Knicks’ Jalen Brunson sends special message on Spurs after stealing Game 1

Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals is in the books, and it was the New York Knicks earning victory over the San Antonio Spurs by a 105-95 final score at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, putting New York the closest that they’ve ever been to an NBA title in over five decades.

The victory was made possible by another clutch playoff performance from Jalen Brunson, who scored 30 points; the Knicks also got 18 points from Karl-Anthony Towns.

The Knicks trailed for much of the game, and while they erased a 14-point deficit, they still respect the Spurs’ talent, as evidenced by Brunson’s postgame comments.

“They come ready to play more than any other team that we’ve faced,” Brunson said via SNY Knicks on X. “And so, we have the utmost respect for them. We know that we’ve got to be ready for Game 2. We just found a way to make big plays to end the game.”

"They come ready to play more than any other team that we've faced. We have the utmost respect for them. We know that we've got to be ready for Game 2."

Jalen Brunson talks about the Knicks' respect for the Spurs and how New York was able to win tonight: pic.twitter.com/fq7MoDR6FY

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 4, 2026

Despite making only seven of his 22 field goal attempts by the end of the third quarter, Brunson took his game to a new level in the fourth quarter with 14 points.

“I think it starts with my confidence. It comes with my work ethic,” Brunson said via NBC News. “Most importantly, knowing we’re on the road, and knowing my teammates have my back, I think that’s the biggest thing in an environment like this — the trust they have in me and the trust I have in them, it’s got us to this point.”

Game 2 of the NBA Finals will be played on Friday evening before the series shifts to New York.

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