NEW YORK — The 2026 NBA Finals will feature the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks. The Spurs advanced to the championship series after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103 in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals.
The 2026 Western Conference Finals was the first playoff series since the 1998 NBA Finals to feature two teams that each won 62 or more games in the regular season. In the decisive Game 7, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points and recorded nine assists on 12-of-21 shooting for the Thunder.
Victor Wembanyama reached the NBA Finals in his third season as a member of the Spurs. His team’s appearance in the championship series continues a streak of new champions in the league, with the 2026 Finals set to produce the NBA’s eighth consecutive different titleholder—a record-extending run.
The previous seven NBA champions were all first-time winners during this span. The Toronto Raptors won the title in 2019, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. The Milwaukee Bucks claimed the championship in 2021, and the Golden State Warriors won in 2022. The Denver Nuggets captured their first title in 2023, the Boston Celtics won in 2024, and the Oklahoma City Thunder were crowned champions in 2025.
The Spurs’ 2025-26 regular season included 64 wins, the best record in the Western Conference. The Knicks finished with 63 wins, the top mark in the Eastern Conference. Both teams secured the No. 1 seed in their respective conferences and advanced through four playoff rounds to reach the Finals.