, Spurs discuss Jalen Brunson's takeover in Game 1: 'He's an elite player'

Game 1 between the Knicks and Spurs lived up to its billing with starts Jalen Brunson and Victor Wembanyama giving their respective teams late leads in the fourth quarter.

But it was Brunson's heroics and clutch play that allowed New York to come away with the first win of the 2026 NBA Finals

Brunson scored a game-high 30 points on 12 of 31 shooting with three rebounds and two assists, but his performance in the fourth quarter will go down in Knicks history. The Knicks captain scored 13 points on 5 of 9 shooting, leading New York's 11-0 run to end the game. 

While the Knicks fans in attendance in San Antonio and those watching at home were in awe, the Spurs were not surprised by Brunson's efforts. 

"He’s a tremendous player that’s skilled, picks his spots, knows his angles. Shoots contested shots without being sped up," Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said of Brunson after the game. "He’s a phenomenal player and we just have to keep making him work.

"He had a phenomenal game. He got going and got a few in a row, but 30 points on 31 shots, is something you probably want to keep making him work for those points. Probably some of the other stuff that we can control, instead of him making or missing shots."

Wembanyama, the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, was asked how the team can defend Brunson better moving forward. The Spurs big man didn't have an answer, but knew they have time to come up with a gameplan.

“He’s an elite player and we don’t have many more chances," Wembanyama said. "It’s a first-to-four series. So we’re going to have time to work on it.”

A common talking point before the NBA Finals started was whether the Spurs would be fatigued after a grueling seven-game series with the Thunder. On the opposite end, the Knicks, after sweeping the Cavaliers in the ECF, were off for more than a week.

The fourth quarter saw the Spurs turn the ball over five times -- the Knicks had zero turnovers in the final frame -- and Wembanyama, in particular, looked winded at points, but San Antonio downplayed that narrative. Instead, they pointed to their own execution.

"I don't think it was fatigue. I'm sure guys got tired at times," Johnson said. "I don't think anyone's performance was based on fatigue, I think we just need to be sharper and execute better. And continue to work the game and not fight it at times and play the right way."

"I feel both teams were fatigued, really," Dylan Harper said. "I just feel like they executed better." 

Wembanyama scored a team-high 26 points -- 11 coming in the fourth -- and Harper had 16 off the bench, but it wasn't enough to stop the Knicks and Brunson from stealing home court advantage on Wednesday night. 

But this youthful Spurs team is gaining experience by the day, and they are confident they can bounce back in Game 2. 

“We’re confident but also have a chip on our shoulder from this game we just lost," Harper said. "You never want to lose and going into this next game, we’re going to be even more hungrier and keep on proving.”

“We’ve been down in a series before," Wembanyama said. "I’m not kicking myself about anything, really. I’m not worried in the slightest.” 

Game 2 takes place Friday night.

OG Anunoby found his game just in time for Knicks in Game 1 of NBA Finals

OG Anunoby had a big fourth quarter for Knicks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 3, 2026.
OG Anunoby had a big fourth quarter for Knicks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 3, 2026.

SAN ANTONIO — OG Anunoby is the only player on the Knicks with a championship ring. 

Now, he is three wins away from earning one. 

Anunoby — who was sidelined by injury during the Raptors’ 2019 title run — didn’t make much more of an impact for most of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, but the soft-spoken wing made sure he was heard down the stretch Wednesday night, scoring 12 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ 105-95 win over the Spurs at Frost Bank Center. 

OG Anunoby had a big fourth quarter for the Knicks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 3, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“The first time [in the NBA Finals] was really cool, but it wasn’t the way I would have wanted it.” Anunoby said. “So this time, just happy to be here, happy to be healthy. 

“I’m just thankful to be out there, thankful to be playing. Just enjoying the moment.” 


Anunoby entered the NBA Finals as one of the biggest reasons for the Knicks’ incredible postseason run, ranking second on the team in scoring (19.7), third in rebounds (6.9), second in steals (1.6) and second in blocks (1.0) despite missing two games with a hamstring injury. 

