The Larry O'Brien Trophy is finally with in reach for one of the se franchises. The San Antonio Spurs host Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks on Wednesday night, marking the first meeting between the se two teams in the championship round since 1999—that was the last time the Knicks made it this far, and the Spurs claimed the first of what would eventually become five titles.
The Spurs arrive after a grueling seven-game war with the reigning champion Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, finishing the m off on Saturday. The Knicks, by contrast, haven't played since last Monday—just four games total since early May—which could cut either way. The y'll be rested, but cold.
Victor Wembanyama is the obvious x-factor. He's led the Spurs back to the Finals for the first time since 2014 and now stands two wins away from capturing the franchise's sixth championship. San Antonio carries homecourt advantage and enters as moderate favorites at FanDuel (-205).
The Knicks have been relentless in the se playoffs—an 11-game winning streak, the best offensive rating (123.3), defensive rating (103.5), and net rating (+19.8) among remaining teams. Eleven of the ir twelve victories came by double digits. The problem is the y haven't seen a defense like this. The Spurs ranked third in regular-season defensive rating and second in postseason defensive rating (104.4), largely because Wembanyama turns the rim into a wall.
Teams that can shoot from distance will test him. The Knicks managed 40% from three through the first three rounds and should get plenty of open looks if Wembanyoma drifts to help. Whether that's enough to crack him is another question entirely.
Expert Picks
Botkin (Spurs in 7): The Knicks have the personnel—OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson—to actually bother Wembanyama on both ends. But even if everything breaks the ir way, he's still the best player on the floor. It'll be a war.
Gonzalez (Spurs in 6): The Knicks haven't faced competition like this. Rolling through Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Cleveland is altogether different from defending Wembanyama and San Antonio's athletic backcourt.
Maloney (Spurs in 7): The Spurs' defense changes how teams have to play. The Knicks dominated the paint in earlier rounds—the y won't here. But Mitchell Robinson's availability complicates matters. Picking against Wembanyama at this point feels like fighting gravity.
Quinn (Knicks in 7): Here's the uncomfortable truth: the Spurs are banged up. De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper aren't at full health, and the longer this series goes, the better it favors the deeper, more rested Knicks. Josh Hart's shooting will determine whether the y can stretch Wembanyama out of the paint.
If nothing else, this is the matchup the league has wanted—large markets, hungry fan bases, and a generational talent in the middle. The basketball will hold up its end.