Jalen Brunson spearheaded the Knicks' charge, scoring 30 points as they overturned a 14-point second-half deficit to defeat the Spurs 105-95 on Wednesday night.

Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 18 points and 12 rebounds, while OG Anunoby added 17 points for New York.

The Knicks' triumph marks their 12th consecutive playoff win, a feat achieved by only seven teams in NBA history and just the third to occur within a single season.

Brunson was particularly instrumental in the final quarter, netting 13 points - only six fewer than San Antonio managed as a team in that period - and sealing the win with a spinning jumper in the dying seconds.

Knicks coach Mike Brown lauded his star player, stating: "He's a gamer, man. In the biggest moments, he shows up. That's what MVPs are supposed to do."

The victory also etched the Knicks into the history books as the first team ever to beat San Antonio in an opening game of the title series, breaking the Spurs' previous 6-0 record. This is also the first time the Spurs have trailed in a Finals series before its conclusion.

The Knicks finished the game on an emphatic 11-0 run.

While Golden State achieved 15 consecutive wins in their 2017 championship season and San Antonio managed 12 straight en route to their 1999 title, the Knicks now stand at 12, with their ultimate fate yet to be determined.

For the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama led with 26 points and 12 rebounds in his Finals debut, though he struggled with his shooting, converting just six of 21 attempts from the field. Stephon Castle scored 17, with Julian Champagnie and Dylan Harper each adding 16.

A candid Wembanyama admitted: "I was bad tonight. It's not more complicated than that." He later added, "I think we let that one go."

The game saw the Knicks take an early 14-7 lead before the Spurs responded with a 20-13 run to go up by 10.

The second quarter featured six lead changes, with San Antonio holding a 55-48 advantage at the half.

The Spurs extended their lead to 14 midway through the third quarter, but the Knicks mounted a fierce comeback, ending the period on a 22-9 run to tie the game at 76.

New York established an eight-point lead in the final period, only for Wembanyama to briefly put the Spurs ahead 95-94 with two free throws.

However, Brunson's crucial three-pointer on the subsequent possession secured the lead for good.

The Spurs' long-standing record of never trailing in the Finals had seen close calls in previous years, including ties with New Jersey in 2003, Detroit in 2005, and Miami in both 2013 and 2014.

Game Two is scheduled for Friday in San Antonio. Despite the early advantage, Brunson remained grounded, commenting: "We have a long way to go."

The Knicks are now just three wins away from their first championship in 53 years, having seized home-court advantage from the Spurs.