PORTALBERITA.CO.ID - The New York Knicks secured a crucial early advantage in the championship series, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night. This opening victory was largely anchored by a game-high 30-point performance from Knicks guard Jalen Brunson.
The pivotal factor in the win was New York's defensive strategy, which successfully neutralized the Spurs' biggest threat. The Knicks held San Antonio superstar center Victor Wembanyama to a difficult 6-of-21 shooting performance from the field.
This defensive effort extended the Knicks' impressive postseason run, marking their 11th consecutive win as they executed their game plan flawlessly against the Spurs’ primary offensive engine. The game took place in the context of the NBA Finals, the league's biggest stage.
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson made a significant appearance despite a recent serious hand injury sustained during the Eastern Conference Finals. As reported by Diah Dentaria Ramida, Robinson played 13 minutes despite having recently undergone surgery for a fractured fifth metacarpal bone in his right hand.
When questioned about the specifics of how the injury occurred, Robinson remained focused strictly on the competition at hand. "I'm here to talk about basketball," said Robinson, Knicks center.
Robinson emphasized his determination not to let the injury sideline him after investing nearly a decade striving for this moment. "I'm not going to miss the chance to play after waiting eight years to make it to the NBA Finals," said Robinson, Knicks center.
Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson made a notable strategic substitution late in the contest, benching rookie guard Dylan Harper with 4:04 remaining, after which the Knicks finished the game on a decisive 11-0 run. Coach Johnson defended this late-game rotation choice during his post-game availability.
Defending the decision to pull the rookie, Johnson stated, "Dylan had a heck of a game, and he was playing very well... Dylan did not finish the game by nothing that he did or did not do," said Johnson, Spurs coach.
Johnson also pointed to significant issues with San Antonio's overall offensive execution, specifically highlighting poor ball distribution. According to the head coach, the team managed only 16 assists, significantly below their playoff average of 25.1 per game.
