The 2026 NBA Finals tip off Wednesday night with the San Antonio Spurs hosting the New York Knicks at Frost Bank Center. It represents not only a rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals, but also the 2025 NBA Cup championship game that was played in Las Vegas last December.
San Antonio won the championship in 1999 and the Knicks won the Cup title game in the first of three meetings between the teams this past season.
Two weeks after the Knicks won their first NBA Cup championship, the Spurs clawed out a 134-132 victory in a thriller at home. The Knicks then routed them 114-89 at Madison Square Garden on March 1.
Western Conference champions: San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs went 62-20 during the regular season to secure the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference standings. Their playoff run began with a first-round matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers, which included Victor Wembanyama missing Game 3 because of a concussion.
San Antonio eliminated Portland in five games to set the stage for a highly-anticipated series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Western Conference Semifinals matchup started with Anthony Edwards leading the Timberwolves to an upset win in Game 1.
However, the Timberwolves continued to dealing with mounting injuries and fell to the Spurs in six games.
Then came a heavyweight bout with the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers en route to reaching the Western Conference Finals.
The Spurs took Game 1 on the road only to fall into a 2-1 series deficit and quickly find themselves in a must-win scenario. San Antonio responded in Game 4 at home and staved off elimination in Game 6.
A collective effort then propelled the Spurs past the Thunder on the road in Game 7 and earned them the Western Conference champions crown.
Eastern Conference champions: New York Knicks
Under new head coach Mike Brown, the Knicks went 53-29 to finish as the No. 3 seed and only game ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference.
Pressure was on New York heading into the playoffs considering former head coach Tom Thibodeau led them to the Eastern Conference Finals last year.
The Knicks began their first-round matchup with a win but then trailed 2-1 in the series against the Atlanta Hawks. The Game 3 loss to Atlanta wound up being the Knicks’ last as they bounced back with 11 consecutive wins to storm their way to the NBA Finals.
The 11-game playoff winning streak is the longest in Knicks franchise history.
2026 NBA Finals schedule & how to watch
This year’s Finals schedule has two full days of rest between each game that involves travel, and one full day of rest between games played at the same arena. The Spurs are hosting Games 1 and 2, as well as Games 5 and 7, if necessary. The Knicks will host Games 3 and 4, and if necessary a Game 6.
Game 1: Knicks @ Spurs, Frost Bank Center, Wednesday, June 3, 5:30 p.m. PT, ABC
Game 2: Knicks @ Spurs, Frost Bank Center, Friday, June 5, 5:30 p.m. PT, ABC
Game 3: Spurs @ Knicks, Madison Square Garden, Monday, June 8, 5:30 p.m. PT, ABC
Game 4: Spurs @ Knicks, Madison Square Garden, Wednesday, June 10, 5:30 p.m. PT, ABC
Game 5*: Knicks @ Spurs, Frost Bank Center, Saturday, June 13, 5:30 p.m. PT, ABC
Game 6*: Spurs @ Knicks, Madison Square Garden, Tuesday, June 16, 5:30 p.m. PT, ABC
Game 7*: Knicks @ Spurs, Frost Bank Center, Friday, June 19, 5:30 p.m. PT, ABC
*if necessary
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