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It’s a 1999 NBA Finals rematch! Game 1 between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC. Mitchell Robinson is questionable to play after sustaining a fractured pinky, but he has firmly stated his intentions to suit up.
New York went 2-1 against San Antonio this regular season, including a win during the NBA Cup championship. The Knicks outscored the Spurs by 34 total points across those three contests.
Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals Game 1 Betting Analysis
New York reached the Finals for the first time since 1999 and has a chance to win its first title since 1973. The Knicks trailed 2-1 against Atlanta in the first round before winning three straight games to advance. New York then swept Philadelphia and Cleveland, which means Jalen Brunson and company own an active 11-game winning streak heading into Game 1.
Brunson has led the Knicks’ scoring charge this playoffs by averaging 26.9 points per game on 59.1% true shooting. OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart are all in the double digits, too. Meanwhile, Landry Shamet has been a weapon off the bench. The New York sharpshooter has made 21 of his 35 attempts from beyond the arc this postseason.
A key area to monitor is whether Towns gets into foul trouble. The All-Star is prone to dumb fouls and has averaged 3.9 fouls per game during the playoffs. He’s too important to lose, and San Antonio loves to attack big men around the hoop.
The Spurs last made the Finals in 2014 and have won four titles this century, so their fans are more accustomed to success at the highest level than Knicks fans. However, most of San Antonio’s players are in the midst of their first playoff run, so the experience advantage goes to New York.
Victor Wembanyama enters Game 1 with averages of 23.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game on 63.6% true shooting. He has officially taken the “best player in the world” belt given his two-way impact this playoffs. Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are also thriving in their roles and possess All-Star or even All-NBA upside.
The best bet for Game 1 is taking New York to cover the 5.5-point spread as underdogs. It has enough spacing, perimeter shooting, and ball handling to score without needing to beat Wembanyama at the rim. The Knicks are also playing at an extremely high level in general and enter this game very rested.
Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals Game 1 Best Bet, Pick & Prediction
Best Bet: Knicks +5.5 (-118)
Score Prediction: Spurs 108, Knicks 106
Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals Game 1 Odds
Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals Game 1 Information
- Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
- Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
- Network: ABC
- Location: San Antonio, Texas
- Venue: Frost Bank Center – 228.3 ppg; 20-27 O/U
- Series Score: Tied 0-0
Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals Game 1 Betting Resources
Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals Game 1 Key Players
Knicks
- Jalen Brunson – Last Game: 15 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists
- Karl-Anthony Towns – Last Game: 19 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists
- OG Anunoby – Last Game: 17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists
Spurs
- Victor Wembanyama – Last Game: 22 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists
- De’Aaron Fox – Last Game: 15 points, 0 rebounds, 5 assists
- Stephon Castle – Last Game: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists
