The San Antonio Spurs lost steam in the end of Game 1 of their NBA Finals clash against the New York Knicks. After taking the lead, 95-94, with just 2:16 remaining in the game, the Knicks went on an 11-0 run to end the game, taking a 105-95 win and a 1-0 series lead in the process.
There are some who may think that the fatigue that had accumulated for the Spurs over the course of their grueling seven-game battle against the Oklahoma City Thunder came back to bite them in Game 1, especially towards the end. However, head coach Mitch Johnson shut down that excuse, saying that fatigue did not play a factor in their loss.
“I don't think it was fatigue… I don't think anyone's performance was based on fatigue, I think we just need to be sharper and execute better,” Johnson said, via SNY on X (formerly Twitter).
Mitch Johnson speaks on his team's performance tonight:
"I don't think it was fatigue… I don't think anyone's performance was based on fatigue, I think we just need to be sharper and execute better" pic.twitter.com/Pi13KF5sIv
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 4, 2026
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The Spurs did have three full days of rest between Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals and Game 1 of the NBA Finals, so it's not like they were thrown into the fire immediately after taking care of the reigning champion Thunder.
Moreover, there's even a case to be made that the Spurs have to be sharper than the Knicks considering that they've been playing some of their best basketball against some of the best the NBA has to offer at the grandest of stages in the WCF.
Crediting the Knicks' Game 1 win to rest advantage discredits what New York did to turn the tables in Game 1, and Johnson knows it. It's also a healthier place for a team like the Spurs to look inward and assess what they could do better instead of blaming outside factors.
Game 2 of the NBA Finals will be on Friday night, and the Spurs should have plenty of time from now until then to make the requisite changes to avoid going down 2-0 in the series.
The San Antonio Spurs lost steam in the end of Game 1 of their NBA Finals clash against the New York Knicks. After taking the lead, 95-94, with just 2:16 remaining in the game, the Knicks went on an 11-0 run to end the game, taking a 105-95 win and a 1-0 series lead in the process.