Brunson Dropped 13 Points in the 4th, and the Knicks' 12-Game Streak is Making History

Holy smokes, did you see that?! The Knicks just went out there and straight up *stole* Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals, taking down the Spurs 105-95. And who else but Jalen Brunson to deliver the goods late, flipping the script after what sounds like a bit of a slow start. The dude absolutely turned it on in the clutch, dropping a ridiculous 13 points in the fourth quarter alone to seal the deal. If you weren't on the edge of your seat for that, you weren't watching! What a way to kick off the Finals.

Brunson's Clutch Heroics and the Supporting Cast

Seriously, Brunson's fourth-quarter effort was pure magic, straight out of a movie. He battled through some early "tweaks" and what the reports called "poor form" for a bit, but when it mattered most, he found his rhythm and became a force. He ended the night with a massive 30 points, but it was that late-game surge everyone will be talking about. That's a Finals performance right there, folks. But hey, let's not forget his teammates either. Karl-Anthony Towns and Landry Shamet weren't just passengers, they "stepped up" big time and literally "kept the Knicks afloat in the second half." That's the kind of team play you need when the stakes are this high.

The "Dirty Work" Stat and a Run for the Ages

But here's the kicker, the stat that tells you everything you need to know about how the Knicks pulled this off: second-chance points. New York owned the glass, absolutely crushing the Spurs with a 23-14 edge in opportunistic baskets. That's nine more possessions, nine more chances, nine more ways to beat your opponent. That difference, beating the Spurs to those critical rebounds, was the actual turning point, the difference in securing this comeback victory. And talk about momentum! These Knicks are riding an insane 12-game postseason win streak right now. A 12-game streak, people! If they can manage to beat the Spurs just three more times in these Finals, they won't just be champions, they'll be etching their name in the history books as the "greatest playoff team of all time." Even Wembanyama, dropping a solid 26 points and 12 rebounds in his first Finals game, couldn't stop this New York freight train. The Knicks have snagged a crucial 1-0 lead in the series, but you know the Spurs aren't just gonna roll over. This is the Finals, every possession, every rebound, every single shot matters. They'll be studying the tape, trying to figure out how to shut down Brunson and stop those second-chance points. Game 2 is gonna be an absolute war, a must-watch showdown that could define the whole series. Get ready, because this is just getting good!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.