点击查看原文：NBA Finals, Game 1: Spurs look to regroup after Brunson, Knicks win
NBA Finals, Game 1: Spurs look to regroup after Brunson, Knicks win
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts to a play during Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
Jalen Brunson scored 30 points to spark a rally as the New York Knicks surged to a 105-95 win against the Spurs in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday at the Frost Bank Center.
In a grinding, defense-first game, Brunson hit just 12 of 31 shots. But the Spurs shot 36.0% overall and 25.6% from 3-point range, struggling to maintain an early rhythm that helped San Antonio build a lead as large as 14 points.
Victor Wembanyama scored 26 points on 6-of-21 shooting with 12 rebounds and three blocks, but he also committed six turnovers in his NBA Finals debut. Stephon Castle posted 17 points, Julian Champagnie scored 15 of his 16 points in the opening half, and Dylan Harper also notched 16.
The young Spurs now face a 1-0 deficit in the NBA Finals, with Game 2 set for 7:30 p.m. Friday in San Antonio. Catch up on live updates and postgame reaction from Game 1:
Victor Wembanyama finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in the first NBA Finals game of his career, but he didn’t back away from the idea that his performance was subpar. He hit just 6 of 21 shots (28.6%) and also posted six turnovers.
“I’m going to figure it out. I was bad tonight," Wembanyama said. "It’s not more complicated than that.”
Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, on Game 1: “I’m going to figure it out. I was bad tonight. It’s not more complicated than that.” pic.twitter.com/MXMCWvGVfO
— Spurs Nation (@ Spurs_Nation) June 4, 2026
But Wembanyama projected a sense of confidence not just in himself but in the Spurs, believing the group can recapture its usual form.
“It’s almost not like I have anything to figure out. It’s almost like I have to play normal, not even good. Just doing the right things is enough,” Wembanyama said. “When we play bad, when I play bad, is when we shoot ourselves in the foot. This is why I’m not worried. We’re going to be so much better.”
Spurs center Victor Wembanyama: “It’s almost like I have to play normal, not even good. Just doing the right things is enough. When we play bad, when I play bad, is when we shoot ourselves in the foot. This is why I’m not worried. We’re going to be so much better.” pic.twitter.com/JpHcYl1QVF
— Spurs Nation (@ Spurs_Nation) June 4, 2026
For Spurs coach Mitch Johnson, that starts with Wembanyama being more aggressive attacking the basket.
“We got to get him moving in space and toward the rim, whether that’s on rolls or running in transition,” Johnson said. "But we need the pressure on the rim and the force in the paint. They did a good job of obviously being physical and showing crowds. We need to do a better job of establishing that early on, for sure.”
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson, on Victor Wembanyama’s offense: “But we need the pressure on the rim and the force in the paint. They did a good job of obviously being physical and showing crowds. We need to do a better job of establishing that early on, for sure.” pic.twitter.com/sSiQea6pRs
— Spurs Nation (@ Spurs_Nation) June 4, 2026
For all the chatter about the inexperience of this young Spurs’ team, they’ve already proven they can rally from playoff deficits. They dropped Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Timberwolves before recovering to win in six, and they trailed both 2-1 and 3-2 against the Thunder in the conference finals before pulling out the series in Game 7.
“We’ve been down in a series before. Never in the finals, obviously. But I’m not kicking myself about anything," center Victor Wembanyama said. "I’m not worried in the slightest.”
Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, after a Game 1 loss to the Knicks: “We’ve been down in a series before. Never in the finals, obviously. But I’m not kicking myself about anything. I’m not worried in the slightest.” pic.twitter.com/0HH8GrSQrF
— Spurs Nation (@ Spurs_Nation) June 4, 2026
Asked about Wembanyama’s confidence, Spurs guard Dylan Harper said the feeling was common across the roster.
“I think we’re all confident. I feel like that is kind of who he is. He never backs down from the moment. He always kind of steps up and meets it," Harper said. "We’re also confident. But we have a chip on our shoulder from this game we just lost. You never want to lose. I feel like going into the next game, we’re going to be even hungrier, keep on improving.”
Spurs guard Dylan Harper, on Wemby’s confidence moving forward: “I think we’re all confident. I feel like that is kind of who he is. He never backs down from the moment. …I feel like going into the next game, we’re going to be even hungrier, keep on improving.” pic.twitter.com/C4YL0rVEiu
— Spurs Nation (@ Spurs_Nation) June 4, 2026
Harper added that a patient approach could help the Spurs get back on track.
