Knicks vs Spurs First Basket Prediction & Best Bets for 2026 NBA Finals Game 1
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 2026 NBA Finals! We see the East's #3 seed New York Knicks take on the West's #2 seed San Antonio Spurs, with Game 1 tipping off tonight at 8:30 pm ET live on ABC on Wednesday, June 3. Both teams have looked excellent lately, with New York on an 11-game win streak after sweeping both the 76ers and Cavaliers, while the Spurs impressively took down the reigning champion OKC Thunder in a Game 7 on Saturday.
And with the start of the 2026 NBA Finals, we are locking in on the start of Game 1 and who will score the first points. Let's break down my Knicks vs Spurs first basket best bet for Game 1, while you can also find all of our NBA picks for every game throughout the NBA Finals.
Find out our expert's 5-star Knicks vs Spurs best bet for Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals
Knicks vs Spurs first basket best bet: Stephon Castle (SAS) (+750)
Odds available at bet365 at time of publishing.
When it comes to winning the opening tip, Victor Wembanyama is a cheat code. He is by far the tallest player in the NBA, measuring in at 7’4”. That number is disputed in league circles and it would not be surprising to find out he is taller than that. All that means he has helped the Spurs to win 79% of their opening tips. He has taken on the New York Knicks twice this season and helped his team gain the opening possession on both occasions. As a result, it should favor the Spurs to open the scoring in the 2026 NBA Finals.
The Knicks' starting lineup has some great individual defenders, with Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby standing out. However, Jalen Brunson is someone who can be targeted. And with Karl-Anthony Towns being far from a standout rim protector, the Spurs could explore attacking the paint with one of their guards early. De’Aaron Fox really struggled to get his offense going in the Thunder series, shooting just 36.5% from the field. As a result, do not be surprised to see his backcourt running mate Stephon Castle get the first shot.
Castle has the size advantage over Brunson and the physical strength not to be pushed around by the Knicks guard. While he has been 4th in first baskets made among the Spurs this season, the matchup should allow him to get the first look. He played a major role for the Spurs in their last series, averaging 18 points per game, and I expect him to be aggressive and look to maintain his offense from the get-go here.
Want to add even more spice to tonight's Game 1? Check out our expert's Knicks vs Spurs parlay picks at +420 odds, featuring 4 player prop picks
