The New York Knicks didn’t just win Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night. According to sources close to the situation, they reportedly sent shockwaves through the entire franchise—and nearly pushed their most famous superfan over the edge.
Stephen A. Smith, the longtime Knicks loyalist and First Take firebrand, was spotted in San Antonio after the 10-point victory over the Spurs, and eyewitnesses say he was on the verge of a full-blown emotional meltdown—in the best possible way. Video obtained by our team shows Smith leading chants of “Go, New York, go!” while visibly fighting back tears.
“I’m not gonna jinx us,” Smith allegedly repeated, his voice cracking with emotion. “We here. You see this crowd? You see what they’re doing? It’s one down, there’s three to go!”
Insiders tell us that Smith’s reaction is indicative of what this moment means for a fan base that has been starved for a championship since 1973. The Knicks are now three wins away from ending a 53-year drought, and sources say the pressure—and excitement—is reaching a fever pitch.
How the Knicks Pulled Off the Comeback
Game 1 wasn’t pretty for most of the night. According to reports, the Knicks found themselves down by double digits in the third quarter, and it looked like the long rest—New York swept both the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers in the previous rounds—might have left them rusty. Meanwhile, the Spurs came in just days removed from a brutal seven-game war with the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
But then Jalen Brunson took over. The star guard reportedly struggled with efficiency, hitting only 12 of 31 shots, but he exploded for a game-high 30 points down the stretch, willing his team back from the brink. One NBA source told us, “Brunson’s will to win is unmatched. When the game got tight, he just refused to lose.”
Karl-Anthony Towns also reportedly made his presence felt, dropping 18 points and snagging 12 rebounds while attacking the paint aggressively—even against the towering Victor Wembanyama. “KAT went right at Wemby, and that took guts,” a league insider claimed. “He set the tone physically.”
Wembanyama Held in Check—For Now
Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs’ generational phenom, was reportedly kept under wraps in Game 1. The French star made just 6 of 21 field goals, though he got to the line frequently, sinking 12 of 13 free throws. Some analysts are now asking: Did the Knicks’ game plan expose a weakness in Wemby’s offense? One anonymous scout allegedly said, “If the Knicks can keep him shooting from outside and force him into tough looks, this series could be over fast.”
But sources warn not to count out San Antonio just yet. “The Spurs have been resilient all playoffs,” a team insider told us. “They’ll adjust. Game 2 is going to be a war.”
For now, the Knicks have the upper hand—and Stephen A. Smith reportedly has no voice left after screaming his lungs out in Texas. One fan near the arena described the scene: “He was crying, laughing, screaming—everything at once. It was beautiful.”
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