NBA Legend Magic Johnson Reveals Reason for Spurs' Loss to Knicks
Five-time NBA champion Magic Johnson was locked in with the rest of the basketball world on Wednesday night, watching Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks. The matchup marked the first Finals meeting between the franchises since 1999, when San Antonio defeated New York to capture the championship.
The Knicks came out on top after closing the game on an 11-0 run to secure a 105-95 victory and steal home-court advantage in the series. Jalen Brunson led the way with 30 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points and 12 rebounds and OG Anunoby scored 17 points. Wembanyama finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds in his Finals debut, but San Antonio struggled offensively down the stretch against a disciplined New York defense.
After the game, Johnson shared his assessment of what went wrong for San Antonio.
"The Spurs just played too much isolation basketball in the 4th quarter, and it was a key reason they lost."
The legendary Los Angeles Lakers guard also credited the Knicks for their execution in winning time.
"Jalen Brunson was too much to handle for the Spurs tonight, scoring 13 of his 30 points in the 4th quarter! It was a great coaching move by New York Knicks Head Coach Mike Brown to put Landry Shamet on the floor in the 4th quarter. His 3-point shooting ability gave Brunson more room to operate. Josh Hart played with heart tonight, leading both teams in rebounding with 15 boards, 4 big steals and 6 assists!"
What a very very entertaining Game One! Jalen Brunson was too much to handle for the Spurs tonight, scoring 13 of his 30 points in the 4th quarter! It was a great coaching move by New York Knicks Head Coach Mike Brown to put Landry Shamet on the floor in the 4th quarter. His… https://t.co/ESUHnfAlLa
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 4, 2026
The Spurs appeared in control for much of the night. They built a 14-point lead in the third quarter and carried momentum into the second half behind a strong performance from Wembanyama. But the Knicks gradually chipped away at the deficit before taking over late.
After San Antonio regained a 95-94 lead with 2:16 remaining, the Spurs failed to score again. New York forced turnovers, contested every shot, and repeatedly put the ball in Brunson's hands. The Knicks star answered with several clutch baskets, including a difficult jumper in the final minute that effectively sealed the game.
The victory gives New York a 1-0 lead in the series and puts immediate pressure on San Antonio heading into Game 2.
Game 2 is set for Friday in San Antonio. The Spurs will look to respond after dropping one at home, while the Knicks will hope to continue riding the momentum of a postseason run that has now produced 12 consecutive playoff victories. Another win would send them back to Madison Square Garden with a commanding 2-0 series lead and put them halfway to their first NBA championship since 1973.
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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 9:55 AM.