Wembanyama cues, New York Knicks privateer in Finals game-1

The Knicks continue to impress. Despite finishing down by 14 points in the third quarter to San Antonio, New York came back and took Game 1 of the Finals thanks to the usual Jalen Brunson, decisive in the finale for the 105-95 win that earned the home-court advantage. For Coach Brown’s team, it is the 12th consecutive playoff victory, with the last loss coming 41 days ago. For the Spurs, it was a night with two faces for Victor Wembanyama: 26 points and 12 rebounds, but also a hefty 6/21 from the field and six turnovers.

The start was in favor of the Knicks, who attacked aggressively and touched +7. However, the entrance of rookie Harper changes the inertia: San Antonio posts a 12-0 partial, finds continuity from the arc with Champagnie and closes the first quarter ahead 27-19. In the second period Brunson, after a moment of apprehension due to a knee problem, returns to the court and leads the host comeback, but the Spurs still go to halftime up 55-48 thanks mainly to Champagnie’s 15 points.

At the start of the second half San Antonio stretches to +14, but Wembanyama’s temporary exit reignites Towns and the Knicks. Shamet and Anunoby hit from three, and New York completed a 17-4 partial that turned the match around. In the last quarter, the Spurs responded with a 9-0 run also signed by Wembanyama, but in the decisive moment Brunson emerged again: a triple from the corner and a spectacular basket with 37 seconds to go before the buzzer closed the score.

New York thus expels the Frost Bank Center and moves to 1-0 in the series. Game 2 is also scheduled in San Antonio on Friday night and Saturday at 2:30 a.m.

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