All articles tagged with #finals
The New York Knicks clinched the NBA title by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the Finals in San Antonio, with guard Jalen Brunson earning the Finals MVP, capping a championship run that will be remembered in New York and NBA history.
Jalen Brunson leads a Knicks comeback in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Spurs, while Victor Wembanyama anchors San Antonio’s defense as New York looks to clinch the title.
New York holds a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals and visits San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center for Game 5 to try to clinch their first title since 1973, while the Spurs rely on Victor Wembanyama to spark a comeback. After a dramatic Game 4 comeback by the Knicks (107-106) fueled by clutch play from Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns, San Antonio showcased a record-setting barrage of first-half threes but couldn’t seal the win. The Spurs’ plan emphasizes floor spacing, pace, and letting Wembanyama protect the rim, while New York must cut live-ball turnovers, crash the boards, and execute down the stretch. ESPN pegs the Knicks at a 43% win probability, and the prediction here expects a five-point Knicks victory to close out the series.
The Spurs will restrict Game 5 of the NBA Finals to buyers within 150 miles of Frost Bank Center, based on credit-card billing addresses, with out-of-area orders canceled and refunded. A four-seat limit applies, and tickets may be transferred or resold after purchase through Ticketmaster and the venue. Despite the restriction, Knicks fans are expected to travel to San Antonio as New York leads the series 3–1, with officials noting the policy is set by Ticketmaster and not all marketplaces. The move has drawn attention amid the Knicks’ title bid and generated calls for reversal from some officials.
Sports Illustrated lays out three bold predictions for Game 5: De’Aaron Fox bounces back with a 30-point performance and emerges as the Spurs’ top player on the floor; Josh Hart redeems a late miss with a big rebound-and-contribution showing; and San Antonio uses home-court advantage to win Game 5 and force a return to New York, where the Knicks are favored to clinch the title.
OG Anunoby's late offensive rebound and tap-in with 1.2 seconds left capped the Knicks' historic 29-point surge to beat the Spurs 107-106 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals; the 33-point performance and clutch play propelled New York within one win of its first title in decades.
The New York Knicks erased a 29-point deficit to stun the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, completing the largest comeback in Finals history. A 20-4 third-quarter run sparked the rally, and after a late sequence that included Jalen Brunson’s long miss and OG Anunoby’s tip-in with 1.2 seconds left, New York grabbed the lead and won, moving within one victory of its first championship in more than 50 years.
San Antonio built a 76-49 halftime lead and drilled a Finals-record 14 first-half threes, but New York rallied with a 13-0 third-quarter burst to complete the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, edging the Spurs 107-106 on a late tipped-in winner after Fox’s missed layup and Castle’s late free throws. Wembanyama cooled after a strong start, suffering a rough late stretch and a third flagrant foul that could carry suspensions concerns, while San Antonio’s turnover-heavy, three-driven approach doomed the comeback and sets up a pivotal Game 5 in San Antonio.
New York erased a 29-point deficit to beat San Antonio 107-106 in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals, as OG Anunoby tipped in the game-winner after De'Aaron Fox's late layup was blocked. Victor Wembanyama had 24 points and 13 rebounds but missed two late free throws, and the Spurs' collapse drew strong backlash from fans while New York takes a 3-1 series lead.
As NBA Finals Game 4 approaches, a live blog highlights the series’ trend of close late-game drama, weighs whether home teams can seize momentum, and features Chuck D’s take on the Spurs’ energy versus the Knicks’ desperation, alongside nods to similar tight playoff action in the NHL.
ABC/ESPN’s NBA Finals Game 3 between the Spurs and Knicks drew about 23.79 million viewers (1.1 million on ESPN’s alternate telecast), the largest audience for a Game 3 since 1998; the broadcast peaked at 26.3 million in the final minutes. Through three games, the Finals are averaging ~19.1 million viewers, second only to 2017, and this year is more than twice the viewership of the 2025 series. Game 4 is Wednesday in New York, with possible Games 5–7 if needed.
Defector columnist Chris Thompson argues the NBA Finals have shifted into a nitpicky officiating phase, saying referees are still learning how to protect Victor Wembanyama from heavy defense, and highlights a clear non-call in Game 3 after Wembanyama shoved Jalen Brunson; the piece blends humor with a partisan critique of officiating discourse.
During Game 3 of the NBA Finals, ABC’s Minnesota affiliate briefly went dark and the audio played a discussion about fake flowers instead of the live sequence, causing viewers to miss a live play as the automation system reportedly kicked in around 10 p.m. CT.
Game 3 of the NBA Finals featured a large free-throw disparity (Spurs 24 to Knicks 8 in the second half), prompting Knicks coach Mike Brown to question the officiating and fueling a broader debate about whether referees influence a seven-game series, especially under intensified scrutiny from gambling and optics.
The NBA Finals (Spurs vs Knicks) and the Stanley Cup Final (Vegas Golden Knights vs Hurricanes) will not stage a Sunday game, leaving a peak-viewing window unused. The NBA kept a two-day gap between site changes and started the Finals on a Wednesday to avoid a World Cup clash, while the NHL followed its usual every-other-day cadence; as a result, Sunday night goes dark despite ABC airing both series. Analysts note Saturday is increasingly viable for big events due to Nielsen’s out-of-home viewing data, but networks and leagues preferred other slots, prompting fans to seek alternatives in Sunday programming.