Throughout much of Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, it was quite clear the Knicks weren’t happy with the officiating.
New York was routinely arguing calls and non-calls, and the frustration was padded by the fact that the Knicks only had three free throws to the Spurs’ 12 in the first half.
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After the Knicks pulled out the win on Wednesday night, head coach Mike Brown admitted that assistant coach Rick Brunson urged the team to stop complaining.
And that is what helped keep the Knicks poised despite the frustration over the officiating.
“We were all b******* too much at the officials,” Brown said. “Rick Brunson was great. He told me to shut the hell up and he told the rest of the team to be quiet and leave the officials alone. It was great of him because we were all kind of losing our mind.”
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Thankfully for the Knicks, the free-throw discrepancy ended in the second half.
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New York got to the line 15 times over the final two quarters, while the Spurs shot 13 free throws in that span.
Another incredible Knicks comeback
Jun 3, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) makes a jump shot over San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) and forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the fourth quarter during game one of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Jun 3, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) makes a jump shot over San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) and forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the fourth quarter during game one of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
The New York Knicks found themselves in a tough spot going into the second half, as the San Antonio Spurs staked themselves to a 55-48 lead after two quarters.
The Spurs eventually increased their lead to 14 points in the third quarter, but the Knicks came storming back with a 22-9 run to tie the game up at 76 going into the fourth.
New York then grabbed the lead in the fourth before eventually relinquishing it with a little over two minutes left in the game.
But Jalen Burnson buried a three on the next Knicks possession and New York never surrendered the lead again.
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The Knicks pulling off a comeback is nothing new.
Since 2024, New York is 6-6 in playoff games when the team trails by 14-plus points in the second half.
To compare, the rest of the NBA is 10-100 in that span.
That stat and the Knicks’ performance on Wednesday night are more reminders that New York is never truly out of it.