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Live: 2026 NBA Finals | Knicks, Spurs ready to tip off Game 1 of the NBA Finals

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Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs face Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals tonight on ABC.

Welcome to the live blog! We’ve reached the 2026 NBA Finals.

Tonight, Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs will host Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks in Game 1 (8:30 ET, ABC), as these two storied franchises compete for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

What we know about Tuesday’s game:

  • The Knicks won the season series 2-1, including their victory over the Spurs in the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup Final.
  • The Spurs have won five NBA championships in their history (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014), while the Knicks have won two (1970, 1973).

JUNE 3, 2026 / 8:13 ET

The Jackals are ready to howl

“With tremendous effort and results (they’ve realized my vision),” Victor Wembanyama said of The Jackals cheering section at Media Day. “I knew for years this Spurs community had it in them, and now to see it organized into something efficient and effective, it’s a great joy.”

Wembanyama founded the group of avid Spurs supporters ahead of the 2025-26 season.

JUNE 3, 2026 / 8:00 ET

Patrick Ewing in the place to be

New York royalty. A warrior. Only fitting that he’s in the building to see the Knicks pursue glory.

JUNE 3, 2026 / 7:30 ET

The Knicks’ captain gets loose

JUNE 3, 2026 / 7:05 ET

These two teams went down to the wire this season

JUNE 3, 2026 / 6:30 ET

Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks are in San Antonio to face the Spurs in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals.

New York:

  • PG Jalen Brunson
    • Brunson discussed the challenge of going up against Stephon Castle at Media Day. “I think his intensity and tenacity are special… He’s something you definitely have to game plan for, and just be smart.” We’ll see if Castle’s strength can bother Brunson in the mid-post, where he is consistently dominant.
  • SG Josh Hart
    • Hart shot 41.3% from 3-point range during the regular season, but that’s dipped to 30.3% in the postseason. It’s been enough to keep him viable, but the Spurs may try to cheat off him — watch that as an early variable in this series.
  • SF Mikal Bridges
    • The NBA’s current iron man is cruising along, as always, in the Playoffs, basically mirroring his regular season production. He may need to step it up in this series, as the Spurs have the defenders to bother Brunson. Can Bridges be a consistent section option when the lights are at their brightest?
  • PF OG Anunoby
    • Anunoby will likely draw the initial assignment on Victor Wembanyama, allowing Karl-Anthony Towns to lurk around the rim and block shots. Wembanyama punished the Thunder for going small in the Western Conference Finals, but OG is an elite all-around defender, with a 7’2″ wingspan, and mirrors Wemby at roughly 240 pounds.
  • C Karl-Anthony Towns
    • Towns was a team-low -10 against the Spurs this season despite shooting 51.6/36.4/92.3 from the field. This is the biggest stage the six-time All-Star has ever played on. Will he be able to step up in this matchup?

San Antonio:

  • PG De’Aaron Fox
    • Will Fox be able to hold up against Jalen Brunson on switches? Brunson shot 6-of-11 against him for 15 points over 33.3 possessions in the regular season.
  • SG Stephon Castle
    • Castle’s eager for the challenge of guarding the Knicks’ captain. “What’s worked for me is trying to be physical with him,” he said at Media Day. “Trying to be as disciplined I can, crowd his space, but not give him the angles that he’s looking for.”
  • SF Devin Vassell
    • Vassell averaged 13.9 ppg, including 39.6% shooting from 3-point range, while largely being guarded by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the Western Conference Finals. He’ll have to be able to hold up physically against the strength of the Knicks wings and potentially punish Brunson on the offensive end.
  • PF Julian Champagnie
    • The Brooklyn native was crucial in Game 7 against the Thunder, knocking down six 3-pointers en route to the victory. He can go off like a supernova.
  • C Victor Wembanyama
    • The Alien ascends to the global stage tonight. He had a transcendent Game 1 against the Thunder — all eyes will be on him tonight, as he seeks to match it.

JUNE 3, 2026 / 6:00 ET

Tuesday’s injury report

Mitchell Robinson is questionable with a fractured right fifth metacarpal bone. The metacarpals connect the fingers to the wrist.

JUNE 3, 2026 / 5:30 ET

Two great teams prepare for the NBA Finals

Welcome to the biggest stage in basketball. It’s the culmination of a long season.

Enjoy the drama, and the moment.

 

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