The New York Knicks visit the San Antonio Spurs tonight at Frost Bank Center for Game Five of the NBA Finals. New York leads the series 3-1 and is one win away from its first championship since 1973, while a Spurs victory tonight would send the series back to Madison Square Garden.
Inquiring minds want to know: can San Antonio recover from the embarrassment of Game Four? The Spurs have led by double digits in every game of this series and were ready to even things up on Wednesday before blowing a 29-point
lead.
New York continues to shoot themselves in both feet by losing first quarters and digging double-digit holes. The Knicks have lost the first quarter in all four games, and in each of their wins, they trailed inside the final two minutes. And yet, they have been the steadier team in the clutch. They rallied from an impossible deficit to win Game Four, 107-106, thanks to MVP-worthy efforts from Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns. For the losers, Victor Wembanyama recorded 24 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks, while rookie Dylan Harper added 21 off the bench.
The Spurs’ formula is simple: spread the floor, push the pace, and let Wembanyama erase mistakes at the rim. When they’re humming, they can bury opponents under a barrage of threes and transition opportunities. To wit, on Wednesday they set a Finals record for most first-half three-pointers. The idea of New York rallying to win was inconceivable to anyone watching because no one had ever rallied from that far down in a Finals game.
Rally, they did. The Knicks found a way to win by focusing on singles, bunting to get on base, and crashing the boards while San Antonio made one bone-headed decision after another. They should have killed the clock, but instead hoisted bricks too early; they stopped attacking the paint; they missed free throws; they gave the ball away like it had an open herpes sore; etc.
Thus, the game was a tale of two records—14 made threes by the Spurs in the first half, and a 30-point turnaround for the Knicks in the second.
The expected starters for the Spurs are Fox, Castle, Vassell, Julian Champagnie, and Wembanyama. For the Knicks, Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, Anunoby, and Towns. The injury report is clean for both sides. Both teams have had two full days off between games. San Antonio gets the benefit of returning home, but neither side enters with a meaningful rest advantage.
Since the start of the finals, I have collaborated with J.R. Wilco of Pounding the Rock on Fraternizing with the Enemy pieces. They have been a blast to write. Beyond that, it’s introduced me to the Spurs community and, boy, they have some takes. A common one is that the Spurs are a vastly more talented team and would be ahead 3-1 in the series if not for the impetuousness of youth. Or the Knicks don’t win the games, the Spurs lose them. Some blame Mitch Johnson and want him fired if they lose the Finals, while others counter that abandoning a young coach after the failure is not the Spurs Way. Others cast disdain upon post-win rampaging through the city, which does curdle the stomach, but conveniently neglect to mention how a 17-year-old was beaten into a coma by a Spurs fan.
Imagining myself as a San Antonio fan, I can see myself tied into knots trying to make sense of what has transpired. As a Knicks fan, I have done the same—and perhaps you, too, have experienced moments of irrational justification in defense of our beloved ‘Bockers. Here’s how I see the series so far: these teams are evenly matched, each with edges in various spots. The Knicks tend to start slowly, but build momentum throughout the game, whereas the Spurs come out running and gunning, then gradually lose steam. San Antonio is green, no denying that, and have made mistakes that show their inexperience, while the Knicks are mostly 30ish-year-old vets in their prime who have been already earned the scars necessary to win championships. And Mike Brown is a better coach than Mitch Johnson.
That’s how I see the series. Would love to hear your takes in the comments blow.
Prediction
ESPN gives New York a 43% chance to win. All hail the underdogs! They will need to withstand what will certainly be an aggressive opening push from a team facing elimination on its home floor. For once, however, we expect our heroes to come out on the right foot. They need to limit live-ball turnovers that fuel San Antonio’s transition game, crash the glass, distribute the ball, make their shots, etc. This series has repeatedly swung toward the team that stays composed when things get weird, and right now the Knicks have all the juice. They close it out tonight by five. Get the banner printed and ready to hang.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (3-1) vs San Antonio Spurs (1-3)
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
Time: 8:30 PM ET
Place: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
TV: ABC
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
