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Jalen Brunson limped gingerly to the locker room late in the first quarter of Wednesday night's Game 1 of the NBA Finals after the Spurs' Harrison Barnes landed on his right knee.
The Spurs then built a 14-point third-quarter lead.
Brunson worked himself into Game 1 following a rough start, scoring 13 of his game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter to help the Knicks steal home-court advantage with a 105-95 victory at Frost Bank Center.
It was the Knicks' 12th straight playoff win, and it had a familiar formula: fall behind, get to within striking distance and clear the way for Brunson to close.
"Jalen, he was the MVP in the second half. He was huge for us," Knicks coach Mike Brown said. "He did what MVP candidates are supposed to do. He carried us home. We put the ball in his hands, and he got it done for us down the stretch."
The oddsmakers have already released Brunson's point total over/under for Game 2 of this series on Friday.
They have Brunson with a point scoring total of 25.5, same as Game 1 and a point below the Spurs Victor Wembanyama.
Knicks vs. Spurs Point Scoring Total Prop Bet
Victor Wembanyama
O 26.5-110
U 26.5-120
Jalen Brunson
O 25.5-104
U 25.5-128
Stephon Castle
O 16.5-110
U 16.5-120
Karl-Anthony Towns
O 16.5-122
U 16.5-108
De'Aaron Fox
O 14.5-108
U 14.5-122
OG Anunoby
O 15.5-102
U 15.5-130
Devin Vassell
O 12.5-114
U 12.5-114
Mikal Bridges
O 11.5-120
U 11.5-110
Julian Champagnie
O 10.5-136
U 10.5+102
Josh Hart
O 11.5+102
U 11.5-136
Dylan Harper
O 11.5-114
U 11.5-114
Mitchell Robinson
O 3.5+100
U 3.5-132
Luke Kornet
O 1.5-136
U 1.5+102
Landry Shamet
O 7.5-128
U 7.5-104
Keldon Johnson
O 7.5+102
U 7.5-136
Miles McBride
O 5.5-112
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
