San Antonio Spurs vs New York Knicks (NBA): odds and bets 06.06.2026

This match comes with a major twist in the series: the Knicks won Game 1 in San Antonio (105-95) and now lead 1-0. In a tie like this, the second game is usually the real ‘litmus test’: either the Spurs react with pride and make adjustments… or New York confirms that it wasn’t a fluke.

I’m looking at it from two key factors. First, pace and shot selection: if the game is once again played in the middle of the court, the margin will be tight and every possession will count. Second, how Brunson and Wembanyama are managed: in Game 1, Brunson made the difference in the clutch, and Wemby put up the numbers, but with his efficiency suffering due to constant help defence and contact.

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are exactly where great teams tend to find themselves: a home defeat, a blow to the ego and the need to respond. In Game 1, Wembanyama recorded 26 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks, but it was a strange game: 6/21 shooting and 6 turnovers. For me, that’s a double signal: New York made life difficult for him… but it’s also unlikely that Wemby will have another such inefficient night if they adjust their angles, give him better passes and run more so he doesn’t always receive the ball with the defence already set up.

The other focus is De’Aaron Fox: he finished on 7 points with 3/13 shooting, well below his usual standard. If Fox returns to being aggressive in attacking the first advantage (and doesn’t just ‘direct’ play from the dribble), San Antonio’s attack breathes a sigh of relief, because it forces the defence to collapse and opens up shots and cuts. I expect a fairly clear adjustment: more direct screens for Fox, more early plays in transition and fewer long possessions that end in forced shots.

In defence, the idea should be to step up the physicality on Brunson and force him to release the ball sooner, with Wembanyama more involved in rotations and less exposed to late decisions. If the Spurs cut down on turnovers and improve their shooting accuracy slightly, the game will be right in their favour.

New York Knicks

The Knicks are in that mode I love to see in the playoffs: mental clarity and toughness. In Game 1, their hallmark was crystal clear: defence that tightens up when needed and a leader who doesn’t hide. Brunson scored 30 points and made the crucial decisions in the closing stages, without panicking, choosing wisely when to attack and when to wait.

But what really defines these Knicks is that they don’t rely solely on the scoring ‘show’. Josh Hart had the sort of game that turns a series around without needing to score 25: 15 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. That means extra possessions and constant energy, exactly what drives an opponent at home to despair. And Towns contributed 18 points and 12 rebounds, imposing his presence near the basket and punishing San Antonio when they collapsed under the pressure.

The key for this Game 2? If the Spurs step up the physicality and ensure Brunson is constantly double-teamed, New York will need their role players to punish them from outside and keep the extra pass flowing. If they do that, they can land another blow. If not, the game could slip away from them in a tight finish.