Game 1 Spurs vs Knicks Recap

The New York Knicks are one step closer to their first NBA championship in decades after defeating the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night.

(Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

The Knicks entered the Finals with confidence after dominating the Eastern Conference playoffs and carried that momentum into Game 1. Their balanced attack featured strong contributions on both ends of the floor, while their ability to win key possessions late helped prevent any serious Spurs comeback attempt.

Josh Hart on the defensive end with 4 steals, especially a possible 5th after a fan stormed the court for a selfie, was a very important factor to this Knicks team's success.

The Knicks have already accomplished one of the toughest tasks in a championship series: stealing a road game. By taking Game 1, New York has seized early control of the Finals and put pressure squarely on the Spurs heading into Friday night's matchup.

For San Antonio, Game 1 exposed areas that will need improvement before Game 2. The Spurs struggled to consistently generate offense and were unable to capitalize on several opportunities to cut into New York's lead during crucial stretches of the second half.

The Spurs need Wemby to start shooting more efficient shots, as shooting 6-21 is not a good formula for winning a close game, especially a game in the NBA Finals. They also need to limit the turnovers, as many of the turnovers became steals and led to fast break offense for the Knicks.