Og Anunoby drives down court as San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet gives chase during Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

But Anunoby was often invisible at the start of the championship series, scoring five points (2-for-6 from the field) in the first half. He started the second half more aggressively, but forced the action, getting stripped on one possession, then throwing up a midrange airball with Victor Wembanyama in sight, finishing the third quarter scoreless in nearly six minutes of action.
 

After the Knicks fought back from a 14-point second-half deficit — the Spurs had won their previous nine postseason games when leading at halftime — Anunoby began to resemble one of the league’s most impactful wings, putting the Knicks ahead by three with a drive to the rim, then following with back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Knicks up 86-81 with 8:50 remaining. 

“My teammates were finding me and I was being aggressive and ready to shoot,” said Anunoby, who also had three rebounds, one steal and one block in 31 minutes. “Just shoot with confidence.”
 

Anunoby then iced the game with four free throws in the final minute as the Knicks closed Game 1 on an 11-0 run, taking a series lead in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1994 while tying the 1998-99 Spurs for the second-longest postseason win streak (12) in NBA history. 

“OG got it going in the second half,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “He was huge for us in the second half.”

Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Jhoan Duran enjoying best season yet, Trevor Megill trending up in Milwaukee

In this week's Closer Report, Jhoan Duran continues to dominate as he's on track for his best season yet. No one has been better at run prevention than Louis Varland. And Trevor Megill appears to be back in the driver's seat for saves in Milwaukee. All that and more as we cover the last week in saves around baseball.

⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

Check out this week’s Stolen Base Report!

2026 Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings

▶ Tier 1

Mason Miller - San Diego Padres
Cade Smith - Cleveland Guardians
Jhoan Duran - Philadelphia Phillies
Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox
Raisel Iglesias- Atlanta Braves

Miller worked around two walks, striking out two batters while converting a four-out save against the Nationals on Friday. After giving up his only two runs of the season on April 27, he's back on a ten-game scoreless streak. His 22.5% swinging-strike rate leads the majors, well above the next best at 19.8% by Andrés Muñoz.

Smith made two appearances this week. He struck out the side against the Red Sox on Friday, then gave up one run before holding on for his 21st save against the Yankees on Wednesday. The 27-year-old right-hander holds a 2.83 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts over 28 2/3 innings.

Duran locked down three saves with perfect outings against the Dodgers and Padres. He struck out the side against the Padres on Tuesday, then struck out two more on Wednesday for his 14th save. His current 42% strikeout rate is by far a career high, topping his 33.5% in his 2022 rookie year.

Chapman didn't see any save chances this week, but made one scoreless appearance against the Guardians on Sunday, striking out two. The 38-year-old left-hander had gone ten days without pitching, with his last save coming on May 20. He owns a 0.48 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 25 strikeouts over 18 2/3 innings.

Iglesias converted two saves this week, tossing scoreless innings against the Blue Jays and Reds. His only two runs of the season have come in one outing, giving him a 0.96 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 22 strikeouts over 18 2/3 innings while converting 11 saves.

▶ Tier 2

Bryan Baker - Tampa Bay Rays
Louis Varland - Toronto Blue Jays
Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners
Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers
Daniel Palencia - Chicago Cubs
Gregory Soto - Pittsburgh Pirates
Paul Sewald - Arizona Diamondbacks

Two more saves for Baker this week, giving him 16 on the season with a 2.13 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 29 strikeouts over 25 1/3 innings. There's been no doubt for a while that Baker has earned the trust to operate as the full-time closer in Tampa Bay. It's still just surprising that we have a Rays reliever well inside the top ten.

