The San Antonio Spurs let a 14-point second-half lead slip away in a 105-95 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals on Wednesday evening at Frost Financial institution Heart, and head coach Mitch Johnson pointed to a number of correctable points afterward.
Whereas Victor Wembanyama completed with 26 factors and 12 rebounds in his NBA Finals debut, Johnson mentioned the Spurs by no means established the inside strain wanted to place the Knicks on their heels.
“Felt like he missed a number of photographs early and we acquired to get him shifting in area and in direction of the rim, whether or not that’s on rolls or operating in transition, however we’d like the strain on the rim and the pressure within the paint,” Johnson mentioned. “They did an excellent job clearly being bodily and exhibiting crowds, however we have to do a greater job of creating that early on for positive.”
Wembanyama shot 6-for-21 from the sector and dedicated six turnovers. Regardless of the inefficient evening, Johnson expressed confidence that the franchise centerpiece would reply.
“I might say that he’s undoubtedly holds himself accountable and I might suspect that he’ll study numerous issues from tonight’s recreation and are available out with an excellent method in recreation two,” Johnson mentioned.
San Antonio struggled offensively all through the evening, taking pictures 36% from the sector and 26% from three-point vary. Johnson repeatedly returned to 1 theme when discussing the defeat: the Spurs performed an excessive amount of from the perimeter.
“We undoubtedly once more didn’t have sufficient strain on the paint all evening,” Johnson mentioned. “We will’t work exterior in. We acquired to go extra inside out for positive.”
The Spurs recorded solely 16 assists on 32 made discipline objectives, a determine Johnson seen as one of many clearest indicators that his workforce was not enjoying its most popular type.
“Lacking photographs or not, 16 assists for us will not be our model of basketball,” Johnson mentioned. “That’s one thing that isn’t as much as the usual even wherever near what we’re used to and the way we play.”
The turning level got here late within the fourth quarter. San Antonio led 95-94 with simply over two minutes remaining, however New York closed the sport on an 11-0 run behind Jalen Brunson, who scored 30 factors and 13 within the ultimate interval.
Johnson highlighted the Knicks’ work on the offensive glass as a significant component in that stretch. New York transformed 10 offensive rebounds into 23 second-chance factors.
“We’re up one level,” Johnson mentioned. “Get them to overlook. They get a rebound. Brunson hits a 3. They go on an 11-0 run. Makes it robust. Received to have the ability to shut out possessions with rebounds once you make a miss.”
Johnson additionally credited Brunson’s capability to create offense below strain.
“He’s an incredible participant that’s expert, picks his spots, is aware of his angles, shoots contested photographs with out being sped up,” Johnson mentioned. “He’s an outstanding participant and we simply acquired to maintain making him work.”
Regardless of dropping the opener, Johnson confused that the Spurs’ method is not going to change earlier than Friday’s Recreation 2.
“No totally different,” Johnson mentioned. “We performed a recreation. We didn’t get the result we wished. There’ll be numerous suggestions from the movie and breaking this down that may result in recreation two.”
The Spurs entered the Finals after surviving a seven-game Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
