Knicks vs Spurs First Basket Prediction & Best Bets for 2026 NBA Finals Game 5
A dramatic 29-point comeback in Game 4 has the Knicks on the brink of making history as they head into Game 5 holding a 3-1 lead over the San Antonio Spurs. It'll be interesting to see how the young and inexperienced Spurs react after such a historic meltdown. They'll need to come out hot, and that links in nicely with my Knicks vs Spurs first basket best bet for Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals. I cashed my Spurs vs Knicks Same Game Parlay for Game 4 at +480 odds, so let's add another big winner here. You can also find out our expert NBA picks for this matchup, along with every game throughout the NBA finals.
Knicks vs Spurs first basket best bet: Devin Vassell (+700)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
After losing the opening tip in Game 1, Victor Wembanyama has responded by winning it over the past 3 games, which has led to his team opening the scoring in every single game since. De'Aaron Fox made a pair of free-throws in Game 4 to land the bet at +700 odds. He got a lot of flak for his fast break layup attempt towards the end of the game, with some fans saying he should have just dribbled the clock out and waited to be fouled. Fox is one of the rare veterans on this team, but even his confidence will be shaken up a bit moving forward in this series.
I feel like Devin Vassell is a solid pick to open the scoring in Game 5 and is my Knicks vs Spurs first basket best bet. He had a masterful game on Wednesday, connecting on 5 of 8 threes attempted to provide a big scoring boost for his team. This is an elimination game for the young Spurs, and getting someone else than Wembanyama going will be critical for them to extend this series to a Game 6 at Madison Square Garden.
In 87 games started this season, Vassell has taken the Spurs' first shot in 18% of them - only Fox and Wembanyama have enjoyed a higher percentage this season. When it comes to first basket makes, Vassell is at 23% for the Spurs this season, trailing only Wembanyama, who is at 41%. Of all the first team baskets allowed for the Knicks this season, 31% of them have come from the forward position. Let's back Vassell to do some damage from the perimeter early on in this game.
