Knicks star Jalen Brunson has injury scare in Game 1 of NBA Finals

After previously banning watch parties due to fan rowdiness, the NYPD reversed course for New York Knicks fans ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

The New York Knicks held their collective breath during the first quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night after All-Star guard Jalen Brunson suffered an injury scare against the San Antonio Spurs.

Spurs reserve Harrison Barnes accidentally collided with Brunson's right knee while falling to the floor, and the Knicks star immediately grabbed at the leg in apparent pain.

Brunson signaled to the bench and headed to the locker room after checking out of the game. He later returned to the bench but had not re-entered the contest as of publication.

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New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives past San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, left, during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Wednesday, June 3, 2026, in San Antonio.  (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

It goes without saying how much Brunson, who has averaged 26.9 points and 6.6 assists in these playoffs, means for the Knicks.

But a sigh of relief was likely exhaled when Brunson returned to the bench. He didn’t immediately come back into the game, though, as he looked on in his warmup as trainers were trying to see if he would wear a knee brace.

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Brunson eventually checked back into the game, but the injury scare wasn’t over.

On a drive with his left hand, he threw up a high floater that went through the nylon, but he seemed to roll his left ankle after landing on the court. It also didn’t help that center Luke Kornet stepped on the same ankle.