Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs surrendered home-court advantage after dropping Game 1 of the NBA Finals to the New York Knicks at the Frost Bank Center.
San Antonio held a 14-point cushion at one point but failed to protect it.
After the surprising late-game collapse, Wembanyama recognized the adjustments he needed to make to help guide his team back into the series.
How Victor Wembanyama Plans to Bounce Back After Game 1 Loss to Knicks
Wembanyama and the Spurs endured a difficult night in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, falling 105-95 to the Knicks after shooting just 36% from the field as a team.
After the loss, Wembanyama spoke about how he handles games in which he struggles and expressed confidence that better performances are ahead.
“It’s almost like I have to play normal, not even good,” Wembanyama said. “Just doing the right things is enough. When we play bad, when I play bad, is when we shoot ourselves in the foot. This is why I’m not worried. We’re going to be so much better.”
Spurs center Victor Wembanyama: “It’s almost like I have to play normal, not even good. Just doing the right things is enough. When we play bad, when I play bad, is when we shoot ourselves in the foot. This is why I’m not worried. We’re going to be so much better.” pic.twitter.com/JpHcYl1QVF
— Spurs Nation (@Spurs_Nation) June 4, 2026
Wembanyama finished with a team-high 26 points and 12 rebounds but had a rough outing against New York’s physical defense, as he made only 6 of his 21 shot attempts and turned the ball over 6 times in 38 minutes.
Head coach Mitch Johnson also offered an honest assessment of his franchise centerpiece’s performance.
“Felt like he missed a few shots early, but we got to get him moving in space and towards the rim,” Johnson said.
“Whether that’s on the rolls or running in transition, but we need the pressure on the rim and the force and the pain. They did a good job, obviously being physical and showing crowds, but we need to do a better job of establishing that early on.”
The shooting woes extended beyond Wembanyama, as he and De’Aaron Fox combined to shoot just 9-for-34 from the floor and 2-for-13 from beyond the arc.
For comparison, Knicks star Jalen Brunson went 12-of-31 from the floor. But his 30-point explosion helped New York’s late-game surge, as they closed out the win after an 11-0 run.
The loss also marked a rare setback for San Antonio, which had never lost a Game 1 in the NBA Finals before Wednesday’s defeat.
With the Spurs now trailing 1-0, Wembanyama and his squad will have to regroup and possibly tweak their offensive schemes to deal with a surging Knicks squad on Friday for Game 2.
