The long-awaited crescendo of the 2025-26 NBA season is finally here, with Game 1 of the NBA Finals scheduled for early hours on Thursday, at 01:30 BST.
In the 2026 NBA Finals, we'll see the New York Knicks, in their first finals appearance since 1999, in which they lost to the same opponent they're facing now. The Knicks are chasing their third NBA title, first since 1973.
On the other side will be the young San Antonio Spurs, who last appeared in the NBA Finals in 2014 and have won five NBA titles overall, with their maiden title coming in 1999 against the New York Knicks.
With that in mind, we'll take a closer look at this renewed rivalry, provide you with a detailed San Antonio Spurs vs New York Knicks preview, and offer our favourite NBA Finals Game 1 betting tips, odds, and expert predictions.
NBA Finals Game 1 predictions
Moneyline
New York Knicks to win
31/20
Total points
Under 218.5
4/5
To make 3+ threes
Jalen Brunson
6/5
All odds for my NBA Finals Game 1 picks were taken from Paddy Power and are subject to change at any time.
New York Knicks to win
While the Spurs will have the advantage of starting the series at home, they come into the NBA Finals after a gruelling, seven-game series against the defending champions, the Thunder.
On the other hand, the Knicks have been resting for a while after sweeping Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals, so they should have more energy in this game, along with having more experience in high-pressure games, given that this is the first playoff run for San Antonio since 2019.
The Knicks also beat the Spurs in the NBA Cup final earlier this season, which was another high-stakes game, so we can see them stealing Game 1 from the tired, inexperienced Spurs.
Under 218.5 total points
Both teams are known for playing high-intensity defence, especially in the playoffs. In fact, of all the teams in these playoffs, the Knicks and the Spurs are the top two in defensive rating. The Knicks only allow 103.5 points per 100 possessions, while the Spurs have a defensive rating of 104.4.
We can also look at their meeting in the NBA Cup final for some guidance, which ended 114-89 for the Knicks. So, a total of 203 points, well below the proposed line for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Jalen Brunson to make 3+ threes
While Brunson has been great in these playoffs, he is only averaging 2.2 made threes per game so far. That's not a huge difference compared to his average of 2.6 made threes from the regular season, but it is still down.
Given how we saw Brunson thrive in high-pressure situations, I expect to see a great Game 1 from him and that includes three or more three-pointers made.
NBA Finals Game 1 preview – team news, injuries, and predicted lineups
San Antonio Spurs preview and latest news
Many have seen the Spurs as a force to be reckoned with in the next few years, but not many have expected them to be this good this early into Victor Wembanyama's career. The young French phenom is only in his third NBA season and he already has his team in the NBA Finals.
Of course, the rest of this young core deserve as much credit, particularly Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, while De'Aaron Fox is the most experienced part of the guard rotation that suffocates teams on both ends of the court.
The Spurs reached the Finals after eliminating great teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves and the defending champions the OKC Thunder, beating them in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals in Oklahoma, proving that their youth doesn't mean they can't handle pressure.
The Spurs are 12-7 in the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
Spurs starting lineup: Fox, Castle, Vassell, Champagnie, Wembanyama
New York Knicks preview and latest news
After going 2-2 in the first round of the playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks, it seems that the Knicks are bound for another disappointing post-season, especially since Tom Thibodeau was fired for only reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.
Since then, the Knicks seemingly turned on the machine and have won 10 games in a row, eliminating the Hawks 4-2 and sweeping both Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Knicks are led by the amazing Jalen Brunson, who is third in the playoffs in scoring with 26.9 points per game, but the Knicks can rely on their entire starting lineup and they enter the Finals with more experience than the Spurs.
The Knicks are 12-2 in the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
Knicks starting lineup: Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, Hart, Towns
An avid sports fan and bettor, with a soft spot for basketball, tennis, and football. Vladimir is a part of MFT's unique community both as writer and editor.
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