“Obviously you want to win every game, but sometimes it doesn’t go your way," Harper said. "For us, it’s more about playing the long game and just being consistent in our habits. I think that’s the biggest part. I feel like if we just stay consistent, everything’s going to work out.”
Spurs guard Dylan Harper, on a Game 1 loss: “Sometimes it doesn’t go your way. … For us, it’s more about playing the long game and just being consistent in our habits. I think that’s the biggest part. I feel like if we just stay consistent, everything’s going to work out.” pic.twitter.com/17MOmI24bG
— Spurs Nation (@ Spurs_Nation) June 4, 2026
Looking back at how the Spurs let a lead as large as 14 points slip away in the second half, coach Mitch Johnson pointed to an array of factors: defensive breakdowns, hurried offensive possessions, and allowing too many offensive rebounds.
But perhaps more than anything else, Johnson zoomed in on the Spurs’ 16 total assists, well below the team’s playoff average of 25.1 assists per game coming into the night. The last time the Spurs finished with fewer than 16 assists in a game was March 11, 2022, when they had 15 in a 104-102 win over Utah.
“Missing shots or not, 16 assists for us is not our brand of basketball,” Johnson said. “Just zoomed all the way out, there’s a lot of things that we’ve discussed in this press conference that we can get better at and clean up. That’s something that is not up to the standard, anywhere close to what we’re used to and how we play.”
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson: “Missing shots or not, 16 assists for us is not our brand of basketball. … That’s something that is not up to the standard, anywhere close to what we’re used to and how we play.” pic.twitter.com/cQ28mY3OFp
— Spurs Nation (@ Spurs_Nation) June 4, 2026
The Spurs missed plenty of shots, too, shooting 36% overall and 25.6% from 3-point range. Though Johnson said he wants the Spurs to hunt for 3-point opportunities in transition, he wants those opportunities to come in rhythm, and some of Wednesday’s 43 attempts from beyond the arc may not have fit the bill.
“There might have been some questionable ones,” Johnson said. "We can’t work outside in. We’ve got to go more inside out, for sure.”
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson, on the 3-point selection: “We want to hunt threes in transition, but we also want those to be in rhythm and feel like they’re our shot. There might have been some questionable ones. … We can’t work outside in. We’ve got to go more inside out.” pic.twitter.com/Y3sSqNv3Il
— Spurs Nation (@ Spurs_Nation) June 4, 2026
Spurs guard Dylan Harper found a lot of areas that must be patched up.
“There are a lot of controllables on our end. I don’t feel like we held ourselves to the highest standard," Harper said. "I feel like we let a lot of those slip away from us. We’re going to be better, bounce back. We just got to keep staying positive.”
Spurs’ Dylan Harper, on a Game 1 loss: “There are a lot of controllables on our end. I don’t feel like we held ourselves to the highest standard. I feel like we let a lot of those slip away from us. We’re going to be better, bounce back. We just got to keep staying positive.” pic.twitter.com/vKrS2Uinl4
— Spurs Nation (@ Spurs_Nation) June 4, 2026
The Knicks did much of their work on the interior in Game 1, outscoring the Spurs 50-42 in the paint and 23-14 in second-chance points.
For guard Stephon Castle, San Antonio’s top defensive stopper, the issues were straightforward.
“I think their offensive rebounds, and probably just containing the ball. I feel like a lot of their drives were on-the-ball drives," Castle said. "They weren’t really, we help there, somebody else gets an in-rhythm catch. It was really just on the ball. So containing the ball better, and yeah, keeping them off the glass.”
Spurs guard Stephon Castle, on the Knicks’ paint scoring: “I think their offensive rebounds, and probably just containing the ball. I feel like a lot of their drives were on-the-ball drives. They weren’t really, we help there, somebody else gets an in-rhythm catch.” pic.twitter.com/TAxpBcwBZz
— Spurs Nation (@ Spurs_Nation) June 4, 2026
The Spurs ended the game with a 52-49 edge in rebounding, with contributions spread through the roster. Victor Wembanyama unsurprisingly led the way with 12, but Julian Champagne had 10, Devin Vassell had nine, and Castle and Dylan Harper each had eight.
“We know we have to control the boards. In this series, they like to crash the glass," Vassell said. "So, it can’t just be one half where we’re crashing the glass. We have to help Vic. We have to help the bigs down there. That’s going to be a huge part of the series.”