In Toronto, Varland recorded his eighth save of the season, recording four outs against the Orioles on Thursday. He then pitched the eighth against the heart of the order on Saturday before Jeff Hoffman surrendered five runs to blow the lead in the ninth. That further cements Varland as the reliever to roster on the Blue Jays. The 28-year-old right-hander has the lowest ERA among closers at 0.29 with a 1.03 WHIP and 42 strikeouts over 31 innings.

Muñoz surrendered a run to blow a save chance against the Diamondbacks on Friday, his fourth blown save of the season. He then pitched a scoreless inning in a non-save situation against the Mets on Monday. The 27-year-old right-hander remains at nine saves with a 4.76 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 35 strikeouts over 22 2/3 innings. At some point, we hope the results will start to fall in line with the underlying indicators. Still, Muñoz just hasn't been able to string together enough scoreless outings, making it harder to justify a top spot in the closer rankings.

Scott tossed a clean ninth inning with one strikeout on Friday for a save against the Phillies, then was hit for three runs in the eighth to blow a lead on Saturday. The three runs matched the number of runs he had allowed all season. Scott then bounced back with a scoreless ninth inning against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday for his sixth save. Edwin Díaz has started a throwing progression, but is still expected to be sidelined until after the All-Star break as he recovers from surgery to remove loose bodies in his right elbow.

It's been a frustrating season for fantasy managers rostering Palencia. He made three scoreless appearances this week, but is still searching for his first save since May 14. He's converted just three this season despite an excellent 1.98 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts over 13 2/3 innings.

Soto picked up a win and two saves. The Pirates had entered the ninth inning with a six-run lead on Tuesday, and Dennis Santana was out to finish the game. Santana surrendered two runs and brought the tying run on deck before Santana stepped in and struck out the final two batters for his eighth save. Soto couldn't quite get it done on Wednesday. He was summoned with two outs and two runners on to protect a three-run lead and gave up three hits and a walk, bringing five runs in without recording an out. Still, there's no doubt about who's taking the ninth inning in Pittsburgh. Soto has enjoyed a resurgent season, posting a 2.86 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 34 strikeouts over 28 1/3 innings.

Sewald made one appearance this week, tossing a clean inning against the Dodgers on Monday for his 15th save of the season. The 36-year-old right-hander has been effective for the Diamondbacks, with a 3.63 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts over 22 1/3 innings. Sewald has been a bit lucky, with a .122 BABIP and 61.4% strand rate. While those numbers aren't likely to hold up, we'll take the saves production for now.

▶ Tier 3

Josh Hader - Houston Astros
Riley O'Brien - St. Louis Cardinals
David Bednar - New York Yankees
Devin Williams - New York Mets
Jacob Latz - Texas Rangers
Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers
Pete Fairbanks - Miami Marlins
Seranthony Domínguez - Chicago White Sox

In Houston, the Astros get their closer back, activating Hader from the 60-day injured list on Tuesday. He got his first save opportunity on Wednesday and converted, working around one walk while striking out one batter in a scoreless inning against the Pirates. The 32-year-old left-hander was sidelined with a biceps issue all season. He hadn't pitched for the team since August 8 of last year after a shoulder injury ended his 2025 campaign early. Hader steps back in as the primary closer, but will continue to carry an elevated injury risk.

O'Brien has made 27 appearances so far this season. He didn't allow a run across his first 13 outings. Over the last 14, he's given up 12 runs. He recovered with a scoreless outing on Wednesday against the Rangers to convert his 15th save to go with a 3.95 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 29 strikeouts over 27 1/3 innings.

Bednar worked around two baserunners in his only outing against the Athletics on Sunday. He continues to work through a high volume of traffic on the bases, but I wouldn't expect his .368 BABIP to last all season.

Williams had a much better week despite not seeing any save chances, tossing two clean frames against the Marlins and Mariners. He had a solid stretch through May until giving up four runs on May 24. Inconsistencies have led to a 5.40 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts over 20 innings.

The Rangers have consistently gone to Latz for most of the team's save situations since late April. He picked up two more saves this week on back-to-back days, giving him eight with a 2.00 ERA, 0.59 WHIP, and 26 strikeouts over 27 innings.

