The 2026 NBA Finals have produced a tense and closely watched matchup between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, with the series now tied in the balance after four games. New York won the first two games to seize an early 2-0 advantage, but San Antonio responded in game 3 with a hard-fought road victory at Madison Square Garden, keeping its championship hopes alive and shifting momentum back into the series.
The Finals have showcased strong performances from major stars on both teams. For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns have been central to New York’s early success, while Victor Wembanyama has led the Spurs with standout play throughout the series. The atmosphere in New York has been intense as the Finals moved to Madison Square Garden for games 3 and 4, with Knicks fans hoping to see their team capture its first NBA title since 1973. San Antonio, meanwhile, entered the series seeking another championship for a franchise already rich in NBA success.
The NBA Finals are played in a best-of-seven format, meaning a team must win four games to claim the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The current series follows the standard 2-2-1-1-1 home-court format, with the team holding home-court advantage hosting games 1, 2, 5 and 7, while the other team hosts games 3, 4 and 6. Because neither team had swept the opening four contests, the series was guaranteed to continue beyond game 4.
Before game 4, the Knicks held a 2-1 lead in the series. New York opened with a 105-95 win in game 1 and followed that with a dramatic 105-104 victory in game 2, putting San Antonio under pressure early. The Spurs answered in game 3 with a 115-111 win in New York, powered by Wembanyama’s 32 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Stephon Castle also made a key contribution with 23 points as San Antonio avoided falling into a deeper hole.
Game 4 turned into another dramatic contest. San Antonio controlled much of the game and at one point led by nearly 30 points, appearing poised to even the series. But the Knicks mounted a strong comeback in the fourth quarter and closed the gap late. In the end, New York completed the rally and won game 4 by a final score of 107-106, securing another narrow victory in a Finals series defined by close games, big performances and high stakes.
With the Knicks winning game 4, the series remains highly competitive as both teams continue their pursuit of the NBA championship.
