The Knicks Are Two Wins Away—Can the Spurs Respond?

The Knicks have officially made history, and their remarkable playoff run may not be finished yet. This year's NBA Finals has been incredibly exciting, but it has also revealed a lot about both the Knicks and the Spurs. This article will break down key player performances, compare the strengths of both teams, and predict who will ultimately win the series. Let's get into it.

After watching Game 1 and 2 of the 2025-2026 NBA Championship, the New York Knicks seemed to easily be the better team, but this may not be the case. Despite some controversial officiating throughout the game, the Spurs still made a statement in Game 3. Not only was their defense impeccable, but their offense also seemed to be unstoppable. Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle led their offense by combining for 55 points, which is more than Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook averaged as a duo on the 2011-12 Thunder team. Even though Devin Vassell scored below his average, he too had a very impactful game. By shooting 75% from the range, and making three key three-pointers, he absolutely contributed to this win. De'Aaron Fox did not play his best, but while standing at only 6'3, he blocked 2 shots, which is beyond impressive. There were three Knicks that struggled offensively on Monday. Mikal Bridges only scored two points in 29 minutes, which is 12 points below his average. After averaging 19 points at the Garden in the Eastern Conference Finals, this was very surprising. Landry Shamet shot 12.5% from the field, and ended the game with three points. In Game 1 and 2 of this series, Karl-Anthony Towns averaged 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists, so when he ended with only 11, 8, and 1, many fans were surprised.

Game 4 of the 2025-2026 NBA Finals may have been one of the most dramatic championship matches in history. Despite being down 27 points and shooting only 38% at halftime, the Knicks came out on top and stepped up when it mattered. OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson combined for 69 points – nothing short of outstanding. In the fourth quarter, the Knicks scored double the number of points as the Spurs. That summarizes the shift in this game, but it most definitely does not put enough emphasis on that extraordinary final possession. After Anunoby blocked De'Aaron Fox, he then went on to score the game-winning put-back layup. Those back-to-back plays help make everyone understand how valuable Anunoby is to the Knicks on offense and defense. This competitive match made it obvious that the Knicks can come back and win, even if they are in a slump, but it also revealed a side of the Spurs that we had not seen in this series. In the first half of Game 4, four players on the Spurs all had double digits in points, which is not something you typically see from them. They also shot 100% from the free-throw line. Although the Knicks have the momentum, the Spurs should not be counted out going into Game 5.

Even though the Knicks are currently undefeated in San Antonio, this domination may not continue. Many believe that the Knicks have all the momentum, but those who understand the game of basketball know that this is not actually the case. In Game 5, the Spurs are going to come out similarly to Game 4, and stay consistent as they did in Game 3. If the Spurs can maintain the defensive intensity they displayed in Game 3 and continue receiving balanced scoring contributions, they have a strong chance of winning Game 5. In Game 6, Madison Square Garden will be too much to handle for the Spurs. In this year's playoff, the Knicks have proven to be the better team, and in order to make it official, they will come out on top and win the NBA Finals for the first time since 1973.