The New York Knicks are the 2026 NBA champions!
After a dominant run through the East, the Knicks made it to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
They took Game 1 and 2 in San Antonio securing their 13th straight win in the postseason -- surpassing the 1998-99 Spurs for the second-longest postseason winning streak in a single postseason in NBA history. The Spurs took their first and only win of the finals in Madison Square Garden in Game 3, but then dropped Game 4 after a historic comeback from the Knicks.
The Knicks then secured the championship in San Antonio, defeating Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs 94-90 to take the Larry O'Brien trophy back to New York for the first time since 1973.
Here's how the 2026 playoff brackets played out:
NBA Finals
(3) New York Knicks defeat the (2) San Antonio Spurs, 4-1
Game 1: Knicks 105, Spurs 95
Game 2: Knicks 105, Spurs 104
Game 3: Spurs 115, Knicks 111
Game 4: Knicks 107, Spurs 106
Game 5: Knicks 94, Spurs 90
Kram: How did the Knicks win Game 4? The layers to an astonishing comeback -- and collapse
Shelburne: The win -- and moment -- etched in Spurs lore, and the man who saved them
Shelburne: How Jalen Brunson became the undisputed king of New York
Holmes: Salesian Sisters are divine force behind Spurs' NBA Finals hopes
Game 1: Knicks 105, Spurs 95
Leaders:
Points: Jalen Brunson, NY - 30
Rebounds: Josh Hart, NY - 15
Assists: Josh Hart, NY - 6
Steals: Josh Hart, NY - 4
Blocks: Victor Wembanyama, SA - 3
Game 2: Knicks 105, Spurs 104
Leaders:
Points: Victor Wembanyama, SA - 29
Rebounds: Karl-Anthony Towns, NY - 13
Assists: Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, NY - 6
Steals: Jalen Brunson, NY- 5
Blocks: Victor Wembanyama, SA - 5
Game 3: Spurs 115, Knicks 111
NYPD bans spontaneous gatherings outside MSG ahead of Game 4
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Leaders:
Points: Victor Wembanyama, SA - 32, Jalen Brunson, NY - 32
Rebounds: Dylan Harper, SA - 9, Josh Hart, NY - 9
Assists: De'Aaron Fox, SA - 8
Steals: Karl-Anthony Towns, NY - 3
Blocks: Victor Wembanyama, SA - 3
Game 4: Knicks 107, Spurs 106
Leaders:
Points: Jalen Brunson, NY - 36
Rebounds: Victor Wembanyama, SA - 13
Assists: Jalen Brunson, NY - 7, De'Aaron Fox, SA - 7
Steals: Julian Champagnie, NY - 4
Blocks: Victor Wembanyama, SA - 3
Game 5: Knicks 94, Spurs 90
Leaders:
Points: Jalen Brunson, NY - 45
Rebounds: Victor Wembanyama, SA - 19
Assists: De'Aaron Fox, SA - 5
Steals: OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, NY - 3
Blocks: Victor Wembanyama, SA - 5
The '90s Knicks believe Jalen Brunson, New York team can win title
Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson and other Knicks alumni see the same edge that once fueled their own Finals run in this year's team, and have been showing up to show their support, writes Ohm Youngmisuk. Full story
Storylines, matchups that will define Knicks-Spurs
How can the Knicks slow Victor Wembanyama on both ends? Can Jalen Brunson defy the logic about small guards? Zach Kram takes a look at what Knicks-Spurs will tell us about these teams and the league and makes his pick for the series. Full story
Ranking every player in 2026 NBA Finals
Two teams, 30 players, one series. Ben Golliver ranks every player who could take the court in this year's NBA Finals, starting with each team's MVP. Full story
2026 NBA Finals Megapreview
The red-hot Knicks face the rising young Spurs. Our experts examine everything to know ahead of this rematch of the 1999 Finals. Full story
CONFERENCE FINALS
Western Conference
(2) San Antonio Spurs eliminate (1) Oklahoma City Thunder, 4-3
Game 1: Spurs 122, Thunder 115 (2OT)
Game 2: Thunder 122, Spurs 113
Game 3: Thunder 123, Spurs 108
Game 4: Spurs 103, Thunder 82
Game 5: Thunder 127, Spurs 114
Game 6: Spurs 118, Thunder 91
