Brunson Ignites Knicks in Finals Opener; Cuban Backs Finley; Silver Explains Lottery Crackdown
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New York — Jalen Brunson shook off a cold start, a sore knee and a brief ankle scare to pour in 30 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, as the Knicks rallied past the San Antonio Spurs to claim Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The victory moved New York within three wins of its first championship since 1973.
The point guard’s late-game takeover added another chapter to a postseason in which he has repeatedly delivered in crunch time. Knicks icon Walt Frazier likened Brunson’s toughness to Hall of Famer Willis Reed while noting, “He’s got the tenacity of Willis Reed and he’s got my cool.” Former Pistons star Isiah Thomas called Brunson “just a winner,” saying teams led by the 6-foot guard consistently outduel opponents.
Mavericks
On the “House of Haymaker” podcast, former Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he has urged new team president Masai Ujiri to retain longtime executive Michael Finley. “Finley is our legacy guy. You need somebody there that’s a connection to the past,” Cuban noted.
Finley, a nearly 20-year member of the organization as both player and executive, served as co-interim general manager after Nico Harrison was dismissed. Cuban said Ujiri was receptive to the advice but offered no hint of his final decision.
Draft Lottery
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver defended recently approved draft-lottery reforms before Game 1, stating the league had to act because tanking was becoming “acceptable behavior.” Silver told reporters that incentives built into the previous system had led up to one-third of teams to chase losses, especially with a highly touted draft class looming.
The new rules aim to reduce those incentives, though Silver acknowledged that their effectiveness remains uncertain. “Tanking is not a new issue for this league,” he said, “but we were surprised at how quickly it became acceptable.”
Source: Hoops Wire
