The New York Knicks have made NBA history by snatching the opening game of the NBA Finals series, extending their playoff run to 12 consecutive wins. The Knicks came back from a 14-point deficit in the third quarter to defeat Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 on Thursday (AEST). Jalen Brunson scored 30 points to lead the Knicks, who seized the upper hand in the best-of-seven series with a gritty win on the Spurs' home court.
Game Highlights
Brunson, who finished 12-for-31, including 13 points in the fourth quarter, had multiple injury scares in the first half. Initially, in the first quarter, the Spurs' Harrison Barnes fell into his knee, and again in the second when Luke Kornet stepped on his ankle. However, he played through the rest of the game.
When asked how his team was able to turn the momentum, Brunson said: “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. 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 was just 6-for-21 but finished with 26 points.
Court Invasion Incident
After trailing by one point late in the fourth quarter, the Knicks scored nine consecutive points to lead 103-95. With the Knicks taking the ascendancy, the game was halted when a spectator ran onto the court towards Wembanyama, took out his phone, and attempted to take a selfie. The spectator reached Wembanyama before security staff surrounded him and escorted him off the court.
ABC commentator Mike Breen said fans had been “appropriately booing” the “idiot” spectator. “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,” Breen said. “It’s just too good for that to happen,” analyst Tim Legler added on-air.
Aftermath
The referees decided to give the Spurs possession at midcourt. However, after the delay, the Spurs missed a key shot, and the Knicks continued their momentum, winning by 10 points.
Brunson was one of four Knicks to finish in double figures, with Karl-Anthony Towns adding 18 points, OG Anunoby 17, and Landry Shamet 13. As has been the case throughout the playoffs, Brunson put the team on his back when it counted. He checked back in when the score was tied 86-86 with 7:37 left in the game and sealed the win for the Knicks.
Wembanyama top-scored for the Spurs, while Stephon Castle had 17 points, and Dylan Harper and Julian Champagnie added 16 points each.
Game two of the series takes place in San Antonio on Saturday (AEST). The Knicks are hoping to end a 53-year championship drought.
