🏀 NBA Finals Series Preview 2026: Odds, Predictions & Best Bets
This NBA Finals matchup has to be a dream scenario for the league.
On one hand, you have the Knicks, one of the two largest fanbases in the NBA, going back to the finals for the first time since 1999. And on the other, you have the Spurs, featuring the NBAโs fastest-rising star in Victor Wembanyama.
Before Game 1 tips off on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC), my 2026 NBA Finals series preview breaks down the odds for the outright winner, the Finals MVP, and more, along with a best bet on who will raise the Larry OโBrien Trophy this season.
๐ NBA Finals series odds 2026
See all of our experts' NBA picks based on the latest NBA odds for the playoffs. Preseason odds via Covers' Sports Odds History.
| Team | Current odds | Preseason odds (June 22) |
|---|---|---|
| Spurs | -195 via Caesars | +2500 via BetMGM |
| Knicks | +170 via DraftKings | +700 via BetMGM |
The Spurs have opened as a -195 betting favorite over the Knicks (+170) in the NBA Finals, which was expected, as San Antonio was a -225 favorite in the look-ahead odds on DraftKings.
While the Spurs won back-to-back games to upset the Thunder in the West finals, we've seen money come in on the Knicks after Game 6 (San Antonio is now -205 at DraftKings). This is likely due to the increased rest advantage New York has after the Spurs forced a Game 7.
The Knicks were tied with the Cavaliers for the second-shortest odds to win the NBA Finals in the preseason at +700. The Spurs, on the other hand, were a much larger underdog, tied with the Clippers for the 10th-shortest odds at +2500.
๐ NBA Finals MVP odds 2026
Current odds via FanDuel. Preseason odds via BetMGM.
| Player (team) | Current odds | Preseason odds |
|---|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama (SA) | -180 | +8000 |
| Jalen Brunson (NY) | +210 | +1000 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns (NY) | +2200 | +4000 |
| OG Anunoby (NY) | +6000 | +20000 |
| Stephon Castle (SA) | +6000 | Off the board (OTB) |
| De'Aaron Fox (SA) | +10000 | +20000 |
| Dylan Harper (SA) | +15000 | OTB |
| Mikal Bridges (NY) | +15000 | +20000 |
| Josh Hart (NY) | +20000 | +20000 |
| Devin Vassell (SA) | +50000 | OTB |
Wembanyama is a -180 favorite to win NBA Finals MVP, ahead of Jalen Brunson (+210). This follows the usual format of the best player on the favored team having the shortest odds, followed by the best player on the underdog. Last season, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a -625 favorite, while Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton had the second-shortest odds at +700.
The last time this format wasn't followed was in the 2021 NBA Finals, when Suns guards Chris Paul (+150) and Devin Booker (+250) both had shorter odds than Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (+275).
๐ฒ Knicks vs. Spurs Game 1 odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knicks | +4.5 (+100 via Pinnacle) | +165 via BetMGM | o218.5 (-106 via Pinnacle) |
| Spurs | -4.5 (-114 via Pinnacle) | -187 via Pinnacle | u218.5 (-110 via FanDuel) |
The Spurs are pretty much painted -4.5 (with extra juice) across the board in Game 1, so we haven't seen much movement in the market, as San Antonio was -4.5 at DraftKings on the look-ahead line.
The look-ahead total for Game 1 was 217.5, so we have seen money come in on the Over, pushing the line up to 218.5. The Spurs have scored 111 or more points in three straight games, with the Over going 2-1 in that span.
๐ NBA Finals series props
Odds via DraftKings. All players' stats are for 2025-26 postseason.
Most points
| Player (team) | Odds | PTS | FGA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama (SA) | -170 | 23.2 | 15.2 |
| Jalen Brunson (NY) | +135 | 26.9 | 20.0 |
| Stephon Castle (SA) | +4000 | 19.2 | 13.1 |
| OG Anunoby (NY) | +4000 | 19.7 | 11.4 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns (NY) | +4000 | 16.9 | 9.9 |
| De'Aaron Fox (SA) | +15000 | 16.4 | 14.5 |
| Mikal Bridges (NY) | +20000 | 14.6 | 10.4 |
| Devin Vassell (SA) | +20000 | 13.0 | 11.2 |
Wembanyama is a -170 favorite to score the most points in the finals, followed by Brunson (+135). Every other player has odds of +4000 or greater. Even though he has longer odds than Wembanyama, Brunson is averaging 3.7 more points per game in the playoffs on 4.8 more field-goal attempts.
