(non-overtime game by the way. I was obviously around for the Allen Iverson stepover 😅)

The Spurs had a 65-51 lead with 18:31 left to play in Game 1 From that point on through the end of the game, San Antonio was outscored 31-30 by Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby just those two* *other Knicks scored as well

Both the Knicks and Spurs scored 24 points in the paint in the second half of Game 1 The Knicks did not shoot great outside the paint (7/27 FGs) in second half But San Antonio were a terrible 2/20 FGs on shots outside the paint in second half

While the Spurs were the best team in the league at defending without fouling They were also one of the worst teams in the league at forcing turnovers. Second half of Game 1: Spurs had zero steals and Knicks had a 10:1 assist-turnover ratio.

Minor rotation notes -- Both teams cut from 10 to 9 after halftime. Odd men out were Jordan Clarkson and Carter Bryant.

Dylan Harper wasn't good in the second half at all (4 points, 2/5 FGs, Spurs outscored by 17 points in those minutes)

The San Antonio Spurs have now lost 3 games to the Knicks this season, including the NBA Cup. Here are the largest Spurs leads in those games! December in Las Vegas: 11 March in New York: 12 June in San Antonio: 14 Knicks wound up winning all of these games by double digits

Tonight was Victor Wembanyama's third game of the postseason shooting under 30 percent from the field Tonight was tied for Wembanyama's most field goal attempts (21) in a sub-30 percent game of his career (regular or postseason)

The Knicks outscored the Spurs by 22 points in the 26:47 that Josh Hart (15 rebounds, 6 assists, zero turnovers, four steals, one block) was on the floor in Game 1 at San Antonio

Jalen Brunson (12/31 FGs) is the first player to take more than 30 shots in a NBA Finals road game and win since Michael Jordan (15/35 FGs) did it in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals: the last game of The Last Dance

this stat has the juice

This is the first time that the Spurs have ever lost a Game 1 of a NBA Finals Prior to tonight, the Spurs had only attempted 30+ 3s in one Finals game (Game 3, 2013). Tonight, the Spurs missed 32 of 43 3-point attempts.

This is the first time the Knicks have had a LEAD in the NBA Finals since they won Game 5 in 1994 That is the White Bronco game by the way

Jalen Brunson extends his Knicks franchise record of postseason career 30-point games to 27 tonight (sixth this postseason)

Make that four empty trips since Wemby's go-ahead free throws and that's a WRAP on Game 1

Victor Wembanyama's offensive deficiencies have been glaring tonight

Victor Wembanyama makes his second 3 of the game to force Mike Brown to use a timeout with 4:48 left -- we officially have clutch time Both teams with only two timeouts left

Julian Champagnie has had two horrible missed 3s in this second half, both missing the rim and going wide right off the glass on the way down

Is Kevin Harlan doing radio 😅

20-point turnaround over the last 12 minutes of this game and Spurs are down to two timeouts for the last 6:34.

That Castle 3 is the ONLY 3 the Spurs have made in a second half so far tonight out of 13 attempts with 7:37 left in regulation. The Knicks defense has been blessed by bricks all spring long and that has continued tonight as part of this comeback.

That's back-to-back corner 3s for the NBA LEADER in corner 3s this season, OG Anunoby

This is the THIRD NBA Finals Game 1 that is tied through 3 quarters - 1959 Lakers at Boston (Celtics swept Lakers) - 2015 Cavaliers at Golden State (Warriors won in OT and series in 6)

Victor Wembanyama had missed 10 of 13 shots. Including 5 of 6 3s. He needs to start hating Karl-Anthony Towns like he was hating CHET

As expected, San Antonio's 14-point lead is GONE Spurs had double-digit leads in both games that they lost to the Knicks this season (including NBA Cup)

Stephon Castle not being a natural shooter kept him out of Atlanta and Houston

The Spurs are, as expected, enjoying Jalen Brunson hunting shots

Knicks tried to get OG Anunoby free on a Jalen Brunson flex screen Anunoby got a catch in the paint, but Spurs collapsed on him like vultures and Knicks only got a missed Josh Hart 3 out of the possession.

Spurs did an extraordinary job beating Oklahoma City's league-best transition defense in the WCF That pace has carried over to begin the NBA Finals: Spurs outscored Knicks' strong transition defense 14-2 in first half of Game 1

Jalen Brunson and Victor Wembanyama combined to make only 7/23 field goals in that first half Knicks getting outscored by 11 points with Brunson on floor (outscoring Spurs by 4 points in 6:34 that Brunson has been on bench) Spurs outscoring Knicks with and w/o Wemby on floor

Free throws at halftime of Game 1, 2026 NBA Finals! New York Knicks: 2/3 Victor Wembanyama: 4/4 (see earlier note about Spurs defense not allowing free throws AT ALL)

De'Aaron Fox: steals Brunson for a layup, then splits Knicks pick-and-roll defense to assist Champagnie's FIFTH 3 of the half.

Jalen Brunson is cooking a player in Carter Bryant that I'm not sure guarded Jalen Brunson all season.

Jalen Brunson now has injuries to his right knee and left ankle both sides of lower body

Jordan Clarkson, one of two Knicks from Wagner high school in San Antonio, is in the game

Devin Vassell has been way off to begin Game 1. His third missed 3 in as many attempts led him to have to cover Towns in transition. Towns was able to wall Vassell off as Alvarado drove to the rim to score

Karl-Anthony Towns is repeatedly beating the Defensive Player of the Year from arc to rim

The Spurs have been the best defense in the NBA at prohibiting free throws. The Knicks attempted 24 field goals in that first quarter and zero free throws.

Dylan Harper, a Becky Hammon approved-sized guard, is outscoring Jalen Brunson 10-3

Harrison Barnes has only played in six of 18 first quarters in this postseason, but three of them came in the Western Conference Finals, and he is in NOW

That's an 8-0 DYLAN HARPER run from the time he intercepted Jalen Brunson's pass through his 3-pointer to cap San Antonio's go-ahead run

Karl-Anthony Towns is utilizing his range and attacking Wembanyama's height and has two driving scores now.

I hope now that we are in the era of broadcasting lineup intros again that all of these teams are encouraged to go to extraordinary levels on their pregame hype sequences! Be inspired and don't use AI unless it is Allen Iverson dammit

Adam Silver just basically said y'all gotta pay attention to players 6 through 10 on good teams 👁️

Silver on A********* continued: "My job is to follow the facts… I don't have a specific timeline on when they will be completed. I think it's clear that they're far along…

Adam Silver on Aspiration (or A*********) "I think I wouldn't be doing my job if ultimately, I issued a determination based on perception"

For the last time #DontOverreactToGame1s

They got nuns at the game tonight or nah

So Caleb Wilson is New Balance too Don’t let him slip to five lol