The 2026 NBA Finals are set to begin Wednesday night in San Antonio as the San Antonio Spurs host the New York Knicks in Game 1 of a highly anticipated championship series.
For both franchises, reaching this stage marks the end of lengthy absences from the NBA’s biggest spotlight. The Knicks are making their first Finals appearance since 1999, when they fell to the Spurs, while San Antonio returns to the title round for the first time since capturing the championship in 2014.
New York enters the series riding one of the most dominant stretches in league history. The Knicks have won 11 consecutive games by a combined margin of 262 points, the most lopsided 11-game run ever recorded across both the regular season and playoffs. Despite the historic success, Knicks forward Josh Hart emphasized that the team remains focused solely on the challenge ahead rather than the significance of the moment.
The Spurs bring championship experience as an organization and an impressive Finals-opening track record. San Antonio has never lost Game 1 of the NBA Finals, posting a perfect 6-0 record in championship series openers.
While many players on both rosters will be making their NBA Finals debut, Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox stressed the importance of staying true to the habits that carried the team this far. San Antonio finished the regular season with 62 wins and never lost three straight games all year, a level of consistency Fox believes should continue on the league’s biggest stage.
With two storied franchises seeking another championship, Game 1 promises to set the tone for what could be a memorable NBA Finals battle.
