Who will take the lead in the NBA Finals?
Following OKC’s elimination in the last round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, it’s certain that a new champion will be crowned this year! The San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks will determine who succeeds Oklahoma, and Wettbasis is offering a tip for Game 1.
The visiting Eastern Conference champion will enter the first matchup better rested. The East Coast squad wrapped up their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers in four quick and painless games! At the same time, it was already the Knicks’ second straight sweep, and the New Yorkers have now won eleven playoff games in a row—with an equally impressive point differential of plus 263!
In contrast, the Spurs, who are competing in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014, recently had to go the full distance in the Western Conference Finals.
It took a successful “Game Seven” against OKC to secure the Texans’ spot in the Finals. Given this situation, we’re predicting that the San Antonio Spurs won’t lose by six or more points in their matchup against the New York Knicks.
Furthermore, we expect the hosts to score no more than 111 points. The Knicks, who are aiming to win the title for the first time in 53 years, have shown strong defensive performance on the road in the postseason. In fact, they held their opponents to single-digit scoring in four of their last six road games!
San Antonio Spurs – New York Knicks Head-to-Head Record
The Spurs still have a score to settle with the Knicks: Last December, the teams faced off in the NBA Cup final in Las Vegas, and the Knicks from the “Big Apple” secured a 124-113 victory.
In the two subsequent league matchups, both teams also secured a win on their home court. For the home team, this is nothing new: they’ve won each of their last four home games against the Knicks!
For the upcoming Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks, the odds are once again pointing toward a home win.
San Antonio Spurs – New York Knicks Prediction
It’s showtime! The 2026 NBA Finals are kicking off, and with the Spurs and Knicks, the matchup is an exciting one—a rematch of the 1999 Finals, when the New Yorkers last reached the Finals but fell short against legends like Tim Duncan.
The hosts recently knocked out the defending champions from Oklahoma, while the visitors arrive on the back of two sweeps against Cleveland and Philadelphia. We view the two franchises as evenly matched and wouldn’t be surprised if the series isn’t decided until Game 7.
For this first matchup, however, we see the home team at a physical disadvantage.
The recent series against OKC took a lot out of them, while the Knicks had five extra days off.
Furthermore, the visitors have been playing very strong defense on the road lately. Considering these points, the betting odds for a visitor win or a loss by no more than five points look promising for Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks. This is also supported by the Knicks’ most recent road game in the “Lone Star State” earlier this year, which they lost by a hair, 132-134.
