Winners, losers from Game 1 of NBA Finals: 'Brunson barrage' lifts Knicks to win

Despite two early injuries, no free throws until late in the third quarter and an unreliable three-point shot (2-for-9 from distance), Brunson scored 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and carried the Knicks to their 12th straight playoff win — and yet another Brunson barrage in the clutch.

Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

Karl-Anthony Towns had the unenviable assignment of guarding Victor Wembanyama in Game 1. Worse, he had to try to score against the Defensive Player of the Year. KAT showed no fear in the matchup, fighting his way to 18 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in a physical battle inside.

Towns got help from Mitchell Robinson, playing with a broken hand, but he deserves a lot of credit for Wemby's 6-for-21 performance and six turnovers.

Josh Hart, New York Knicks

How do you counter a dominant, 7-foot-4 big man? For the Knicks, you get a game-high 15 rebounds from your 6-foot-5 shooting guard. Josh Hart played very big in Game 1, scoring only three points but doing everything else, dishing out six assists, grabbing four steals and blocking a shot. The Knicks outscored the Spurs by 22 points in Hart's 27 minutes, showing he's the team's X-factor.

Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs

Young point guards tend to take a long time to develop in the NBA. No one told that to Dylan Harper, who has been playing like a seasoned veteran in the playoffs. In Game 1, Harper came off the bench to deliver 16 points, eight rebounds and only a single turnover.

Training staff, New York Knicks

Brunson left the game early with a knee injury after Landry Shamet inadvertently shoved Harrison Barnes into him. Then Luke Kornet landed on Brunson's ankle after a drive to the basket. That didn't keep Brunson from playing 37 minutes, a testament to his toughness and to the skills of the Knicks training staff who got him back on the court.

Losers

The fan who ran on the court in the fourth quarter

Someone spent thousands of dollars just so he could run on the court for a selfie with Wemby. Whoever that misguided young man is, we can assume he has an absolutely intolerable YouTube channel and strong opinions about cryptocurrency. Shame on ESPN for giving this idiot a replay! Let's hope he gets a lifetime NBA arena ban.

Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

The expectations are sky-high for Wembanyama. He didn't live up to his own standards, looking tired late and shooting 6-for-21. It sounds crazy after a game where he had 26 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks, but Wemby needs to play better to take home the title.

Fiesta color scheme

We mean no disrespect to the Spurs' "fiesta" color scheme, a combination of pink, orange and turquoise that honors the Fiesta San Antonio, a festival that dates back to 1891. But when a team is playing the Knicks, especially in these playoffs, there's too many visiting fans crashing the fiesta for the visual to work.