Knicks' Jalen Brunson Delivers Strong Message of Respect to Spurs

The New York Knicks went into San Antonio and stole Game 1 from the Spurs on Wednesday night, taking a 1-0 lead in the 2026 NBA Finals.

Just as they have been throughout the playoffs, the Knicks were led by superstar point guard Jalen Brunson - who finished the contest with a game-high 30 points.

With Wednesday night’s Game 1 victory, the Knicks extended their ongoing win streak to 12 games. New York notched back-to-back series sweeps over the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers, with their last loss dating back to Game 3 of their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks.

Brunson said the Spurs were “more ready” than any other team they’ve played in the postseason.

“They come ready to play more than any other team that we’ve faced,” Brunson said postgame. “We have the utmost respect for them. We know that we’ve got to be ready for Game 2.”

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Brunson, who appeared to suffer an injury early in the Game 1 contest, scored 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter.

"He’s a gamer, man," Knicks coach Mike Brown said of Brunson postgame. "In the biggest moments, he shows up. That’s what MVPs are supposed to do."

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Game 2 will tipoff at 8:30 p.m. ET from San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center on Friday. Game 3 and Game 4 will be played at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 11:24 AM.