For nearly three quarters, Game 1 looked like it was already decided, with the Spurs, for the most part, maintaining a lead over the Knicks in the first game of the 2026 Finals. San Antonio, with home court advantage, was controlling the tempo throughout the beginning of the game.
However, in the span of 12 crucial minutes, the New York Knicks turned a 14-point deficit into a 105-95 victory with Jalen Brunson leading the charge.
Game 1 revealed a lot about San Antonio’s efficiency, the Knicks’ late-game execution, and Finals pressure.
The Fourth Quarter Clutch
The final quarter of Game 1 was an amazing performance from New York and also a warning sign for San Antonio.
The Knicks had 0 turnovers in the entire fourth quarter, while the Spurs had 5. The Spurs were repeatedly giving away possessions and allowing the Knicks to close the gap and eventually take the lead. To make things worse, the Spurs shot just 28.6% from the field in the final period, allowing the Knicks to completely seize the momentum.
By the end of the game, Jalen Brunson had 30 points and was controlling the outcome of the game. 13 points of his 30 came in the final stretch, despite suffering multiple injury scares early on regarding his knee and his ankle. Every time the Spurs attempted to stabilise, Brunson was there to respond with another shot, another drive, and another moment of control.
Brunson, for the most part, wasn’t having the most efficient game, shooting 12-31 from the field and 2-9 from the three. However, this didn’t matter as when the game edged closer to the end, he was the one leading unanswered runs. His 13 points in the final quarter alone consisted of tough mid-ranges, clutch threes, and dominant drives to the rim.
Whilst the Spurs spent three quarters building an advantage, Brunson spent one quarter tearing it down.
Wembanyama’s Performance
On paper, Wembanyama looked dominant. He had:
26 points
12 rebounds
3 blocks.
When you see a stat-line like that, it’s hard not to be impressed; however, Game 1 was not a superstar performance from the Spurs’ centrepiece.
Wembanyama shot just 6-for-21 from the field and 2-for-9 from the three. He also had 6 turnovers throughout the night, with several of those mistakes coming during the decisive stretch of the game, including a crucial late turnover as New York was pulling away.
The Knicks didn’t seem to be stopping Wembanyama from producing, but instead, they stopped him from controlling the game.
Defensive Formula
Game 1 had it all and was an exciting start to what will be an intense series between the New York and San Antonio.
However, one thing that has been overlooked is the defensive developments the Knicks made that were gradually changing Wembanyama’s influence on the game.
Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds and played a vital role in helping pull Wembanyama away from the rim, which Josh Hart was able to capitalise on by getting 15 rebounds. As the game progressed, the Spurs’ defensive anchor became less impactful around the basket, opening opportunities for New York’s offence later in the game.
Towns and the Knicks weren’t necessarily trying to stop Wembanyama, but instead, they were trying to make him defend everywhere, removing his dominance from around the basket. If Towns continues to force Wembanyama into uncomfortable defensive positions, the 7-foot-4 star for the Spurs could potentially become less overwhelming to deal with.
Besides the impact of Towns and a struggling performance from Wembanyama, the rest of the Spurs seemed to be struggling to deal with the constant pressure from New York.
De’Aaron Fox, the veteran leading the young team, shot just 3-for-13 from the field, and the Spurs only managed to score 95 points on 99 possessions, with only 9 points on their final 15 possessions.
What We Learned Going Forward
Game 1, by no means, has proven that the Knicks are the better team than the Spurs. With San Antonio’s supporting players stepping up and providing more support to Wembanyama, the possibility of winning the Finals is high.
However, Game 1 did show that the Knicks are the more dependable team. The Spurs will leave Game 1 knowing they can play much better. Wembanyama was inefficient, Fox struggled, and fourth-quarter execution was poor.
However, these things can, and will, be improved.
But New York should feel even better. Despite spending the majority of the game behind, they were able to come back and steal a crucial Game 1 win by overturning a 14-point deficit against the favourites in the series. More importantly, the qualities of resilience, composure, and late-game execution that have defined their playoff run so far were on full display on the biggest stage.
When the game begins to tighten up, and each possession becomes that much more important, New York certainly trusts itself more than San Antonio does.
