The New York Knicks head to San Antonio to take on the Spurs in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals on Wednesday night. Tip off for this matchup is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on ABC.
My main question for Game 1 is whether or not rust will play a factor for the Knicks. They’ve been off since May 25 after sweeping the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
On this page, we’ll dive into my NBA best bets for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Knicks vs Spurs Game 1 Odds
All NBA odds used for these Knicks vs Spurs predictions are current as of Monday, June 1, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Knicks (+164) / Spurs (-198)
- Spread: Knicks +5.5 (-118) / Spurs -5.5 (-102)
- Over/Under: Over 218.5 (-110) / Under 218.5 (-110)
Knicks vs Spurs Game 1 Predictions
Score Prediction: Spurs 104, Knicks 89
The Knicks have had a nice run throughout the playoffs, but they’ve had an easier path than the Spurs.
New York has gone through the Hawks, 76ers, and Cavaliers. Meanwhile, the Spurs just beat the defending champion Thunder, who were viewed as an overwhelmingly heavy favorite to win the championship.
Victor Wembanyama and Co. are on a mission this year.
Knicks vs Spurs Game 1 Best Bets
Spurs -5.5 (-102) vs Knicks
I’m betting that rust is going to play a major factor in this game.
We saw that happen in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, when the Thunder were rusty after a long layoff, ultimately losing that one to the Spurs. I’m expecting something similar for the Knicks here.
It wouldn’t shock me to see this one turn into a blowout.
- Get Frank’s thoughts on the series in our NBA Finals odds.
We just saw the Spurs slow down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the Western Conference Finals. This team held SGA below 37% from the field in three of his last five games. That was one of the major factors of the series.
We’re likely going to see San Antonio do something similar to Jalen Brunson, who has carried the Knicks throughout this postseason run, averaging 26.9 points per game on 48.6% shooting from the field.
If that happens, the Knicks are going to have a tough time, so ride with the Spurs in my NBA pick of the day.
Knicks @ Spurs: Under 218.5 Points (-110)
I like going under 218.5 points in Game 1 of the NBA Finals because I’m betting that this contest could turn into a blowout.
We’ve seen the last two Spurs’ home games follow that pattern, as San Antonio defeated Oklahoma City 118-91 and 103-82 in Games 4 and 6.
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If the Spurs can slow down Brunson like I’m expecting, it could be tough for the Knicks to get enough points to push this one over the total.
Even at a low bar like 218.5, the under feels like the right side, especially with how dominant the Spurs have been defensively, particularly at home.