Spurs guard Devin Vassell: “We know we have to control the boards. In this series, they like to crash the glass. So it can’t just be one half where we’re crashing the glass. We have to help Vic. We have to help the bigs down there. That’s going to be a huge part of the series.” pic.twitter.com/MUwQ0BaliS
— Spurs Nation (@ Spurs_Nation) June 4, 2026
The Spurs made Knicks star Jalen Brunson work for his 30 points in Game 1, holding him to 12-of-31 shooting with four turnovers against just two assists.
But with the game on the line in the fourth quarter, Brunson delivered an MVP-caliber performance, scoring 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting with no turnovers. Knicks coach Mike Brown said Brunson “did what MVP candidates are supposed to do” and “carried us home.”
“In the biggest moments, he shows up," Brown said. "We put the ball in his hands and said we are going to live and die with him. And he got it done for us, and that’s happened time after time after time. He got to his spots, and he made plays.”
Knicks coach Mike Brown, on Jalen Brunson: “In the biggest moments, he shows up, and that’s what MVPs are supposed to do. We put the ball in his hands and said we are going to live and die with him. And he got it done for us, and that’s happened time after time after time.” pic.twitter.com/YwFxL4L09r
— Spurs Nation (@ Spurs_Nation) June 4, 2026
Brunson said he wasn’t surprised the hard-nosed Spurs put him to the test.
“They come ready to play more than any other team that we’ve faced, and so we have the utmost respect for them. We know we have to be ready for Game 2. We just found a way to make plays within the game.”
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson on the Spurs: “They come ready to play more than any other team that we’ve faced, and so we have the utmost respect for them. We know we have to be ready for Game 2. We just found a way to make plays within the game.” pic.twitter.com/KISevRiQWX
— Spurs Nation (@ Spurs_Nation) June 4, 2026
The Spurs used a 9-0 run to poke back ahead, but Jalen Brunson knocked down a 3-pointer to give him 28 points and stake the Knicks to a narrow lead.
Crunch time in the Frost Bank Center with less than two minutes to play in Game 1.
After a brief stoppage due to a fan running on the court, Jalen Brunson continued to surge for the Knicks, driving for a layup to give him eight straight points as New York took its largest lead of the game.
The fan, who was trying to take a selfie, was escorted off the court by a pair of security guards. Officials stopped play briefly and spoke to both coaches before resuming the game on a jump ball.
A couple minutes later, Victor Wembanyama connected on his second 3-pointer of the night, cutting San Antonio’s deficit to five points with just under five minutes to play. Expect a tight finish.
Jalen Brunson hit a transition layup to cap a run of six straight points all by himself, forcing a Spurs timeout as the Knicks have taken one of their largest leads of the night at 92-86 with 6:34 to play.
After a rough shooting start, Brunson is up to a game-high 23 points on 9-of-24 shooting.
With a couple days off to heal a nagging ankle injury between the Western Conference finals and the start of the NBA Finals, the Spurs hoped guard De’Aaron Fox would be closer to 100%.
Whether the injury is a factor or not, Fox has not scored at a high level in his first NBA Finals game, sitting with seven points on 3-of-12 shooting early in the fourth quarter. He has five assists and one turnover, but the Knicks have clawed back in a game the Spurs once led by double digits, going up by four on a corner 3 from OG Anunoby with a little more than nine minutes to play.
San Antonio might need Fox, the former Clutch Player of the Year, to come through in a bigger way down the stretch.
Karl-Anthony Towns has a double-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists before the end of the third quarter, at one point pushing New York into a tie.
The Knicks trailed by as many as 14 early in the period but have surged back into the game as the Spurs’ perimeter shooting has cooled.
Stephon Castle and the Spurs defense are making life difficult for Knicks star Jalen Brunson, holding him to 13 points on 6-of-19 shooting through almost three quarters of Game 1.
Brunson had been a Spurs killer, averaging 31.7 points per game across six meetings since arriving in New York in 2002. That included a career-high 61-point game in March 2024.
San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet (7) goes up to the basket as New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) makes a shot during Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
But that production was mostly before Castle, who has given opponents’ top scorers fits. In the Western Conference finals, Thunder MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shot just 40.9% across the seven-game series.
Despite the Spurs defensive success, the Knicks are making a push in Game 1, narrowing the deficit to six points to force a San Antonio timeout with about five minutes to play in the third quarter.