Most 3-pointers
| Player (team) | Odds | 3PM | 3PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devin Vassell (SA) | +260 | 2.3 | 6.6 |
| Julian Champagnie (SA) | +270 | 2.6 | 6.5 |
| Jalen Brunson (NY) | +280 | 2.2 | 6.3 |
| OG Anunoby (NY) | +500 | 2.3 | 4.8 |
| Victor Wembanyama (SA) | +1100 | 1.8 | 4.8 |
| Josh Hart (NY) | +1500 | 1.4 | 4.7 |
| Landry Shamet (NY) | +2200 | 1.5 | 2.5 |
| Mikal Bridges (NY) | +2500 | 1.1 | 3.1 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns (NY) | +3000 | 1.6 | 3.2 |
| Stephon Castle (SA) | +4000 | 1.6 | 4.4 |
| De'Aaron Fox (SA) | +6000 | 1.4 | 4.6 |
| Miles McBride (NY) | +8000 | 1.9 | 4.5 |
| Keldon Johnson (SA) | +10000 | 1.0 | 2.8 |
| Dylan Harper (SA) | +10000 | 0.9 | 2.4 |
We have three players at the top of this board with extremely similar stats. Devin Vassell is a +260 favorite to make the most 3-pointers, followed by Julian Champagnie (+270) and Brunson (+280). Champagnie is averaging the most made 3-pointers per game in the playoffs at 2.6 (among these teams), while Vassell averages the most attempts per game at 6.6.
Most rebounds
| Player (team) | Odds | REB | Rebound chances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama (SA) | -140 | 10.8 | 18.4 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns (NY) | +150 | 10.6 | 16.3 |
| Josh Hart (NY) | +1100 | 8.6 | 14.1 |
| Stephon Castle (SA) | +7000 | 4.9 | 10.6 |
| OG Anunoby (NY) | +7000 | 6.9 | 11.9 |
| Julian Champagnie (SA) | +7000 | 5.8 | 10.3 |
| Mitchell Robinson (NY) | +8000 | 5.5 | 8.8 |
This is virtually a two-man race, with Wembanyama a -140 favorite over Karl-Anthony Towns (+150) to grab the most rebounds. Every other player has odds of +1100 or greater. Wembanyama not only is averaging 0.2 more rebounds per game in the playoffs than Towns, but he also averages 2.1 more rebound chances per outing.
Most assists
| Player (team) | Odds | AST | Potential assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephon Castle (SA) | +140 | 6.7 | 12.4 |
| Jalen Brunson (NY) | +150 | 6.6 | 10.4 |
| De'Aaron Fox (SA) | +600 | 5.9 | 10.6 |
| Josh Hart (NY) | +900 | 4.6 | 6.9 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns (NY) | +1300 | 5.9 | 6.6 |
| Victor Wembanyama (SA) | +5000 | 2.7 | 4.4 |
| Mikal Bridges (NY) | +5000 | 2.5 | 3.9 |
While Stephon Castle (+140) and Jalen Brunson (+150) have the shortest odds to record the most assists, Towns (+1300) is not too far behind them statistically and is available at much longer odds. Towns averages 5.9 assists per game (compared to 6.7 for Castle and 6.6 for Brunson). However, he averages just 6.6 potential assists, while Castle and Brunson average 12.4 and 10.4, respectively.
๐ฎ NBA Finals predictions & best bets
Follow all of our NBA analysis and expert predictions this season.
Not only have the Knicks covered in each of their three meetings with the Spurs this season (including the NBA Cup), but they have also won two of those matchups straight up.
While Wembanyama created a huge mismatch for the Thunder and pretty much ran Chet Holmgren off the court, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson have the length, athleticism, and strength to make life tougher on the Spurs' star forward and keep him from taking over.
Let's not forget that the Knicks will be the more rested team, and Wembanyama has never had to play this deep into the season.
Best bet: Knicks to win NBA Finals (+170 via DraftKings)
๐ NBA Finals broadcast schedule
All games will air on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET.
| Game | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wednesday, June 3 | Frost Bank Center (San Antonio) |
| 2 | Friday, June 5 | Frost Bank Center (San Antonio) |
| 3 | Monday, June 8 | Madison Square Garden (New York) |
| 4 | Wednesday, June 10 | Madison Square Garden (New York) |
| 5* | Saturday, June 13 | Frost Bank Center (San Antonio) |
| 6* | Tuesday, June 16 | Madison Square Garden (New York) |
| 7* | Friday, June 19 | Frost Bank Center (San Antonio) |
*If necessary
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