We’ve got a potential Finals matchup to kick off the NBA’s March slate. Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are traveling to face Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in what promises to be an electrifying matchup. Who will come out on top?
San Antonio is a 1.5-point favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while New York sits as a +105 underdog. The total is set at 227.5 points.
Let’s get into a prediction and pick for this Sunday matinee between the Spurs and Knicks.
Spurs vs. Knicks preview
It’s a great time to be a Spurs fan. They’re well ahead of schedule, looking like a legitimate contender this season. In the midst of an 11-game winning streak, they’ve cleared the all-important 40-20 rule that marks a true contender. San Antonio’s strength comes from its depth, but Victor Wembanyama’s absurd talent catalyzes it. When he’s got it going, Wemby is a game-breaker on both ends of the floor.
So much starts from the Spurs’ defense and rebounding. But they also have a relentless group of perimeter scorers: De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper are a three-headed snake of downhill scoring talent. It’s a lot for the Knicks to handle.
New York also looks like a contender, but there are looming questions. At times, the Knicks look utterly uninterested in the sport of basketball. Yet, with their sheer star talent and depth, they’ve reached a 38-22 record, good for third in the Eastern Conference.
Offense has been the key. Behind Jalen Brunson, one of the best scoring guards in the league, the Knicks once again have a top-five offense. Karl-Anthony Towns has been great as a No. 2 option, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby knock down their shots, and they’ve gotten an added jolt of energy from Jose Alvarado at the trade deadline. It’s a lot of scoring talent to handle, and it will put significant pressure on the Spurs’ defensive infrastructure.
The question for New York surrounds its perimeter defense. A lot is being asked of OG Anunoby, and while he is an exceptional defender, he can’t cover the entire floor on his own. They need more from Mikal Bridges to cover for Jalen Brunson’s shortcomings on that end, and for Mitchell Robinson to lock down the paint against whoever gets through. It’s a tall task, but not impossible.
Spurs vs. Knicks pick, best bet
The first regular-season matchup between these teams was a doozy. The Spurs ultimately pulled out a 134-132 win on New Year’s Eve, but much has changed since the calendar flipped to 2026.
Miles McBride, who pitched in 21 points during that game, will be out for New York. And Devin Vassell, absent for that game, is back in the lineup for San Antonio. The two teams can go blow-for-blow on depth and scoring talent, but San Antonio can buckle down defensively in a way that the Knicks cannot. That will carry the day for the Spurs.