Victor Wembanyama’s first taste of the NBA Finals has come with peaks and valleys. He has 13 points, but on just 2-of-10 shooting. He’s notched three blocks and three rebounds, but also three turnovers.
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) looks to make a pass during Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
To hold off a New York rally in the second half, San Antonio likely needs more from Wemby. But his uneven start hasn’t stopped the Spurs from building a double-digit lead early in the third quarter.
Back on New Year’s Eve, Julian Champagnie set a Spurs record by making 11 3-pointers in a narrow victory over the Knicks.
The Brooklyn-born Champagnie is doing it again here in Game 1.
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) celebrated a play during the first quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
He hit 5 of 6 from beyond the arc in the first half, punctuating his flurry with a corner trey with 1.6 seconds remaining before intermission.
On a night in which both team’s stars have so far struggled to find the bottom of the net, Champagnie leads all scorers with 15 points at the break.
–Jeff McDonald
The Spurs lost their NBA Cup final matchup with the Knicks in large part because they got pounded on the boards.
So far in the opening game of the Finals, they’re holding their own on the boards.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) and New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reach for the ball during the first quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
The teams went into halftime with 26 rebounds each. Victor Wembanyama has only two, but Julian Champagnie and Dylan Harper have six each.
Devin Vassell and Stephon Castle have ripped down five apiece.
There’s a long way to go, but the Spurs are off to a good start in achieving one of their keys to victory.
-Tom Orsborn
Julian Champagnie poured in 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting from 3-point range during his first half in the NBA Finals, leading a hot opening half from beyond the arc as the Spurs lead the Knicks 55-48 at halftime.
After the Knicks rode a 3-point hot streak to an unprecedented winning streak and a spot in the NBA Finals, the Spurs leaned on the deep ball the most in Game 1, raining in 9 of 24 (37.5%) from beyond the arc. Champagnie set a Spurs franchise record for 3-pointers in an NBA Finals half, and San Antonio attempted just 21 shots from 2-point range.
The Knicks, meanwhile, hit just 6 of 20 (30%) from 3-point range.
Dylan Harper was No. 2 on the Spurs in scoring with 12 points off the bench, including 10 first-quarter points to mark the most by a rookie in the first quarter of an NBA Finals game.
Returning to the city where he played his high school basketball at Wagner, Knicks reserve Jordan Clarkson had a quiet first few minutes on the court, missing his only shot attempt.
A 12th-year veteran and former Sixth Man of the Year, the 33-year-old Clarkson played just 8.8 minutes per game during the Knicks’ sweep of the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox (4) reaches to try to block the ball during the first quarter Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
Clarkson enters the Finals averaging just 11.8 minutes and 5.4 points over 14 playoff games after averaging 17.8 minutes and 8.6 points, both career lows, in the regular season.
One of the storylines coming into the series was how Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns would manage to avoid foul trouble against Victor Wembanyama, especially if bench option Mitchell Robinson was limited by a finger injury.
But through the first 18 minutes of Game 1, New York’s perimeter players have had the hardest time avoiding fouls. Josh Hart has three, while Jose Alvarado and Landry Shamet each have two.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) looks to pass guarded by San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) and San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) during Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
Adding to the concerns for New York, star guard Jalen Brunson just suffered a second injury scare, slow to get up and grasping at his ankle after a layup.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson returned to the bench and is set to check back into the game early in the second quarter, allowing New York fans to breathe a sigh of relief after Brunson left the quarter with an apparent right knee injury late in the first quarter.
Hard-nosed big man Mitchell Robinson, whose status was in question for the series due to a finger injury, is also set to check in for his second stint of the game off the bench.
The Spurs’ offense was sputtering until rookie Dylan Harper entered the game midway through the first quarter.
He quickly scored eight consecutive points, ending the quarter with 10.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) and New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) battle for the ball during the first quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
The Spurs opened the game shooting 4 of 15, including 1 of 9 from 3-point range. Harper, as he has often done during his first NBA postseason, injected some life. Thanks to him, the Spurs are up 27-19 heading to the second quarter.
–Jeff McDonald
Knicks star Jalen Brunson headed back to the locker room after appearing to injure his right knee, marking a potentially major development in the early stages of the NBA Finals.
Brunson has been the focal point of the Knicks offense through the postseason, averaging 26.9 points per game. The Spurs lead 27-19 at the end of the first quarter.
When Julian Champagnie was waived by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2023, he wondered if his NBA career might be finished.
