Spurs vs. Knicks: 2026 NBA Finals preview, prediction, odds
The 2026 NBA Finals tip off Wednesday night with a “what’s old is new again” vibe. It’s a rematch of the 1999 Finals, when a 22-year-old Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs beat Latrell Sprewell and the New York Knicks 4-1 for the first title in franchise history.
Now, 27 years later, the Spurs are back with another 22-year-old phenom in Victor Wembanyama, and the Knicks are in the Finals for the first time since that ’99 run. Game 1 goes tomorrow night from the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio (8:30 p.m. ET, TSN and ABC).
It’s a clear clash of identities: the young Spurs with the best defender on the planet against a veteran, red-hot Knicks side that hasn’t lost in over a month.And It’s an interesting series from a sports betting perspective.
Expected NBA Finals starting lineups
San Antonio Spurs
- De’Aaron Fox
- Stephon Castle
- Devin Vassell
- Harrison Barnes
- Victor Wembanyama
New York Knicks
- Jalen Brunson
- Mikal Bridges
- OG Anunoby
- Karl-Anthony Towns
- Mitchell Robinson*
*Robinson’s availability remains a significant storyline after reports of a broken pinkie finger before the Finals.
How to bet the NBA Finals at ToonieBet
| 1. Log in or register at ToonieBet. |
| 2. Go to the sportsbook then the NBA page. |
| 3. Place future bets, build parlays or bet live. |
How to bet the NBA Finals live at ToonieBet
| 1. Log in or register an account at ToonieBet. |
| 2. Go to the live sports betting page. |
| 3. Follow the game trackers, real-time odds and stats, and bet. |
Odds to win the 2026 NBA Finals at ToonieBet
| Spurs to win series | -213 |
| Knicks to win series | +175 |
Odds to win the 2026 NBA Finals MVP at ToonieBet
- Victor Wembanyama -182
- Jalen Brunson +200
- Karl-Anthony Towns +1900
- OG Anunoby +4900
- Stephon Castle +4900
*Odds subject to change
How the Spurs and Knicks got to the 2026 NBA Finals
San Antonio Spurs
| ROUND | OPPONENT | SERIES |
| First Round | Portland Trail Blazers | 4-1 |
| Conference Semifinals | Minnesota Timberwolves | 4-2 |
| Conference Finals | Oklahoma City Thunder | 4-3 |
That last series included a gutsy 111-103 Game 7 win on the road against the defending champs.
New York Knicks
| ROUND | OPPONENT | SERIES |
| First Round | Atlanta Hawks | 4-2 |
| Conference Semifinals | Philadelphia 76ers | 4-0 |
| Conference Finals | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-0 |
Why the Spurs will win the 2026 NBA Finals
San Antonio has the best player in the series, and it isn’t especially close. Wembanyama is the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year and Western Conference Finals MVP; he changes the math at the rim in a way no one else on either team can match.
The Spurs also have the stronger season-long profile. They finished with the second-best record in the NBA and the league’s second-best net rating at +8.27, backed by the third-ranked defence at a 110.4 defensive rating. That matters here, because it’s a real step up from anything the Knicks have run into so far. New York’s three playoff opponents ranked 9th (Atlanta), 16th (Philadelphia) and 15th (Cleveland) in defensive rating. San Antonio is comfortably the best defensive team the Knicks have seen all post-season.
There’s a cautionary tale in that for the Knicks. NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just had the worst series of his superstar career against the Spurs, and San Antonio’s ability to load up on opposing star guards is a problem for New York’s Jalen Brunson, who carries an enormous share of the team’s offence. Add home-court advantage to all of that and the Spurs have earned their spot as the favorite.
Why the Knicks will win the 2026 NBA Finals
The first thing in New York’s favour is rest. The Knicks haven’t played since May 25 and have logged just 14 games in the playoffs, while the Spurs needed 18 to get here, including a seven-game war with Oklahoma City. That’s a meaningful gap in fresh legs over a best-of-seven Finals.
The second thing is form. New York hasn’t lost since April 23, Game 3 of the first round against Atlanta, and rides an 11-game winning streak into the Finals, including back-to-back sweeps. The Knicks are averaging 121.5 points per game over their last eight and posted a +89 point differential against the 76ers in the East semifinal and a +77 differential against the Cavaliers in the Conference Finals. That’s not just winning; that’s steamrolling.
They’ve also already beaten this exact opponent on a big stage. The two split their regular-season series 1-1, and the Knicks got San Antonio in the NBA Cup final back in December, winning 124-113. The caveat is that it wasn’t a full-strength Spurs side — Wembanyama was working his way back from injury that night and came off the bench on a minutes restriction. It’s far from a perfect read, but there’s something to having beaten a team in a one-off, high-pressure setting.
Finally, there’s the matchup wrinkle. Karl-Anthony Towns is good enough as a shooter to drag Wembanyama away from the basket, and every possession San Antonio’s anchor spends defending out at the three-point line is a possession he isn’t protecting the rim.
2026 NBA Finals schedule
| Game 1, June 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET Knicks @ Spurs | Game 2, June 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET Knicks @ Spurs |
| Game 3, June 8 at 8:30 p.m. Spurs @ Knicks | Game 4, June 10 at 8:30 p.m. ET Spurs @ Knicks |
| Game 5 (if necessary), June 13 at 8:30 p.m. ET Knicks @ Spurs | Game 6 (if necessary), June 16 at 8:30 p.m. ET Spurs @ Knicks |
| Game 7 (if necessary), June 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET Knicks @ Spurs |
Spurs vs. Knicks prediction
This is about as good as a Finals matchup gets: A great regular-season profile plus arguably the league’s best all-around player versus the hottest, most battle-tested team in the NBA.
When you stack it all up — the season-long resume, home court and the best player on the floor — all signs point toward San Antonio, even if New York’s recent dominance means this one could comfortably go the distance.
We’re not here to tell anyone what to bet, but for readers who see it the same way, here are a few of the ways that lean is currently priced at ToonieBet:
| Spurs series moneyline: -213 |
| Spurs series spread (-1.5): -106 |
| Game and series double (Spurs to win Game 1 and the series): -112 |
And if you lean toward a Knicks upset, they’ll almost certainly need a monster series from Towns to get there. His shooting is the cleanest counter to Wemby on the floor, which puts his Finals MVP price of +1900 into the conversation, too.
| Feature image courtesy AP Photo/Tony Avelar via Canadian Press Images. Stats courtesy NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com. |
FAQs about the 2026 NBA Finals
1 Who’s playing in the NBA Finals?
The San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks
2 Who’s favoured to win the NBA Finals?
The San Antonio Spurs.
3 Who are the top players to watch in the NBA Finals?
Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox (Spurs). Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks).
4 How can I watch the NBA Finals in Canada?
TSN and Sportsnet split the Canadian TV and streaming rights; ABC will broadcast all of the games.
5 Are there any Canadians playing?
Yes, veteran Kelly Olynyk is a member of the San Antonio Spurs.
6 When do the NBA Finals start?
Game 1 is Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 8:30 p.m. ET in San Antonio.
7 How can I bet on the NBA Finals?
ToonieBet Ontario has every market covered. You can play singles, build parlays or bet games live. Just register an account or log in to get started.
The content is provided for general informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute betting advice, financial advice, or a recommendation to place any wager. Odds are subject to change. Sports wagering involves risk, and there is no guarantee of success or profit. For Ontario residents, participation in regulated online gaming is restricted to individuals 19 years of age or older. Please play responsibly. If gambling is no longer fun or may be causing harm, support is available through recognized gambling resources like ConnexOntario. Terms and conditions apply where applicable.
