By Zach Kram | ESPN | June 3, 2026
Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals was a tactical defensive slugfest more emblematic of the 1990s, when the New York Knicks last made the Finals, than of 2026.
The Knicks’ 105.0 offensive rating in the game would have ranked 30th in this regular season, and the San Antonio Spurs’ 96.0 offensive rating also would have ranked last, by a double-digit margin in their case. The two teams shot a combined 39% from the field and 28% from 3-point range.
Thanks to superior performances from their stars and a tremendous closing kick, the Knicks overcame a 14-point deficit to steal Game 1 on the road, winning 105-95. New York has now won 12 games in a row and needs just three more victories to claim its first championship in 53 years.
Let’s break down Game 1 from all angles, from …READ MORE HERE
