The New York Knicks drew first blood in the NBA Finals, and now the pressure shifts squarely onto the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs have little time to dwell on Game 1’s collapse as they try to avoid heading to the rabid New York arena in an 0-2 hole.
Catch the game tomorrow, June 6th, Saturday, at 8:30 AM, Manila time.
AWAY: New York Knicks (1-0)
Projected Starting Five:
- Jalen Brunson
- Josh Hart
- Mikal Bridges
- OG Anunoby
- Karl-Anthony Towns
The magic continues for New York. Their playoff winning streak has now reached 12 games, and Game 1 featured yet another gritty comeback. The Knicks trailed by 14 in the second half, looked out of rhythm for long stretches, and still found a way.
As usual, Jalen Brunson was at the center of it all. Despite starting 1-for-7 and dealing with both knee and ankle issues during the game, the star guard once again delivered in crunch time. Brunson scored 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, capped by a difficult off-balance fadeaway jumper with 37 seconds remaining that effectively sealed the win. At this point, his late-game heroics are quite expected.
The supporting cast deserves plenty of credit as well. Josh Hart’s stat line won’t jump off the page offensively, but his four points came alongside 15 rebounds, six assists, and four steals in a classic do-everything performance. Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists while holding his own against Victor Wembanyama on both ends. The Knicks have already accomplished their primary goal by stealing home-court advantage, but they know the Spurs are too talented to assume anything. Staying locked in is critical.
HOME: San Antonio Spurs (0-1)
Projected Starting Five:
- De’Aaron Fox
- Stephon Castle
- Devin Vassell
- Julian Champagnie
- Victor Wembanyama
The Spurs built a 14-point second-half lead and appeared in control before running out of steam late in the game. Considering they were coming off an emotionally draining Western Conference Finals battle against Oklahoma City, some fatigue may have lingered despite the three-day break between series.
Victor Wembanyama finished with 26 points, but it was hardly his most efficient night. The superstar shot just 6-for-21 from the field, including nine attempts from beyond the arc. Against a physical Knicks defense, San Antonio may need him to attack the basket more aggressively rather than settling for perimeter jumpers. De’Aaron Fox was also unusually quiet, scoring just seven points on 3-for-13 shooting.
The Spurs need more across the board. Stephon Castle was serviceable but not impactful enough, while rookie Dylan Harper provided 16 points and several key plays despite surprisingly limited minutes during the decisive fourth quarter. Julian Champagnie was excellent early, knocking down five first-half threes and scoring 15 points, but completely disappeared after halftime.
The good news for San Antonio is that one loss doesn’t define a series. The bad news is that falling behind 0-2 before heading to Madison Square Garden would put enormous pressure on a young team still learning how to navigate the Finals stage.
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