Live Updates: Knicks Face Spurs in NBA Finals Game 1

The New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs meet in Game 1 of the NBA Finals with a rare sense of familiarity, even though both franchises have been away from this stage for years. The Knicks are appearing in the Finals for the ninth time and are playing Game 1 on the road for the eighth time. The Spurs are in their seventh Finals appearance and are hosting Game 1 at home for the sixth time. New York last reached the Finals in 1999, when it lost to San Antonio, while the Spurs’ most recent title-series appearance came in 2014, when they beat the Miami Heat.

Knicks forward Josh Hart said the team is staying focused on the immediate challenge rather than the history surrounding the matchup. He said the group is “locked in and focused on the task at hand,” adding that the players can reflect on the achievement after the run is over. For New York, simply reaching this stage marks a significant breakthrough after a long wait.

The Knicks enter the series on one of the most dominant runs in NBA history. They have won 11 straight games by a combined 262 points, the largest margin over any 11-game stretch in league history, including both regular season and playoff games. That surge has made New York one of the most talked-about teams in the league and has fueled hopes that the franchise can finally end its championship drought.

San Antonio brings a different kind of momentum and a strong history in Finals openers. The Spurs have never lost Game 1 of the NBA Finals, holding a perfect 6-0 record in title-round openers. That unbeaten mark adds an extra layer of pressure and intrigue as they look to protect home court and set the tone early in the series.

Game 1 in San Antonio is drawing attention well beyond the arena. Fans in New York are gathering for watch parties inside and outside Madison Square Garden, in Central Park, and at bars and restaurants across the region. The atmosphere reflects the significance of the Knicks’ deep playoff run and the excitement of a Finals appearance that has been decades in the making.

As the series begins, the contrast is striking: the Knicks arrive with a record-setting hot streak and a chance to restore long-lost glory, while the Spurs lean on their Finals experience and their perfect track record in openers. With two storied franchises meeting on the NBA’s biggest stage, Game 1 carries both historical weight and the potential to shape the direction of the series.