The New York Knicks can clinch the NBA Finals on Saturday night in San Antonio, where they visit the Spurs for Game 5 with a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Knicks Take 3-1 NBA Finals Lead To San Antonio
ESPN's preview lists tipoff at 8:30 p.m. EDT, with the Spurs favored by 5.5 points and the over/under set at 216.5. That line says San Antonio still has plenty of respect at home. The series score says New York has the only number that matters right now.
The Knicks moved within one win of the title by beating the Spurs 107-106 in Game 4. Jalen Brunson led New York with 36 points in that matchup, while Victor Wembanyama led San Antonio with 24.
Brunson And Wembanyama Lead Game 5 Stakes
Brunson enters the matchup averaging 26.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists for the Knicks. New York is 23-19 on the road and averages 116.5 points per game, five more than the Spurs allow.
Wembanyama is shooting 51.2% and averaging 25.0 points for San Antonio. The Spurs are 32-8 at home, and ESPN lists them ninth in the NBA at 28.1 assists per game, with Stephon Castle averaging 7.4 assists.
Those numbers give both teams a plausible route. The Knicks have the form and the series lead. The Spurs have home court and enough top-end talent to make a closeout attempt feel like a long evening instead of a ceremony.
Spurs Need Home Response In Game 5
The last-10-game form tilts toward New York. ESPN lists the Knicks at 9-1 in that span, averaging 115.5 points while allowing 102.6. San Antonio is 4-6 over its last 10, averaging 108.7 points and allowing 107.6.
OG Anunoby has also been efficient for the Knicks, averaging 16.0 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 53.3% over the last 10 games. For San Antonio, Devin Vassell is averaging 3.0 made 3-pointers over the same stretch.
The injury report is short but still relevant: ESPN lists David Jones Garcia as out for the season with an ankle injury for the Spurs, while the Knicks have no listed injuries. For New York, Game 5 is a title chance. For San Antonio, it is the more basic playoff assignment: win once, and make everyone pack for another game.