Josh Hart Makes NBA History in Finals Game 1 — Only Larry Bird Has Done This Before

Josh Hart scored just three points in NBA Finals Game 1. And he was arguably the most important player on the court. The New York Knicks' heart and soul delivered one of the most statistically unique performances in playoff history — a line that only Larry Bird has matched in the NBA Finals — as New York rallied from 14 points down to beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 and take a 1-0 series lead.

The Historic Line

Hart finished Game 1 with 15 rebounds, six assists, four steals and a block in just 27 minutes of play — scoring only three points on 1-for-5 shooting. On paper it looks ordinary. In context it is one of the most impactful performances in NBA Finals history.

Hart became the first player in NBA history to record at least 15 rebounds, six assists, and four steals in a playoff game in under 30 minutes of play. The only other player to come close to matching his combination of 15+ rebounds, 4+ steals and 3 or fewer points in an NBA Finals game? Larry Bird.

Let that comparison sink in.

The Knicks Won the Hart Minutes by 22

The raw stats tell only part of the story. The plus-minus numbers tell the rest. The Knicks outscored the Spurs by 22 points when Hart was on the court — the highest plus-minus of any player in the series opener.

When Hart sat — 21 minutes and 13 seconds on the bench — the Knicks were outscored by 12 points. The math is ruthless. Without Hart on the floor, New York loses this game by double digits. With him, they win by 10.

"That's just who he is," Jalen Brunson said of his teammate. "He's always been that way. I can't explain it. He just has a knack for doing things like that, and in crucial times, as well. It's a credit to who he is as a player."

The Fourth Quarter Seals It

Hart's most crucial moment came with 57 seconds remaining and the game hanging in the balance. With the Knicks clinging to a narrow lead, Hart stripped the ball from Victor Wembanyama — the Spurs' generational superstar — in the closing seconds to essentially seal the victory.

He also stole the ball from Dylan Harper and De'Aaron Fox in the fourth quarter, both turnovers leading directly to transition buckets that swung the momentum of the game. Three steals in the fourth quarter alone. On the NBA Finals stage. Against three of the best players on the opposing team.

Knicks coach Mike Brown was blunt in his assessment after the game. "You know, you look at Josh Hart's line being 1 for 5 from the field, and the guy had 15 rebounds and four steals, and he made some unbelievable defensive plays and he helped us tremendously in transition. So, heck of a job by Josh."

Who Is Josh Hart?

For casual fans rediscovering Hart through this performance, here is the backstory. Josh Hart is a 30-year-old guard-forward from Washington DC who attended Villanova University — the same school as his Knicks teammate Jalen Brunson. The two have been close friends since their college days and their chemistry on the court reflects a connection built over nearly a decade.

Hart was acquired by the Knicks in a 2023 trade that sent Cam Reddish, Ryan Arcidiacono, and a first-round pick to the Portland Trail Blazers. At the time, the trade drew mixed reactions. In hindsight, it looks like one of the best deals in recent Knicks history.

Hart has never been a scorer — his career average sits around 9-11 points per game. What he provides is everything else: rebounding far above his position, relentless defensive energy, playmaking as a secondary ball-handler, and the kind of competitiveness that elevates everyone around him. Knicks fans have called him the heart and soul of the franchise since the moment he arrived — and Game 1 of the NBA Finals was the most vivid illustration yet of why.

The Knicks' Comeback

Hart's historic performance came in the context of a remarkable team comeback. The Knicks trailed the Spurs by as many as 14 points in the second half — a deficit that looked insurmountable on the road in San Antonio.

Karl-Anthony Towns sparked the rally with 10 third-quarter points to help New York erase the gap. Then Jalen Brunson took over in the fourth — scoring 13 of his game-high 30 points in the final period, including a clutch corner three-pointer with 1:50 remaining that gave the Knicks the lead for good.

The final score: Knicks 105, Spurs 95. New York's 12th consecutive playoff win. Their first NBA Finals Game 1 victory since 1994.

What This Means for the Series

The Knicks now lead the series 1-0 — and history is firmly on their side. Teams that win Game 1 of the NBA Finals go on to win the championship approximately 70% of the time. For a Knicks franchise that last won a title in 1973 — 53 years ago — the significance of stealing home-court advantage in San Antonio cannot be overstated.

Game 2 takes place on Friday June 6 at 8:30 PM ET on ABC — back in San Antonio, where the Spurs will be desperate to level the series before it shifts to Madison Square Garden.

Key Takeaways

• Josh Hart recorded 15 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and a block in just 27 minutes in NBA Finals Game 1
• He is the first player in NBA history with 15+ rebounds, 6+ assists, and 4+ steals in a playoff game under 30 minutes
• The only comparable Finals performance belongs to Larry Bird
• The Knicks outscored the Spurs by 22 points in Hart's minutes — and were outscored by 12 when he sat
• Hart's crucial strip of Wembanyama with 57 seconds left sealed the Knicks' 105-95 victory
• Jalen Brunson scored 30 points — 13 in the fourth quarter — to lead New York
• KAT added 18 points and 14 rebounds in a crucial third quarter performance
• The Knicks lead the series 1-0 — teams winning Game 1 go on to win the title 70% of the time
• Game 2: Friday June 6 at 8:30 PM ET on ABC in San Antonio