San antonio: Jalen Brunson scored 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, propelling the New York Knicks to a 105-95 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in game one of the NBA Finals in Texas. The Knicks overcame a 14-point deficit in the third quarter to secure the win.
According to Ghana Web, Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points and 12 rebounds as the Knicks achieved their 12th consecutive playoff victory, tying for the second-longest postseason streak in NBA history. This marked New York's first NBA Finals appearance since 1999, with the team closing the game with an 11-point run.
OG Anunoby contributed 12 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, and the Knicks committed no turnovers in the final period. Meanwhile, the Spurs committed five turnovers and shot only 28.6 percent in the last 12 minutes. Spurs standout Victor Wembanyama scored 26 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and blocked three shots but struggled with his shooting, making only 6 of 21 attempts. Stephon Castle, Julian Champagnie, and Dylan Harper also made significant contributions for the Spurs.
The Knicks' bench played a crucial role, with Landry Shamet scoring 13 points and Josh Hart securing 15 rebounds, along with six assists and four steals. New York shot 41.5 percent from the field and 30.6 percent from three-point range, while the Spurs shot 36 percent overall and 25.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Brunson was instrumental in the closing minutes, scoring eight consecutive points to give the Knicks a lead. Despite a late run by the Spurs, San Antonio failed to score in the final minutes. Key free throws by Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, along with Brunson's jumper, sealed the victory for the Knicks.
The Spurs had a strong start, leading by seven at halftime and extending their lead to 65-51 early in the third quarter. However, the Knicks responded with a 20-6 run, tying the game on Brunson's jumper late in the third period.
Knicks' Mitchell Robinson, playing with a broken right pinkie, contributed two points and six rebounds in 13 minutes. Despite injuries, Brunson remained effective, scoring 11 points in the first half.
Game two of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Friday night in San Antonio.