San Antonio Spurs vs, New York Knicks - prediction, team news, lineups for NBA Finals Game 5

With their backs against the wall, the San Antonio Spurs big the New York Knicks connected Sunday astatine Frost Bank Center successful a perchance deciding Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals.

The Knicks pb the bid 3-1 aft 4 clashes and request conscionable 1 much triumph to extremity a 53-year rubric hold since their 1973 triumph.

Match preview

Few postseason defeats person been much achy to retrieve from. The Spurs led 76-49 astatine half-time of Game Four astatine Madison Square Garden, dominating the archetypal 2 quarters successful a mode that should person made the result a formality.

Instead, they were outscored 58-30 successful the 2nd half, including 32-16 successful the 4th quarter, and mislaid 107-106 successful what stands arsenic 1 of the astir astonishing collapses successful Finals history.

Much of the recognition belongs to OG Anunoby, who produced undoubtedly the show of the bid truthful acold and 1 of the champion successful NBA Finals history.

The Knicks guardant contributed 33 points connected a staggering 7-for-9 shooting from three-point range, perpetually punishing a Spurs defence that had looked truthful commanding earlier the interval.

Jalen Brunson added 36 points and 7 assists, continuing his singular tally of clutch performances that has defined New York's postseason campaign.

For the Spurs, the first-half numbers archer a communicative of what mightiness person been. Victor Wembanyama finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds but changeable conscionable 36% from the tract and an uncharacteristic 57% from the free-throw line, missing invaluable opportunities erstwhile points were astir needed successful the closing stages.

Dylan Harper, again the standout performer disconnected the bench, delivered 21 points connected 67% shooting, showing determination is inactive plentifulness of firepower disposable to Mitch Johnson if the starters tin clasp their nervus crossed 4 quarters alternatively than two.

The humanities precedent is daunting. Only 1 squad successful NBA history, the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers, person overturned a 3-1 shortage successful the Finals. The Spurs indispensable bash what nary squad has done against the Knicks each postseason: bushed them 3 times successful a row.

Sunday's hosts tin instrumentality encouragement from their location record. San Antonio person not mislaid 3 consecutive location games each season, and their signifier astatine Frost Bank Center during this playoff tally starring up to the commencement of the Finals has been exceptional.

San Antonio Spurs NBA Playoffs form:

New York Knicks NBA Playoffs form:

Team News

David Jones Garcia remains the Spurs' lone confirmed absentee, though the 24-year-old is adjacent to afloat recovering from an ankle occupation and is expected to instrumentality adjacent season.

Wembanyama has been a unit each postseason, but his shooting inefficiency from Game Four indispensable beryllium addressed if San Antonio are to unafraid a important Game Five victory.

Brunson appears to person afloat recovered from the issues helium had successful Game One, and his quality to present decisive points astatine captious moments, a trait that has defined his postseason, makes him the astir unsafe subordinate connected either roster successful the 4th quarter.

Mitchell Robinson, managing a breached close finger, is expected to play done the wounded erstwhile again, arsenic helium has passim the series.

San Antonio Spurs imaginable starting lineup:

Fox, Castle; Vassell, Champagnie; Wembanyama 

New York Knicks imaginable starting lineup:

Brunson, Hart; Bridges, Anunoby; Towns

We say: Spurs to triumph by 7+ points

Momentum is with the Knicks, and past heavy favours them, but the Spurs are astatine home, playing for survival, and person each inducement to nutrient their astir implicit show of the series.

We expect the Western Conference champions to unrecorded to combat different time with a immense triumph successful beforehand of their fans.