The 2026 NBA Finals

The rematch that basketball fans have been dreaming of is finally becoming a reality after 27 years. Today the 3rd of June marks the first match of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs. The last time the two teams met in a final was back in 1999 when Spurs won the title with 4 matches to 1. San Antonio Spurs has won the title five times in total. Their first title win was at the match where they beat the Knicks in 1999.

They also went on to win the title in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014. However, the NBA finals have not been so kind to the Knicks. They have competed in eight finals before this year and only managed to win it in 1970 and 1973, more than fifty years ago. This is therefore the reason why this NBA Finals really mean something to Knicks fans.

Oklahoma City Thunder won the 2025 NBA Finals by beating Indiana Pacers. Meanwhile, Boston Celtics is the team with the most overall championships, having won the title a record 18 times. As a result, the Knicks come into the finals with a record of 6 previous appearances without a win.

The Lead up to the Finals

The NBA Finals is the culmination of two conferences namely the east and west that compete in the Play-in Tournament. Each conference is has 15 teams. Every team plays 82 matches in the Play-in part of the tournament. This then determines the top 8 teams that will move on to play in the Main Playoff Bracket.

The Main Playoff Bracket consequently sees the best seeded team play against the lowest seeded teams in their respective conference.

The teams that played in the Eastern Conference were Detroit Pistons seeded 1, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers and eighth seeded Orlando Magic. First, the Knicks managed to beat the Atlanta Hawks in the first round to move on to the semi finals against the Philadelphia 76ers. They then overcame the 76ers to play in the Conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, where they won convincingly 4-0.

Similarly, the Western Conference was made up of number one seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns and eighth seeded Portland Trail Blazers. The Spurs first beat Portland Trail Blazers in the first round to play against Minnesota Timberwolves in the semi finals. The Spurs then beat the Timberwolves to play in the final against number one seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. The final was thrilling, ultimately ending in seven matches with Spurs winning 4.

MVP’s and Key Players to Watch

Guard Jalen Brunson is the MVP at the Knicks with an average of 28 points per match. Other star players to watch in the Knick’s side include Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby.

Victor Wembanyama is the current face of NBA and needs little introduction. He has furthermore been instrumental in the Spurs title race. Key players within the Spurs team include Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.

Popular Betting Markets in the NBA Finals

The most popular bet in the NBA Finals is Series Winner. The bet is simply on which team will win the championship outright.

Next, Game Moneyline involves betting on which team will win a specific match. For example, Knicks to win match number 3.

NBA Finals MVP is also a favourite among many and involves betting on who the MVP for the season is. The award usually goes to the winning team.

Finally, Correct Series Score is betting on the outcomes of each of the 7 matches. An example is Knicks to win 4-3.

For more tips on basketball betting have a look at our understanding basketball betting guide and strategy.

Predictions on the NBA Finals

The NBA Finals are made up of 7 matches. The first team to win 4 matches takes home the title. This means that all 7 matches might not be played if a team reaches the 4 wins before match 7. Spurs has a home ground advantage in the first two games due to finishing the regular season better than the Knicks. However, games 3 and 4 will be played in New York. Spurs come into the finals as the firm favourites to win with odds of 1.51, while the Knicks have odds of 2.50.

The NBA Finals match schedule

• Game 1on the 3rd June in San Antonio
• Game 2 on the 5th June in San Antonio
• New York hosts Game 3 on the 8th June
• New York hosts Game 4 on the 10 June
• Game 5 on 13 June in San Antonio
• New York to host Game 6 on the 16 June
• Game 7 – 19 June (San Antonio)

Best Betting sites for NBA

The popularity of basketball betting continues to grow among South African sports fans, especially as the NBA delivers world-class action throughout the season. We saw the March Madness in its full form and popularity this year! From regular-season matchups to the excitement of the NBA Playoffs and Finals, punters have countless opportunities to place wagers on their favourite teams and players. As a result, finding the best online NBA betting sites has become an important part of enjoying the sport while maximising value from every bet. From betting sites such as betway, betta bets, FirstBet and many more players will find some suitabale for them.

In this section, we take a closer look at the top basketball betting sites available to South African players. We compare factors such as betting markets, competitive odds, welcome bonuses, live betting features, mobile compatibility, and payment options. Whether you are backing a championship contender, betting on player performance markets, or following the latest NBA Finals action, choosing the right bookmaker can make a significant difference to your overall betting experience.