NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 16: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates a three-point basket against the Boston Celtics during the fourth quarter in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 16, 2025 in New York City. 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 Al Bello/Getty Images)
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The New York Knicks outscored the San Antonio Spurs 29-19 in the fourth quarter to take Game One of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night, 105-95.
It was the Knicks’ 12th straight win of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, and their seventh straight by double digits, dating back to the team’s six-point victory in Game Two of the East Semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Though the Knicks got off to a hot start on the evening, jumping out to a 14-7 over the first six minutes, the team would quickly cool off. New York was down 27-19 at the end of the first quarter, and 55-48 at half time, while shooting just 40.8% from the floor and 28.6% from three.
But the team’s strategy to try and wear out the Spurs’ defense and center Victor Wembanyama appeared to pay some dividends over the final quarter and a half.
The Knicks were down 61-50 nearly halfway through the third, and scored just five points over the first five minutes of that second half. Down 65-54, their backs were to the wall, much like they were in the first game against Cleveland.
And just like in that game, the Knicks – yet again – responded.
Brunson Burner Lights Up
Jalen Brunson fueled a 21-11 stretch to tie the game at 76-76 at the end of the third. And New York’s hot shooting would continue into the fourth quarter, too.
An OG Anunoby three stretched the newfound lead to 86-81. But San Antonio would answer with a Stephon Castle three and a Devin Vassell tip-in to knot it at 86-86.
Brunson would come alive once more, to score six straight after, to extend the lead to six at 92-86 with 6:34 to go.
He connected again coming out of a Spurs timeout, making it 94-86. New York’s defense clamped down to force consecutive turnovers, yet couldn’t capitalize. Then Wembanyama had his own takeover, scoring seven of the next nine straight for the Spurs, to regain the lead, 95-94.
Brunson answered with a corner three to stop the San Antonio run, giving the Knicks a 97-95 advantage. Mikal Bridges then hit two free throws to push New York up 99-95 with just over a minute to go. The Knicks then turned the Spurs over, with Brunson hitting a fadeaway jumper to go up six. Anunoby foul shots would ice the game with four free throws, as the Spurs didn’t score over the final two minutes and 16 seconds of the game.
Brunson led all scorers with 30 points on the night, after putting up just five in the first half. Wembanyama led the Spurs with 26, including 20 in the second half.
Wembanyama had 12 rebounds against the Knicks, though New York’s Josh Hart actually led all players with 15 boards.
Karl-Athony Towns put up 18 points and 12 boards, with four of those rebounds coming on the offensive glass (three of them in the second half). After the game, Towns noted “this team has unity, it has camaraderie,” and expressed that this has been something building since last year and is now fully coming to fruition.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – MAY 25: The New York Knicks celebrate with the Bob Cousy Trophy after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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)
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Knicks’ Historic Run
The Knicks’ 12 consecutive playoff wins, going back to game four in the first round versus. the Atlanta Hawks, is now tied for the second longest streak in NBA history.
The 1999 Spurs also won 12 straight, including the first two games of that year’s Finals against these same Knicks.
New York would need to sweep San Antonio in the Finals in order to tie the record for consecutive playoff wins (the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors).
The Knicks’ seven straight double-digit wins in the playoffs are one shy of tying the longest mark in NBA history. New York’s 12 double-digit wins are closing in on the NBA record as well. The team already has the longest streak of double-digit road wins in NBA history (breaking a record of five, set by the 2016-17 Warriors and 2012-13 Miami Heat).
Contextualizing The Game One Upset
Teams that win the first game of the NBA Finals have gone on to win the series 69.6% of the time (55-24). Though interestingly, teams that won Game One of the NBA Finals on the road won the series just 42.1% of the time, going 8-11 all-time.
New York won the first game of all three series prior to the Finals. San Antonio, meanwhile, beat both Portland and Oklahoma City in those respective game ones, but lost to Minnesota in the first game of that series.
The Knicks and Spurs will tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET on Friday, June 5 as the Spurs try to avoid going down 2-0.
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