The New York Knicks kicked off the 2026 NBA Finals with a definitive 105-95 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday (Philippine time), establishing an early 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven title series.
Jalen Brunson spearheaded the offense with a stellar 30-point outing, fueling a decisive fourth-quarter surge. The win marked New York’s 12th consecutive victory in the postseason, cementing their place in elite basketball history.
With this achievement, the Knicks became just the third franchise in NBA history to string together at least 12 straight playoff wins.
They join the 1999 San Antonio Spurs, who also won 12 in a row, and the 2017 Golden State Warriors, who hold the record with 15 consecutive postseason victories.
Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in a dominant double-double, racking up 18 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists, while OG Anunoby provided crucial spacing with 17 points, highlighted by three conversions from long range.
San Antonio controlled the tempo early on, leveraging a well-rounded offensive attack to head into halftime with a 55-48 lead. The Spurs sustained their advantage for the majority of the third period until New York engineered a gritty comeback, erasing the lead to knot the score at 76-76 heading into the final frame.
The Knicks completely took over in the fourth quarter, suffocating the Spurs defensively and outscoring them 29-19 to transform a tight battle into a comfortable double-digit win.
Victor Wembanyama led the charge for San Antonio, anchoring his team with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks, but the Spurs ultimately faltered against the Knicks’ superior execution down the stretch.
New York will look to maintain their historic momentum and extend their series lead when the teams clash for Game 2 on Saturday, June 6 (Philippine time).