Jalen Brunson eased injury concerns after briefly leaving Game 1 of the NBA Finals with a knee issue. The Knicks star later said, "I'll be alright," after finishing with 30 points to lead New York to a comeback win over the San Antonio Spurs and a 1-0 series lead.
New York Knicks fans can breathe a sigh of relief after Jalen Brunson delivered a positive update on his condition following a scary moment in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.
The Knicks star briefly headed to the locker room in the first half after taking a hit to the knee from Spurs forward Harrison Barnes. The sequence immediately raised concerns, especially with New York playing its first NBA Finals game in 27 years.
Fortunately for the Knicks, Brunson returned to the court and later made it clear that he expects no issues moving forward in the series.
"I'll be alright," Brunson said during ESPN broadcast's post-game interview.
The injury scare did not stop Brunson from leading New York to a crucial road victory 105-95. The All-Star guard finished with 30 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, helping the Knicks erase a double-digit deficit and take a 1-0 lead in the NBA Finals.
Brunson shot 12-for-31 from the field while adding three rebounds and two assists.
The physicality from San Antonio was evident throughout the first half, with Brunson taking multiple hard hits before New York adjusted after the break.
The Spurs appeared to be in control early and led by as many as 14 points, but the Knicks responded with a strong second-half performance to steal home-court advantage.
Victor Wembanyama led San Antonio with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Karl-Anthony Towns provided valuable support for New York, recording 18 points and 12 rebounds.
With Brunson healthy and the Knicks holding a 1-0 series lead, New York moved one step closer to ending a championship drought that stretches back to 1973.
Game 1 also marked the Knicks' first NBA Finals appearance since 1999, when they last faced the Spurs on basketball's biggest stage.
Subscribe to BN+ and get access to exclusive content.
If you like our content, please click here and add us as your preferred source. It helps us a lot, and we are committed to delivering you the very latest basketball news.