2026 NBA Finals Predictions: ATS Staff Picks the Winner Of Knicks vs Spurs
Updated September 21, 2026
Updated September 21, 2026
The 2026 NBA Finals matchup is set, with the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs set to play a best-of-seven series for the right to be called NBA champions. Both teams won their respective conference championships in impressive fashion, but only one can lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy as the top team in the NBA for this year. Before the Knicks vs Spurs series tips off, our staff has made their picks for this series, which you can find below.
New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs
ATS Member | Pick | Best Angle |
|---|---|---|
Henrik Norman | Knicks in 6 | San Antonio left everything on the floor in seven games against OKC. The Knicks have been resting for over a week. Bodies wear down in June, and by Games 5 and 6 that gap will show. Give me the fresher team. |
Jay Sanin | Knicks in 6 | Is this incredibly biased coming from a Knicks fan? Possibly. But as long as the Knicks can prevent Victor Wembanyama from having a historically good NBA Finals, the Knicks' supporting cast around Jalen Brunson is much better than that of San Antonio around Wemby. I'll take the underdog to win its first title in over a half century. |
Peyton Powell | Knicks in 6 | The Spurs just took down the defending champions in an emotional, hard-fought, seven-game series. I love to bet against teams in situations like this. I wouldn’t be surprised to see San Antonio jump out to an early 1-0 or 2-1 lead. But I think Mike Brown will make the necessary adjustments, the Knicks’ depth will be the deciding factor, and New York will win the NBA Finals in MSG in front of their home crowd. |
Simon Cripps | Spurs in 7 | Sending the 76ers and Cavaliers packing is one thing, beating a Spurs team that just overwhelmed the reigning champs is another matter entirely. Wemby is a generational talent, and will continue to carve out his legend by leading San Antonio to the Championship. I expect a hard-fought series, and the Knicks have proved themselves worthy finalists, but their dreams of ending 53 years of hurt will be dashed by the giant Frenchman and his strong supporting cast. |
Gus Anderson | Spurs in 6 | San Antonio just survived a brutal seven-game war with OKC, that kind of battle-hardening doesn't lie. The Knicks have looked slick all playoffs but haven't faced anything like Wembanyama. New York will make it loud at the Garden for a game or two, but the Spurs have too much firepower and close it out at home. A new dynasty begins. |
Jacob Davour | Knicks in 6 | This is Knicks year. The 53-year curse is finally coming to an end. |
Editor’s note: These staff predictions are for fun and were made before the start of the series.
Going into the 2026 NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs are favored over the New York Knicks. But the odds suggest that the series is going to be competitive throughout. The outcome will come down to which of these teams will do the best job of overcoming their lack of previous Finals experience to rise to the occasion in this series.
There are several other factors that will help decide who wins this year's NBA Finals. In our 2026 NBA Finals series breakdown, you will find all of those key factors, along with our final prediction for Knicks vs Spurs.