Finals Game One: A New York Minute

It's that time again! Another National Basketball Association season coming down to two teams fighting for hardwood supremacy, and this year, it's the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks battling it out. The Spurs are definitely ahead of schedule; this was supposed to be another year where they were getting closer, but look what's happened. Second-best record in the NBA, easily dismantled the Portland Trail Blazers in five games (West Quarters), and the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games (West Semis). The ultimate test was last year's champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Spurs had been handling the Thunder in the regular season, but could they do it in the Western Conference Finals? Yes. Seven games, and a strong road victory in Game Seven to reach the Finals for the first time in 12 years.

As for the New York Knicks, they entered this season coming off being defeated in the Eastern Conference Finals by the Indiana Pacers, but they rebounded and finished third in the Eastern Conference--just a hair behind the Boston Celtics in the Atlantic Division. The Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks in a six game East Quarters series, but after that, sweeps against the Philadelphia 76ers (East Semis) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (East Finals). The Knicks entered the Finals having won 11 straight games, an absolutely impressive run so far.

The Spurs and Knicks are facing each other in the Finals for the first time since 1999, during that lockout shortened season that saw the Knicks reach the Finals as a #8 seed. Think about how long ago that was. I had graduated junior high. Family Guy had premiered months prior, while Who Wants to Be a Millionaire hadn't premiered yet. None of the NHL's Hughes brothers were born yet, and speaking of the NHL, the Atlanta Thrashers hadn't debuted yet.

Regarding this go-around, Game One in San Antonio saw the Knicks off to a bit of a good start, but the Spurs managed to take an eight point lead into the second quarter. The Knicks did what they've been doing for a month: climbing back into games, but the Spurs fought back, and took a 55-48 lead at halftime. San Antonio started out the third quarter dominating, taking a 14 point lead, and it really looked like the Spurs were going to take this one and end the Knicks' winning streak.

And then Wemby rested, and that opened the floodgates.

The Spurs' 14 point lead was suddenly kaput. The Knicks went in a huge run that actually saw them take the lead, but after three quarters, it was 76-76. The fourth quarter as back-and-forth, and it was tied again at 86, but it would be followed by eight straight points from Jalen Brunson. The Spurs did have a late lead, only for the Knicks to go on an 11-0 run and never look back.

The New York Knicks won Game One, 105-95, marking the second straight year that the road team won Game One of the Finals. Already, the Knicks have matched their win total from the 1999 Finals against the Spurs. Jalen Brunson finished with 30 points, with 13 of them coming in the fourth quarter. Karl-Anthony Towns had 18 points and a dozen rebounds, and while Josh Hart only had three points, he had 15 boards. For San Antonio, Victor Wembanyama had 26 points and 12 rebounds, and Julian Champagnie went 5-for-10 from behind the arc.

So the Knicks strike first and take Game One, which is their 12th straight win overall. The winner of Game One of the Finals goes on to win the series 55 out of 79 times, which is 69.6% of the time. However, last year's Finals saw the Pacers win Game One, and it didn't work out for them. Even so, the Spurs have their backs to the wall, having lost Game One at home.

Game Two is Friday in San Antonio.

* * *

If you like this story, click the heart and the subscribe button, and feel free to comment below! Tips and pledges would be greatly appreciated, as they help support my writing, but only if you want to do so!