Megill has been pitching well over the last couple of weeks, with seven straight scoreless outings. He's appeared to take back the role of primary closer in Milwaukee, picking up two saves this week. Megill has converted the last three saves for the team and is up to eight on the season. Meanwhile, Abner Uribe recorded his last save on May 19. During Megill's seven-game scoreless streak, he's struck out nine batters to zero walks while allowing just two hits.

Fairbanks gave up two runs in the tenth inning to take the loss against the Mets on Friday, then tossed a scoreless inning on Monday before locking down his seventh save on Wednesday against the Nationals. The 32-year-old right-hander is a possible trade candidate at the deadline should the Marlins slide out of contention over the next two months.

Domínguez didn't see a save chance this week, but did make back-to-back scoreless outings with a pair of clean innings. He was unavailable on Sunday, as Tyler Davis stepped in for the final two outs to record the save against the Tigers. Domíguez has converted 11 saves with a 3.97 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 28 strikeouts over 22 2/3 innings.

▶ Tier 4

Rico Garcia - Baltimore Orioles
Kirby Yates - Los Angeles Angels
Kaleb Killian/Keaton Winn - San Francisco Giants
Clayton Beeter - Washington Nationals
Kyle Finnegan/Will Vest - Detroit Tigers
Lucas Erceg - Kansas City Royals

Garcia made three scoreless appearances, including a clean frame with two strikeouts against the Red Sox on Tuesday for his fourth save. Garcia had been splitting save chances with Anthony Nunez, but Nunez has given up eight runs over his last six outings. Garcia is filling in for Ryan Helsley, who is progressing through his recovery from right elbow inflammation. Helsley is in the live bullpen session stage of his rehab, but will likely still need at least a couple more weeks before he's ready to return.

Yates gave up one run and took a loss against the Rockies on Monday, then tossed a scoreless ninth inning in a blowout win on Wednesday. The 39-year-old right-hander has given up four runs with a 12/4 K/BB ratio across 9 1/3 innings while converting one save.

Kilian blew the save and took the loss on Friday, giving up five runs against the Rockies in Colorado. He bounced back with a scoreless inning on Sunday, falling in line for a win. With Kilian coming off three appearances in five days, Winn handled the final five outs against the Brewers on Wednesday for his first save. Winn has been the most effective reliever in the Giants' bullpen, but it remains a situation that is unlikely to produce many saves from any one player, given the team's lack of success and Tony Vitello's matchup play in the late innings.

Beeter seemed to step back into the closer role, converting back-to-back saves against the Padres over the weekend. He then entered with two outs in the seventh on Wednesday against the Marlins. Beeter returned for the eighth and gave up two runs. He's probably the likeliest to get the most save chances in Washington, but inconsistency and some matchup-based usage make him incredibly volatile.

The Tigers lost closer Kenley Jansen to the 15-day injured list with pelvic inflammation. Finnegan figured to get the first chance to fill in for the ninth-inning role, but blew a save chance on Friday against the White Sox. Vest recorded the final five outs, giving up one run before holding on for his first save. Vest is probably the reliever to take the chance on, displaying the better underlying skills. Finnegan's -2.6% K-BB rate is nowhere near closer material. That K-BB ratio ranks last among qualified relievers.

The wheels have fallen off for Erceg as he blew two more saves this week. He's now blown a save in four of his last six outings, including three straight. If speculating for saves here, Alex Lange stepped in for the save chance on Wednesday, with Erceg likely unavailable. He struck out two, working around two baserunners to convert the save against the Reds.

▶ Tier 5

Antonio Senzatela - Colorado Rockies
Tony Santillan/Sam Moll - Cincinnati Reds
Yoendrys Gómez/Eric Orze - Minnesota Twins
Mark Leiter Jr./Joel Kuhnel/Hogan Harris - Athletics