The NBA Finals tip off Thursday night in San Antonio with the Spurs hosting the New York Knicks in Game 1. It is a matchup that would have seemed unlikely at the start of the season and genuinely intriguing now that it is here.
San Antonio won a seven-game Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City, with Victor Wembanyama delivering when it mattered most. In Game 7, Wembanyama finished with 22 points, 7 rebounds, and a block while Julian Champagnie came off the bench to shoot 6-of-10 from three and score 20. Stephon Castle added 16 points and 6 assists. The Spurs also got big contributions from De'Aaron Fox, who scored 15 and dished 5 assists while shooting efficiently. It was a well-rounded team effort that ended OKC's season despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 35-point farewell.
New York came through the East in dominant fashion, sweeping Cleveland 4–0 in the Conference Finals after putting away Philadelphia in four games in the second round. The Knicks have looked like the best team in the East for most of the postseason, and they enter Game 1 with confidence.
The matchup everyone is watching is Wembanyama against New York's frontcourt. At 7-foot-3 with legitimate guard skills and the ability to shoot threes, block shots, and create off the dribble, he is unlike anything the Knicks have seen in this postseason. San Antonio also has depth and shooting Julian Champagnie and Keldon Johnson can both get hot from outside while Fox and Castle give the Spurs two ball-handlers who can create off penetration.
The Spurs open as 63.3% favorites to win Game 1 at home. Game 2 is Saturday, also in San Antonio. The series shifts to New York for Games 3 and 4 on June 9 and 11 if needed.