Three years later, Champagnie is stepping up for the Spurs in the NBA Finals, looking assertive as he knocked down 2 of his first 3 attempts from beyond the arc and grabbed four rebounds in less than eight minutes.
One of the youngest players competing in the NBA Finals as a 20-year-old rookie, Dylan Harper has made an early impact on Game 1, coming up with a steal to spark a transition opportunity and then finishing a layup through a foul to give the Spurs their first lead.
The rookie followed with a corner 3-pointer on San Antonio’s next possession, pushing him to eight points in his first four minutes on an NBA Finals court. The Spurs lead 22-17 as the Knicks call timeout to stop a 12-0 run with 2:33 to play in the first quarter.
One of the hungriest and strongest fan bases in the NBA, the Knicks faithful are making their presence felt in the Frost Bank Center, erupting when Jalen Brunson knocked down a 3-pointer on the game’s opening possession.
Spurs finals shirts are placed on the back of seats before Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
Though most of the crowd has donned the Spurs’ Fiesta-themed shirts in teal, orange and pink, the arena is dotted with Knicks fans, mostly dressed in white, who are making their voices heard.
The Knicks’ Jalen Brunson knocked down a 3-pointer to open Game 1, and the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama responded with a jumper at the other end.
The top two stars in the series are wasting little time as Game 1 is underway.
For the first time in the Victor Wembanyama era, the Spurs are set to compete in the NBA Finals, tipping off Game 1 against the Knicks on Wednesday in the Frost Bank Center.
A young San Antonio team that has arrived on this stage ahead of many pundits’ expectations has made a habit of meeting the moment this season. And despite the immense pressure on Wembanyama, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson has seen the 22-year-old, third-year phenom rise to the occasion many times before.
“There is some lofty stuff that’s in that, and with that being said, he’s never, ever from my point of view or experience ever put that in front of, or even next to, the team,” Johnson said. “I don’t know how that’s possible, other than I’ve just seen him do it.”
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson, on Victor Wembanyama meeting the moment amid pressure and expectations: “He’s never, ever from my point of view or experience, ever put that in front of, or even next to, the team. I don’t know how that’s possible, other than I’ve just seen him do it.” pic.twitter.com/DPw6apIn5n
— Spurs Nation (@ Spurs_Nation) June 3, 2026
Game 1 of the NBA Finals will mark his biggest test yet, as the Spurs are seeking their first championship since 2014. San Antonio enters Wednesday looking to improve on a 6-0 all-time record in NBA Finals Game 1s.
As the NBA works toward establishing a European expansion and the number of foreign stars continues to grow, NBA commissioner Adam Silver has seen Victor Wembanyama make a significant impact in France.
The live viewing windows might not be ideal, with games airing in the middle of the night, but the social media traffic is undeniable.
“In terms of social media, as you might imagine, the interest in Victor and this team is off the charts,” Silver said.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver, on Victor Wembanyama: “He’s just a huge personality, putting aside his size. … Players come along every once in a while that in addition to having this incredible skill, love the promotional side of it, and want to play that role for the league.” pic.twitter.com/QYHF7abTuJ
— Spurs Nation (@ Spurs_Nation) June 4, 2026
Speaking in San Antonio on Wednesday before the NBA Finals, Silver said he’s enjoyed getting to know Wembanyama’s “huge personality,” finding a star who also loves “the promotional side of it, and wants to play that role for the league.”
Despite immense pressure, Wembanyama has arrived at the Finals stage even sooner than anyone would’ve assumed.
“Did I have a specific expectations in terms of number of years it would take him to get to the finals? No,” Silver said. “But I would say just for trying to be objective observer, I think he’s ahead of any timeline that people had in mind.”
Jeremy Sochan’s stint with the Spurs didn’t go the way he wanted, but the little-used New York Knicks forward said before Game 1 of the NBA Finals he remains grateful for his three-plus seasons with the organization.
“Coming into the city, just straight away, feeling the culture of the fan base in Texas, it was great,” Sochan told the San Antonio Express-News on Wednesday. "Basketball-wise, it was great. I was coached under coach Pop (Gregg Popovich), had a great connection with him, relationship with him, learned a lot, as you know played a lot of different places, positions.
“It was a lot of ups and downs, but I think it’s who I am and it’s helped me a lot through the journey.”
The Spurs are set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday from the Frost Bank Center, with a broadcast on ABC. The game will also air on the radio on 1200 AM, or in Spanish on 1350 AM and 107.5 FM.
