The New York Knicks will face the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, with Game 1 scheduled for Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC in San Antonio. The Spurs earned their spot in the championship series by defeating the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103 in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals.
Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs to victory, finishing with 22 points and seven rebounds. The 22-year-old French star was named series MVP and became emotional after clinching the Finals berth. "Realizing that some part of a childhood dream is going to come true," Wembanyama said when explaining his reaction. "We're still hungry, we want more. This feeling is so powerful, I can't explain it."
However, Wembanyama's performance was supported by strong contributions from his teammates. Julian Champagnie scored 20 points, including six three-pointers, while Dylan Harper provided scoring off the bench. Luke Kornet, Wembanyama's backup, made a crucial block in the fourth quarter as the Thunder mounted a comeback attempt. After the game, Wembanyama credited his teammates' effort, saying "They don't know how much I love them, and everyone stepped up tonight."
The Thunder fought hard despite playing without Jalen Williams due to a hamstring injury. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, scored 35 points and distributed nine assists but couldn't prevent his team from relinquishing their title. No other Thunder player scored more than 20 points.
Coach Mark Daigneault acknowledged the tough loss but expressed confidence in his team's future. "You have to grow from every experience, including the tough ones," he said. "And it's the NBA, there are tough ones. We can also be really disappointed. There's nobody that we don't think we can beat, respectfully."
The Spurs head into the Finals with historical momentum on their side. The last time the Knicks appeared in the NBA Finals was 1999, when they faced the Spurs and lost the series 4-1. The Knicks are attempting to win their first championship since 1973.
Julian Champagnie reflected on the Spurs' achievement after the game, noting the importance of having elite talent. "We never knew if we were going to get this far but when you've got the greatest player in the world things happen," he said.
League executives have weighed in on five key questions heading into the matchup. Experts have also made their predictions for which franchise will claim the Larry O'Brien Trophy and who will earn Finals MVP honors. The series features two storied franchises competing for the championship, with the Spurs holding home court advantage for the opening game.