Friday Faceoff: Are the Spurs in trouble after Game 1 loss to Knicks in NBA Finals?

Chris Tomasson, Broncos writer

Answer: No

Don’t sell Victor Wembanyama short.

OK, so he is 7-foot-4. But despite this being Wemby’s first go through the playoffs, don’t think for a picosecond he’s going to buckle under the pressure after a subpar showing in San Antonio’s 105-95 loss to the New York Knicks at home in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

The Spurs center shot an ugly 6 of 21 from the field, including 2 of 9 from 3-point range. That came after his dominant showing in San Antonio’s 4-3 series win over the defending champion Oklahoma City in the Western Conference finals.

Yes, the Spurs, back in the playoffs for the first time since 2019, are young. So is Wemby, 22, and there will be growing pains. But the Spurs bounce back.

The Spurs were in trouble against the Thunder, trailing 3-2, but won the final two games, including stealing Game 7 on the road, 111-103. The Spurs have lost at least one home game in each playoff series. The previous three times, they were able to overcome that by defeating Portland 4-1, Minnesota 4-2 and then the Thunder.

Wembanyama will bounce back in a big way in Game 2 Friday, and the Spurs will win their sixth NBA title. And the dominance of the West will continue.

A Spurs win would give the West a second-straight title, a fourth in the past five years and a ninth in the last 13 years. You might remember when the Nuggets snuck in to win it all in 2023.

Well, don’t expect another Nuggets championship anytime soon or even a Western Conference title. The Spurs won’t be going anywhere and neither will the Thunder, who might be back in the Finals now if not for their injury issues.

***

Tyler King, college sports reporter

Answer: Yes

Wembanyama better develop a searing hatred for Karl-Anthony Towns — akin to his obvious dislike of Thunder big man Chet Holmgren — or the Knicks are going to win their first NBA championship in over 50 years.

In Game 1, New York just looked like the more talented, deeper and more playoff-experienced team. It was mostly because of Towns.

Before taking over in the fourth quarter, Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson was struggling. He needed 31 shots to score his game-high 30 points.

It was Towns who helped keep the visitors within striking distance while San Antonio jumped out to an early lead. And it was Towns, the former No. 1 overall pick who once haunted the Nuggets in a Game 7 at Ball Arena, who led the second-half surge.

While his final stat line of 18 points on 15 shots to go with 12 rebounds and four assists doesn’t jump off the page, Towns is why the Knicks should be favored to win the Finals. He is a unique big that Wembanyama and the Spurs haven’t faced in the postseason and don’t appear to have an answer for.

San Antonio was forced to put Wembanyama on Towns for large portions of the game, even when they prefer to have the Defensive Player of the Year on the opposing team’s worst shooter so he can roam and play a free safety role, helping out whoever would be guarding someone like Towns.

But the one-time Timberwolves star is too big and too skilled for that strategy, and he is the reason the Spurs should be worried they don’t have the roster capable of beating a Knicks team that hasn’t lost since April 23.