Knicks Set to Face Spurs as Underdogs in 2026 NBA Finals

The New York Knicks find themselves as the underdogs in their first NBA Finals since 1999, set to face off against the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs earned their spot in the finals by defeating the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103 in a decisive Game 7 on Saturday. This victory not only propelled the Spurs forward but also led to a lucky bettor cashing in a $1.71 million parlay due to the result.

Throughout the season, the Thunder were the favorites to claim the 2025-26 NBA title, but the Spurs have now opened the series as -210 favorites, while the Knicks are positioned at +170. This marks a significant shift for the Knicks, who had been favored in every series leading up to this point, including matchups against the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers.

This finals appearance will be the Knicks' sixth since 1970, and historically, they have entered as underdogs in every finals except for their 1970 face-off against the Los Angeles Lakers, where they were favored at -160. The Knicks emerged victorious in that series, winning in seven games. In contrast, their other finals appearances have seen them enter as underdogs, often facing off against tough competition.

Currently, the Knicks are riding a wave of momentum, having won 11 consecutive postseason games, with an impressive average victory margin of 23.8 points. Sportsbook director Thomas Gable from The Borgata in Atlantic City mentioned, “I’m shading towards the Knicks because of how much liability we have here,” indicating that he anticipates public interest will sway the odds in favor of the Knicks once betting opens.

As the series kicks off, the Spurs are favored by 4.5 points in Game 1, scheduled for Wednesday, June 3.