The New York Knicks have not been to the mountaintop in over half a century. On Wednesday night in San Antonio, they took the first step toward changing that.

Down 14 in the third quarter, the Knicks roared back to beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals — stealing home-court advantage and taking a 1-0 series lead.

The Comeback

For three quarters it looked like the Spurs' night. San Antonio, powered by their young core, built a double-digit lead and had the home crowd roaring. Then Jalen Brunson took over.

The Knicks captain orchestrated a furious late surge, scoring and creating down the stretch to flip a 14-point deficit into a 10-point win. It was the kind of clutch, ice-in-the-veins performance that has defined Brunson's New York tenure — and exactly why the Knicks built their team around him.

What It Means

For New York: Stealing Game 1 on the road is enormous. The Knicks now control the series and can put the Spurs in a deep hole with a Game 2 win.

For San Antonio: A gut-punch. To lead by 14 in the Finals and lose at home is the kind of result that lingers. The Spurs' young stars got their first taste of how unforgiving Finals basketball can be.

The Bigger Picture

This is a clash of timelines: the Knicks, built to win now around Brunson's prime, versus the Spurs, whose young phenoms represent the league's future. Game 1 went to experience. Notable courtside: Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist was spotted cheering on the Knicks — a reminder of how starved New York is for a champion.

Game 2 is next. The Knicks smell blood. The Spurs need an answer — fast.