2026 NBA Finals | Knicks vs. Spurs: Game 1
Written by: Varun Sharma
Last Update: Wed Jun 03, 2026, 4:14 pm ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals tips off tonight. I couldn't be more excited.
Let's jump straight into tonight's game.
For additional information on picks, props, money lines and more on today's NBA slate, take a look at our NBA Picks Page or our NBA Odds Page.
Game Information
Matchup Information
- Location: Frost Bank Center; San Antonio, Texas
- Date: Wednesday, June 6th, 2026
- Tipoff: 8:40 PM EST
Postseason Performers
- Jalen Brunson (NYK): 36.1 MPG | 26.9 PPG | 2.8 RPG | 6.6 APG
- Victor Wembanyama (SAS): 32.5 MPG | 23.2 PPG | 10.8 RPG | 2.7 APG
Betting Odds
Odds via Lucky Rebel, an industry leader in the sports betting world.
Analysis & Breakdown
Glitch in the Matrix
My favourite story line entering this year's NBA Finals is just how closely this year's matchup lines up with the Knicks/Spurs series in 1999. It was a shortened season due to lockout, teams played just 50 games in the regular season and both the Knicks and Spurs made the NBA Finals.
New York's leading scorer that year was a 37 year old Patrick Ewing but he would play just 11 games in the playoffs. The team was lead by Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston, both averaging close to 20 points per game during that postseason run.
New York got all the way to the NBA Finals and ran into a monster named Tim Duncan. Duncan was in just his second year and averaged 21.7 points per game in the regular season. Duncan lead the Spurs to the NBA Finals, losing just one game in the process, In the NBA Finals he averaged 27.4 points and 14.0 rebounds per game and won his first Finals MVP.
The Spurs went 15-2 on their way to an NBA Title that year and it was all because of a young 7-footer doing things we've never seen before. Time is a flat circle.
The Captain
This year's Knicks's team however, is a lot different. The team's won 11 straight games entering the NBA Finals. They've got the No. 1 ranked offense in the postseason and No. 1 ranked defense. The team's averaging 126.5 points per 100 possessions during this win streak and giving up just 102.0.
The Knicks are allowing just 99.1 points per game in the playoffs and offensively they've got the best fourth quarter player in the entire postseason. Jalen Brunson is averaging 9.2 points per game in the fourth quarter this postseason and he's shooting 60% from the field while he does it.
New York will go as far their Captain takes them and right now, he looks unstoppable.
The Alien
On the other side, we've got a 22 year old Victor Wembanyama in his first postseason. The kid's averaging 23/11, shooting 51%from the field and 37% from beyond the arc. He just won his first ever Conference Finals MVP Trophy and to celebrate he took the team to watch a movie. Wemby's locked in and he wants more.
The Spurs just upset the defending champs in seven games. Wembanyama averaged 27.3 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots per game. Wemby's averaging 3.5 blocked shots per game in the playoffs and has a total of 60 blocked shots during this postseason run.
Three more blocks for Victor and he will pass Tim Duncan for 8th most blocks in a single postseason run. Realistically, Wemby could move into the top five before this postseason's over.
Wemby's offense has been great, but his impact defensively can't be matched. The Spurs defensive rating with Wemby on the floor drops to 101.9 and the team's got a net rating of +16.2 in the playoffs. With him off the floor? Defensive rating jumps to 114.8 with the team's net rating dropping to -2.1.
There is only one Victor Wembanyama and his spaceship landed in San Antonio.
Wednesday's Best Bets
Julian Champagnie o15.5 P/R (-120) | Lucky Rebel
Julian Champagnie has been so much fun to watch this year. His energy, shooting ability and willingness to rebound the ball has paid dividends for the Spurs. Tonight I'm looking to take advantage.
Champagnie's cleared this line in two of his last three games, scoring 20 points in both games he hit. He's had 6+ rebounds in all three games and tonight against the Knicks I think he gets the pleasure of pulling the Jalen Brunson matchup.
The Knicks defense has been stellar in the postseason but the level of talent they faced en route, wasn't the best. New York's held opponents to 30% from the perimeter but that's not sustainable. The teams' giving up 17.1 wide open 3-point shots per game but their opponents have shot just 32% on these wide open shots.
Champagnie should be on the receiving end for a good amount of these open shots and with his size advantage I'd expect him to hit the offensive glass a ton tonight.
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