Game 7: Spurs 111, Thunder 103
Eastern Conference
(3) New York Knicks eliminate (4) Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-0
Game 1: Knicks 115, Cavaliers 104 (OT)
Game 2: Knicks 109, Cavaliers 93
Game 3: Knicks 121, Cavaliers 108
Game 4: Knicks 130, Cavaliers 93
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Eastern Conference
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers eliminate (1) Detroit Pistons, 4-3
Game 1: Pistons 111, Cavaliers 101
Game 2: Pistons 107, Cavaliers 97
Game 3: Cavaliers 116, Pistons 109
Game 4: Cavaliers 112, Pistons 103
Game 5: Cavaliers 117, Piston 113 (OT)
Game 6: Pistons 115, Cavaliers 94
Game 7: Cavaliers 125, Pistons 94
(3) New York Knicks eliminate (7) Philadelphia 76ers, 4-0
Game 1: Knicks 137, 76ers 98
Game 2: Knicks 108, 76ers 102
Game 3: Knicks 108, 76ers 94
Game 4: Knicks 144, 76ers 114
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder eliminate (4) Los Angeles Lakers, 4-0
Game 1: Thunder 108, Lakers 90
Game 2: Thunder 125, Lakers 107
Game 3: Thunder 131, Lakers 108
Game 4: Thunder 115, Lakers 110
(2) San Antonio Spurs eliminate (6) Minnesota Timberwolves, 4-2
Game 1: Timberwolves 104, Spurs 102
Game 2: Spurs 133, Timberwolves 95
Game 3: Spurs 115, Timberwolves 108
Game 4: Timberwolves 114, Spurs 109
Game 5: Spurs 126, Timberwolves 97
Game 6: Spurs 139, Timberwolves 109
FIRST ROUND
Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit Pistons eliminate (8) Orlando Magic 4-3
Game 1: Magic 112, Pistons 101
Game 2: Pistons 98, Magic 83
Game 3: Magic 113, Pistons 105
Game 4: Magic 94, Pistons 88
Game 5: Pistons 116, Magic 109
Game 6: Pistons 93, Magic 79
Game 7: Pistons 116, Magic 94
(7) Philadelphia 76ers eliminate (2) Boston Celtics 4-3
Game 1: Celtics 123, Sixers 91
Game 2: 76ers 111, Celtics 97
Game 3: Celtics 108, 76ers 100
Game 4: Celtics 128, 76ers 96
Game 5: 76ers 113, Celtics 97
Game 6: 76ers 106, Celtics 93
Game 7: 76ers 109, Celtics 100
(3) New York Knicks eliminate (6) Atlanta Hawks 4-2
Game 1: Knicks 113, Hawks 102
Game 2: Hawks 107, Knicks 106
Game 3: Hawks 109, Knicks 108
Game 4: Knicks 114, Hawks 98
Game 5: Knicks 126, Hawks 97
Game 6: Knicks 140, Hawks 89
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers eliminate (5) Toronto Raptors 4-3
Game 1: Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113
Game 2: Cavaliers 115, Raptors 105
Game 3: Raptors 126, Cavaliers 104
Game 4: Raptors 93, Cavaliers, 89
Game 5: Cavaliers 125, Raptors 120
Game 6: Raptors 112, Cavaliers 110 (OT)
Game 7: Cavaliers 114, Raptors 102
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder eliminate (8) Phoenix Suns 4-0
Game 1: Thunder 119, Suns 84
Game 2: Thunder 120, Suns 107
Game 3: Thunder 121, Suns 109
Game 4: Thunder 131, Suns 122
(2) San Antonio Spurs eliminate (7) Portland Trail Blazers 4-1
Game 1: Spurs 111, Trail Blazers 98
Game 2: Trail Blazers 106, Spurs 103
Game 3: Spurs 120, Trail Blazers 108
Game 4: Spurs 114, Trail Blazers 93
Game 5: Spurs 114, Trail Blazers 95
(6) Minnesota Timberwolves eliminate Denver Nuggets 4-2
Game 1: Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105
Game 2: Timberwolves 119, Nuggets 114
Game 3: Timberwolves 113, Nuggets 96
Game 4: Timberwolves 112, Nuggets 96
Game 5: Nuggets 125, Timberwolves 113
Game 6: Timberwolves 110, Nuggets 98
(4) Los Angeles Lakers eliminate (5) Houston Rockets 4-2
Game 1: Lakers 107, Rockets 98
Game 2: Lakers 101, Rockets 94
Game 3: Lakers 112, Rockets 108 (OT)
Game 4: Rockets 115, Lakers 96
Game 5: Rockets 99, Lakers 93
Game 6: Lakers 98, Rockets 78
Play-in tournament
Eastern Conference
(7) Philadelphia 76ers 109, (8) Orlando Magic 97
(9) Charlotte Hornets 127, (10) Miami Heat 126 (OT)
(8) Orlando Magic 121, (9) Charlotte Hornets 90
Western Conference
(8) Portland Trail Blazers 114, (7) Phoenix Suns 110
(10) Golden State Warriors 126, (9) LA Clippers 121