The New York Knicks opened the NBA Finals with a statement, erasing a 14-point second-half deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-95.
Jalen Brunson was the catalyst with 30 points, but the defining moment came with the Knicks trailing 95-94 and 2:16 remaining.
Victor Wembanyama had just made two free throws to put San Antonio ahead, only for Brunson to respond immediately with a corner three that put New York in front for good.
The Knicks closed the game on an 11-0 run to seal a historic win, the first time a team has beaten San Antonio in a Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The Spurs had been perfect in six previous series openers.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points and 12 rebounds, while OG Anunoby contributed 17 as New York showed the character that has defined their playoff run.
Wembanyama, in his finals debut, was the story for different reasons. The French phenom finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds but shot just 6 of 21 from the field, and was candid afterwards.
“I was bad tonight,” he said. “It’s not more complicated than that.”
San Antonio, playing in front of their legends and a raucous home crowd, will have the chance to respond in Game 2 on Friday night.