The New York Knicks walked into San Antonio, trailed by 14 points at half-time, and walked out with a 105-95 victory in Game 1. Tonight the series shifts to AT&T Center for Game 2, tip-off at 8:30 PM ET on ABC. Victor Wembanyama was subdued in the opener but told reporters he is "not worried." He tends to be right about things like that.
How Game 1 actually played out
San Antonio came out aggressive. Their pick-and-roll coverage took Jalen Brunson off the ball early, forcing the Knicks into mid-range pull-ups that didn't fall. At the break the Spurs led by double digits and the Knicks were shooting under 40 percent from the field. Then New York did what this group has done all post-season: they tightened the screws defensively, got to the free-throw line, and gradually erased the gap.
Brunson finished with 30 points, six assists, and zero panic. Karl-Anthony Towns was a problem in the paint — 18 points, 11 rebounds — and OG Anunoby held Wembanyama to 22 points on 7-of-20 shooting, forcing him away from his preferred left-hand finishes at the rim. For 48 minutes in a road game that looked like it might go the other way, that was a quiet masterpiece from a Knicks defence built for exactly this kind of assignment.
What the Spurs need to change
San Antonio's coaching staff will have spent the last 48 hours on two problems. The first is Brunson. When he gets into the paint he either scores or draws fouls, and neither outcome is acceptable for a team trying to protect its home court. Expect more help defence, earlier traps, and possibly a bigger body on him for stretches — which is exactly what the Knicks want, because it opens the floor for Towns.
The second is Wembanyama's shot selection. He took eleven pull-up jumpers in Game 1 and made three of them. That is not a sustainable number for a franchise player in a Finals. He is at his most dangerous when he catches deep in the post, faces up, and uses his absurd seven-foot-four wingspan to shoot over smaller guards. The Knicks took that away by keeping Anunoby glued to him before he could establish position. Expect the Spurs to run more Wembanyama-centric actions in transition — get him catches in space, not standing catches in the paint with a defender already set.
The Knicks' road advantage problem
New York is 8-2 on the road this post-season, which is frankly absurd. But winning two straight in San Antonio would be a different kind of statement entirely. The Knicks' bench depth has been their secret weapon — Donte DiVincenzo and Miles McBride have combined for 28 points per game off the bench in the playoffs, running opponents off the three-point line and keeping New York's defensive intensity consistent across 48 minutes.
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich Jr has shown throughout this post-season that he is not afraid of lineup experiments. If Game 1 taught him anything, it's that playing small and fast against New York does not work — the Knicks are too physical in the half-court. Look for San Antonio to go bigger and use Zach Collins or Charles Bassey alongside Wembanyama for longer stretches to try to bully Towns off the glass.
Key matchup to watch: Wembanyama vs Anunoby
This is the series within the series. Anunoby has consistently been the only individual defender in the league capable of making life genuinely uncomfortable for elite scorers his size or smaller. He is 6-foot-7, 232 pounds, with a seven-foot-two wingspan — which still falls a full two inches short of Wembanyama's. The Frenchman can shoot over him; the question is whether he will choose to do so at the right moments or revert to the low-percentage isolations that cost San Antonio Game 1.
Prediction
Wembanyama has too much pride and too much talent to repeat a 7-of-20 performance at home. San Antonio will be louder tonight, the officiating will find its rhythm, and the Spurs will attack the paint more decisively in the first half. The series ties at 1-1 — but it will require a career performance from the 22-year-old to get there. Spurs win 108-101, Wembanyama 36 points. The series then heads to Madison Square Garden for what should be a spectacular Game 3 on Monday.
FAQ
What time is NBA Finals Game 2 tonight? Tip-off is at 8:30 PM ET on ABC. The game is at AT&T Center in San Antonio.
How can I follow the score live? Check Scorelisto's basketball live scores for real-time updates throughout the game.
Who has the series advantage heading into Game 2? The Knicks lead 1-0. In NBA Finals history, teams that win Game 1 go on to win the series roughly 76% of the time — though this Spurs team, with Wembanyama, is not a typical opponent.
When is Game 3? Game 3 moves to Madison Square Garden in New York on Monday, June 8. Games 4 and 5 (if necessary) are also in New York before the series returns to San Antonio. See the full blog index for our complete NBA Finals coverage.