2026 NBA Finals Game Notes

Below are game notes from the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks. This page will be updated during and after each game. 

GAME 1: KNICKS 105, SPURS 95

GAME 1 HISTORY: Teams that win Game 1 of the NBA Finals have gone on to win the series 69.6% of the time (55-24). … Teams that win Game 1 of the NBA Finals on the road have gone on to win the series 42.1% of the time (8-11).

STREAKING KNICKS: The Knicks won their 12th consecutive playoff game, tying the 1998-99 Spurs for the second-longest winning streak in a single postseason in NBA history. The record is 15 consecutive victories by the 2016-17 Warriors. … The Knicks won their seventh consecutive road playoff game, matching six other teams for the second-longest streak in a single postseason. The 2000-01 Lakers hold the NBA record with eight consecutive road victories.

JALEN BRUNSON: Brunson (30 points) scored the second-most points by a Knicks player in his first NBA Finals game, trailing only Willis Reed (37 points) in 1970 Game 1.

JOSH HART: Hart (15 rebounds, 6 assists) became the first Knicks player to record 15+ points and 5+ assists in an NBA Finals game since Dave DeBusschere in 1972 Game 1 (18 rebounds, 6 assists).

GAME 1 COMEBACKS: The Knicks came back from a 14-point third-quarter deficit to win Game 1. This marks the second straight year that a team overcame a deficit of 14 or more points in the second half to win Game 1. Last year, the Pacers came back from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Thunder.

KNICKS DEFENSE: The Knicks have now held the Spurs to season-low point totals in both the playoffs (tonight) and regular season (89 on March 1).

DYLAN HARPER: Harper (16 points) set the Spurs rookie record for most points in an NBA Finals game, passing Manu Ginóbili (12 in 2003 Game 5). … Harper’s 10 first-quarter points were the most by a rookie in the first quarter of an NBA Finals game in the play-by-play era (since the 1998 Finals). Only two other rookies have scored 10+ points in any quarter of a Finals game in the play-by-play era: Miami’s Kendrick Nunn (14 points, fourth quarter, 2020 Game 1) and Tyler Herro (12 points, fourth quarter, 2020 Game 4).

JULIAN CHAMPAGNIE: Champagnie set a Spurs franchise record for threes in an NBA Finals half with five in the first half. He finished with five threes, one shy of the record for a player in his first NBA Finals game (Al Horford, six in Game 1 2022).