Knicks Set as Underdogs Against Thunder in 2026 NBA Finals

The New York Knicks find themselves in the role of underdogs as they make their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. Their opponent, the Oklahoma City Thunder, advanced to the finals after a 111-103 victory over the defending champions, the San Antonio Spurs, in a thrilling Game 7 on Saturday night. Throughout the season, the Thunder were considered frontrunners to secure the 2025-26 NBA championship.

As the series begins, sportsbooks have established the Spurs as -210 favorites, while the Knicks are listed at +170. This marks a significant shift for the Knicks, who were favored in every series leading up to the finals, including matchups against the Atlanta Hawks (-300), Philadelphia 76ers (-275), and Cleveland Cavaliers (-300).

This marks the sixth time the Knicks have reached the NBA Finals since 1970, and historically, they have entered as underdogs in every Finals appearance except for their 1970 showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers, where they were a -160 favorite and ultimately triumphed in seven games.

Historically, the Knicks' finals appearances have been a mix of outcomes: they claimed victory in 1970 and 1973 against the Lakers, but fell short in 1972, 1994, and 1999. Currently, the Knicks are riding a wave of momentum, having won 11 consecutive postseason games and boasting a remarkable average victory margin of 23.8 points across those contests.

Thomas Gable, sportsbook director at The Borgata in Atlantic City, shared insights on the betting landscape, stating, “I’m shading towards the Knicks because of how much liability we have here.” He anticipates a surge in public interest in the Knicks as the series unfolds, with significant bets already placed on New York to clinch the title.

The series kicks off with Game 1 on Wednesday, June 3, where the Spurs will be 4.5-point favorites on their home court.