SAN ANTONIO (Interstat) — The New York Knicks’ winning streak lives on, and they struck first in the NBA Finals. Jalen Brunson scored 30 points, Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, and the Knicks erased a 14-point second-half deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 in Game 1 of the finals on Wednesday night.

OG Anunoby had 17 points for New York, which has won 12 consecutive playoff games, the seventh team to have such a streak in NBA history, and is the third to do it in a single season. Brunson scored 13 points in the fourth, only six fewer than San Antonio managed as a team in that quarter, and sealed it with a spinning jumper while falling to the court with 38 seconds left.

The game at Frost Bank Center, before an announced crowd of 18,835, started with San Antonio controlling the tempo. The Spurs shot 27 points in the first quarter, led by Victor Wembanyama’s early scoring, while the Knicks managed just 19. New York struggled from the field, missing several open looks, and trailed by eight after the opening period.

San Antonio extended its lead in the second quarter, outscoring New York 28-29 but maintaining a 55-48 advantage at halftime. Wembanyama had 26 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks for the Spurs, while Stephon Castle added 17 points, eight rebounds and three assists. The Spurs shot well from beyond the arc in the first half, hitting timely 3-pointers from Julian Champagnie and Dylan Harper to keep the Knicks at bay.

New York’s defense tightened in the third quarter. The Knicks held San Antonio to 21 points while scoring 28 of their own, tying the game at 76-76 entering the fourth. Towns provided a steady presence inside, grabbing rebounds and finishing through contact. Anunoby’s perimeter defense helped limit the Spurs’ outside shooting, and Josh Hart’s energy on the boards gave New York extra possessions.

The most critical stretch came in the fourth quarter. San Antonio briefly regained a 86-76 lead with 7:37 remaining after Devin Vassell’s tip-in, but the Knicks responded with a furious rally. Brunson scored on a driving layup and two free throws to cut the deficit. Josh Hart recorded four steals in the period, each leading to transition opportunities. With 1:50 left, Brunson buried a 23-foot 3-pointer to put New York ahead 95-93, capping a 19-7 run.

San Antonio had chances but could not convert. Wembanyama missed a 3-point attempt with 32 seconds left, and Brunson’s spinning jumper with 38 seconds remaining effectively ended the contest. Anunoby added four free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the victory. The Knicks outscored the Spurs 29-19 in the fourth quarter, holding San Antonio to 31.6 percent shooting in the period.

Key performances included Towns’ double-double in 34 minutes, Mitchell Robinson’s six rebounds in 13 minutes, and Landry Shamet’s 13 points off the bench. Miles McBride contributed six points and four assists, and Mikal Bridges added nine points and three rebounds. For San Antonio, Wembanyama was the focal point, scoring 26 points and blocking three shots, but he turned the ball over four times in the second half. Castle had 17 points but shot 7 of 17 from the field.

The game featured 13 lead changes and was tied six times. New York shot 47.5 percent from the floor, including 36.4 percent from 3-point range, while San Antonio shot 43.8 percent overall and 34.2 percent from deep. The Knicks forced 15 turnovers and turned them into 18 points. The Spurs held a 44-40 rebounding edge but could not capitalize on second-chance opportunities in the fourth.

New York’s winning streak now stands at 12 games, tying the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers and 2001 Los Angeles Lakers for the longest single postseason run. The Knicks improved to 67-32 on the season, while San Antonio fell to 74-28. The Spurs entered the finals as the top seed in the Western Conference but struggled to contain New York’s pick-and-roll offense in the second half.

The series continues Friday night at Frost Bank Center, with Game 2 scheduled for the same venue. The Knicks will look to extend their streak and take a 2-0 lead, while the Spurs aim to even the series in front of their home crowd.