The Knicks reach the Finals for the first time since 1999 and stand as the third club to capture the opening pair of games on the road in the title series.

The Chicago Bulls accomplished the feat in 1993, and the Houston Rockets followed in 1995, with both teams claiming the championship afterward.

After a quiet opening half, Wembanyama sparked a Spurs rally by scoring 22 points in the second half and tying the score with 14 straight points in the fourth quarter.

In the closing seconds with the game level, the Frenchman sent a pass into Castle's back that allowed Brunson to hit the winning basket.

At the postgame news conference, Wembanyama acknowledged he was not at his sharpest after guiding the Spurs to the Finals.

"We need to stay balanced and avoid extreme highs or lows," the 22-year-old said in his first Finals appearance. "Personally, I feel I could have recovered better from the excitement of the conference finals.

"I threw that pass away. It was my error.

"Will I regret it? Yes. Will I use it to motivate myself and the group for the next game? Absolutely."

Brunson, who scored the decisive points, praised the team support behind his strong play that also won game one in the final quarter.

"Knowing we are on the road and that my teammates have my back matters most in this setting," Brunson said.

"The trust they show in me and I show in them has brought us to this stage."

The best-of-seven series resumes Monday when the Knicks host the Spurs at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

US President Donald Trump, born in New York City, plans to attend as the Knicks seek their first title since 1973.