Victor Wembanyama stayed confident after the San Antonio Spurs lost Game 1 of the NBA Finals 105-95 to the New York Knicks. Despite leading his team with 26 points and 12 rebounds, he said he is not worried about the setback as the Spurs fell 0-1 in the series.
Victor Wembanyama stayed calm and confident despite the San Antonio Spurs falling 105-95 to the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
The Spurs dropped the series opener at home, but their young star made it clear after the game that there is no reason to overreact this early in the series.
"We've been down in a series before, never in the Finals, obviously, but I'm not kicking myself about anything really. I mean, I'm not worried the slightest," he said in a post-game press conference.
Wembanyama still led the Spurs with 26 points and 12 rebounds, but it was a difficult night against New York's physical defense. The Knicks made him work all game, cutting off his rhythm and forcing tough shots in the paint and mid-range.
The French big man shot just 6-of-21 from the field and also committed six turnovers in 38 minutes, as the Knicks' defense consistently pressured him on every touch.
San Antonio struggled as a team as well, with the offense never finding a steady flow. The Spurs shot just 36 percent from the field and had problems generating clean looks against New York's defensive pressure.
The game was decided in the final minutes, where the Knicks closed strong with an 11-0 run to take full control and secure the win on the road.
With the victory, New York grabbed a 1-0 lead in the series and early momentum in the NBA Finals. The Spurs will now look to bounce back in Game 2 and respond after a tough opening loss.
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