Knicks vs. Spurs 2026 NBA Finals: Everything Lloydminster Basketball Fans Need to Know

Knicks vs. Spurs 2026 NBA Finals: Everything Lloydminster Basketball Fans Need to Know

Published: June 4, 2026 | Category: NBA Playoffs | 2026 NBA Finals

The NBA Finals Are Here — And It Is a Rematch 27 Years in the Making

Basketball fans in Lloydminster and across Canada, this is the series you have been waiting for all season.

The 2026 NBA Finals are officially underway, pitting the New York Knicks against the San Antonio Spurs in one of the most compelling championship matchups in recent memory. The Knicks won Game 1 on the road, 105–95, and Game 2 tips off tonight — Thursday, June 5 — at 8:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time) in San Antonio.

The story writes itself: a historic franchise chasing its first title in 53 years versus a generational superstar trying to launch the next great NBA dynasty. Two teams. One trophy. And a rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals, which San Antonio won in five games.

Quick Facts: Knicks vs. Spurs 2026

• Series: 2026 NBA Finals (Best of 7)
• Game 1 Result: New York Knicks 105, San Antonio Spurs 95 — Knicks lead 1–0
• Game 1 Location: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas
• Game 2: Tonight — Friday, June 5 | 8:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. MDT) at San Antonio | TSN (Canadian viewers)
• Game 3: Monday, June 8 | 8:30 p.m. ET | at New York — Sportsnet
• Game 4: Wednesday, June 10 | 8:30 p.m. ET | at New York — TSN
• Home-court advantage: San Antonio Spurs (finished 62–20, No. 2 seed in the West)
• Last time these teams met in the Finals: 1999 — Spurs won in 5

Game 1 Recap: Brunson Ice-Cold Until It Mattered Most

Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, June 3 was not a beautiful basketball game — but it was an absolutely dramatic one.

The Knicks jumped ahead early, but Jalen Brunson limped to the locker room after an apparent knee injury late in the first quarter and the Spurs surged into control. San Antonio built a lead as large as 14 points in the third quarter, and for long stretches it looked like the home crowd would get exactly what it wanted.

Then the Knicks did what this version of the Knicks does. They refused to fold.

New York closed the game on a stunning 11–0 run, holding San Antonio to just 14 fourth-quarter points — its worst quarter output of the entire postseason. With 1:02 remaining and the game tied, Brunson buried a corner three-pointer to put the Knicks ahead 97–95. A pull-up jumper with 38 seconds left iced it at 101–95. Final score: Knicks 105, Spurs 95.

Brunson finished with 30 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter alone, on 12-of-31 shooting. Karl-Anthony Towns was huge all night with 18 points and 12 rebounds, repeatedly going right at Wembanyama in the paint. And Josh Hart had one of the great hustle performances you will see in a Finals game — just 3 points, but 15 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals. Hart embodied everything this Knicks team is about.

For San Antonio, Victor Wembanyama posted 26 points and 12 rebounds in his NBA Finals debut but was held to just 6-of-21 from the field and 2-of-9 from three, while turning the ball over six times. Julian Champagnie kept the Spurs afloat in the first half, drilling five three-pointers for 15 first-half points. Dylan Harper added 16 off the bench. But the Spurs shot just 27% from three as a team, and their best player was never at his best when the game was on the line.

It was the Knicks' 12th consecutive playoff win, tying the legendary 1998–99 Spurs — ironically, the same team that beat New York in the Finals 27 years ago — for the second-longest postseason winning streak in a single postseason in NBA history.

Who Are the New York Knicks in 2026?

The Knicks last won the NBA championship in 1973. That is 53 years of waiting, 53 years of heartbreak, 53 years of New York fans watching other cities celebrate. An entire generation of Knicks fans has never seen a ticker-tape parade down Broadway for their team.

This year, under first-year head coach Mike Brown, that could finally change.

New York finished the regular season 53–29 as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. Their playoff run was nearly perfect. After losing Game 3 of the first round to the Atlanta Hawks, the Knicks have won 11 straight games before that 12th in Game 1 of the Finals.

Key Knicks players:

• Jalen Brunson — team captain, Eastern Conference Finals MVP, the ultimate clutch performer. Brunson has redefined what it means to be a big-game player in New York. At 6-foot-2, he is undersized for his position but consistently outplays his matchup when it matters most.
• Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT) — the big man who changes the entire dynamic. His ability to shoot, rebound, and punish defenders in the paint gives the Knicks a weapon that is very hard to scheme around.
• OG Anunoby — elite two-way forward, one of the best wing defenders in the NBA. He will get significant time guarding Wembanyama.
• Mikal Bridges — versatile wing who contributes in multiple ways on both ends
• Josh Hart — the heart and soul. Does not score a lot but impacts every single game in ways that do not always show up in a box score
• Mitchell Robinson — backup centre available despite a fractured right pinky finger suffered after the Eastern Conference Finals

Who Are the San Antonio Spurs in 2026?

