SAN ANTONIO — For more three quarters Wednesday night, the New York Knicks looked like a team on the verge of finally running out of answers. Not because the game wasn’t close, it just seemed like this was Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs’ moment.
The Spurs had the energy of a home crowd behind them. Victor Wembanyama was making his presence felt on both ends of the floor late. San Antonio led by as many as 14 points in the third quarter and appeared poised to seize control of Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
The Knicks never blinked.
Instead, they did what they have done throughout this postseason: they defended, they rebounded, and they trusted that eventually their opportunity would come.
When it did, Jalen Brunson made sure they capitalized.
Brunson scored 30 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, as the Knicks erased a double-digit deficit and defeated the Spurs 105-95 on Wednesday night at Frost Bank Center, stealing home court advantage and taking a 1-0 lead in the NBA Finals.
It was the latest comeback in a postseason that has become defined by New York’s resilience.
There was little reason to panic, even when San Antonio appeared to have all the momentum.
The Spurs controlled much of the first half behind their depth with guys like Julian Champagnie and Dylan Harper stepping up. While Wembanyama had a Finals debut with 26 points and 12 rebounds, it wasn’t particularly his night shooting only 6-21 from the floor. His length though disrupted New York’s offense, and his ability to score from nearly anywhere on the floor gave the Knicks problems throughout the night.
When Wembanyama knocked down a three pointer midway through the third quarter, pushing the Spurs’ lead to 14, the building erupted.
At that moment, New York looked vulnerable.
The Knicks had struggled to generate consistent offense, and San Antonio’s defense was forcing difficult shots. The Spurs appeared to be dictating the pace and style of the game.
Yet the Knicks refused to let the deficit define them.
Rather than searching for a quick fix, they leaned into the qualities that have carried them through the playoffs.
Josh Hart chased every rebound, ending the night with 15 of them. OG Anunoby fought through screens and contested shots. Karl-Anthony Towns battled inside against San Antonio’s size while providing a steady offensive presence.
Possession by possession, the Knicks began to chip away.
The deficit shrank to single digits by the end of the third quarter, setting the stage for another signature fourth quarter performance from Brunson.
The All-Star guard has repeatedly delivered in the postseason’s biggest moments, and Game 1 was no exception.
Brunson opened the final period aggressively, attacking mismatches and getting to his preferred spots on the floor. Whether it was a pull-up jumper, a drive through traffic or a timely three pointer, he consistently found answers whenever the Spurs threatened to regain control.
His biggest shot came with just over two minutes remaining.
With the game hanging in the balance, Brunson drilled a three-pointer that gave New York the lead back after a run from the Spurs that looked like the game was going to be theirs.
The Knicks never trailed again.
While Brunson supplied the finishing touches, New York’s defense provided the foundation.
After allowing San Antonio to find a rhythm through much of the first three quarters, the Knicks tightened defensively down the stretch. Driving lanes disappeared, perimeter shots became more difficult, and the Spurs’ offense stalled at the worst possible time.
Outside of Wembanyama and Champagnie, who finished with 16 points, San Antonio struggled to find consistent scoring. The Spurs shot poorly from beyond the arc late in the game and managed just 95 points despite controlling long stretches of the contest.
Meanwhile, Towns quietly put together an important performance for New York, finishing with 18 points and 12 rebounds and more importantly, punishing mismatches inside instead of living around the three point line. Hart contributed just three points but impacted the game in nearly every other area, recording 15 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals.
Those contributions reflected the identity that has fueled the Knicks throughout the postseason.
They may not always be the most explosive team on the floor. They may not dominate every quarter. But they have repeatedly found ways to win games through effort, discipline and persistence.
Wednesday was another example.
The Spurs looked comfortable for much of the night. The Knicks looked determined.
By the fourth quarter, determination won.
As the final seconds ticked away, New York completed a comeback that felt familiar to anyone who has watched this playoff run. The Knicks had once again absorbed adversity, weathered an opponent’s best punch and found a way to emerge on top.
Now they are three wins away from their first NBA championship since 1973.
More importantly, they have already accomplished what every road team hopes to achieve in the Finals.
They took Game 1 and they did it the same way they have done everything this spring: the hard way.