The Spurs are not supposed to be here. They were the No. 2 seed in the West after a 62–20 regular season, but their path to the Finals required an epic seven-game war against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. San Antonio trailed 3–2 in that series before winning Game 6 on the road and then winning Game 7 in Oklahoma City to punch their ticket.

It was a win that sent shockwaves through the entire league. The Spurs beat the champions — twice in their building — to get to June.

San Antonio last won the NBA title in 2014, their fifth championship overall. This would be their sixth. And it would be built around arguably the most unique player the sport has ever seen.

Key Spurs players:

• Victor Wembanyama — the 7-foot-4 French superstar who is unlike anything the NBA has ever produced. He averaged 23.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game this postseason and was named the Western Conference Finals MVP. In Game 1 he was uncharacteristically inefficient, but no one expects that to continue. When Wembanyama is at his best, he is virtually unguardable.
• De'Aaron Fox — explosive point guard who joined San Antonio this season and brings the pace and scoring the Spurs need alongside Wemby
• Stephon Castle — young, talented guard who has grown significantly throughout this postseason
• Julian Champagnie — the sharpshooter who was outstanding in Game 1's first half; if he gets hot again, the Spurs look very different
• Dylan Harper — key bench contributor, 16 points in Game 1
• Devin Vassell — veteran wing who provides secondary scoring and experience
• Mitch Johnson — Spurs head coach, in his first season leading the team, and already in the Finals

The Big Storyline: A 27-Year Rematch

The last time these two franchises met in the NBA Finals was 1999 — a series defined by Tim Duncan and a lockout-shortened season. San Antonio won in five games and launched the greatest dynasty of the modern NBA era, going on to win five championships total.

Now the Spurs are trying to do it again — this time built around Wembanyama instead of Duncan — while the Knicks are trying to finally get the revenge they never got and end the longest active championship drought of any major North American sports franchise.

For Canadian fans, there is also the Canadian connection to follow closely. The Knicks' roster features players with deep ties to Canadian basketball culture, and TSN's coverage of this series brings the full Finals experience right to your living room.

What Do the Experts Think?

Opinion is genuinely split. Before Game 1, the Spurs were favoured at -205 (meaning San Antonio was expected to win), with New York at +170. After the Knicks stole Game 1 on the road, New York is now widely seen as the series favourite.

Most analysts predict this series will go at least six games. The Spurs have the home-court advantage and Wembanyama. The Knicks have the 12-game winning streak and Brunson. It is going to be a fight every single night.

Full 2026 NBA Finals Schedule — Canadian Time (MDT)

For Lloydminster fans on Mountain Daylight Time, all games tip off at 6:30 p.m. MDT (8:30 p.m. ET).

Canadian broadcast split: TSN carries Games 1, 3, 5 & 7. Sportsnet carries Games 2, 4 & 6.

*If necessary

Why Lloydminster Should Be Watching

Hockey is the undisputed king in Lloydminster and across the Prairies — but right now, with the Golden Knights and Hurricanes also battling for the Stanley Cup, we are in the middle of one of the greatest sports weeks of the year. Two championship series running at the same time, both with incredible storylines.

For basketball fans in the Border City, this Knicks-Spurs series has everything: a city chasing 53 years of hurt, a generational alien of a player in Wembanyama, clutch performances, dramatic comebacks, and a Game 2 on your TV tonight.

Pull up Sportsnet at 6:30 p.m. MDT and settle in. Basketball does not get bigger than this.

Frequently Asked Questions: Knicks vs. Spurs 2026

Who won Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals? The New York Knicks won Game 1, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 105–95 on June 3, 2026 in San Antonio. Jalen Brunson scored 30 points, including a go-ahead corner three with one minute remaining.

When is Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals? Game 2 is tonight — Friday, June 5, 2026 at 8:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. MDT) in San Antonio. Watch on Sportsnet in Canada.

Who has home-court advantage in the 2026 NBA Finals? The San Antonio Spurs have home-court advantage after finishing 62–20 in the regular season, the better record of the two teams.

Have the Knicks and Spurs met in the Finals before? Yes. The two teams met in the 1999 NBA Finals, which San Antonio won in five games for their first NBA championship.

When did the Knicks last win the NBA championship? The Knicks last won the NBA title in 1973 — 53 years ago.

Who is the best player on the Spurs? Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 French centre who was named Western Conference Finals MVP. He averaged 23.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game this postseason.

Who is the best player on the Knicks? Jalen Brunson, the team's point guard and emotional leader. He scored 30 points in Game 1, including 13 in the fourth quarter when the game was on the line.

Where can Canadians watch the 2026 NBA Finals? TSN carries Games 1, 3, 5, and 7. Sportsnet carries Games 2, 4, and 6. All games tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. MDT).

What is the current series score? The New York Knicks lead the series 1–0 after winning Game 1 on the road.

Lloydminster readers: bookmark this page for full series coverage. Game 2 is tonight on Sportsnet at 6:30 p.m. MDT. Can Wembanyama bounce back? Can Brunson keep doing the impossible? Tune in and find out.Start writing here...