The anticipation lingers.
The Knicks will have to wait until Saturday night to find out who they will face in the NBA Finals, as the Spurs beat the Thunder 118-91 in San Antonio on Thursday, pushing the Western Conference Finals to a decisive Game 7.
The Spurs took an early lead and never looked back.
This situation leaves the Knicks in an interesting spot; they have to practice for the next couple of days without a clear idea of their opponent.
“We definitely want to be ready as a team, but we have to consider both possibilities,” Jalen Brunson mentioned after practice on Thursday. “It’s important to understand the differences between both teams. They’re both very strong contenders right now, so we need to prepare for each of them.”
Regardless of who they face, the Knicks enjoy a substantial rest advantage.
There will be an eight-day gap between their last game against the Cavaliers and Game 1 of the NBA Finals. In contrast, whoever comes out of the Thunder-Spurs matchup will have only three days between Game 7 and the Finals kickoff.
“We’re just going to do our thing, no matter who the opponent is,” Mikal Bridges stated on Thursday. “Our focus is on playing our style, regardless of who’s on the court. We’ll stick to what we do best.”
Given their current performance, the Knicks seem unfazed about who they might confront.
“If you expect them to be what you believe they are, it really doesn’t matter,” coach Mike Brown observed. “Playing against San Antonio could be more economical for me since my family lives there, so I wouldn’t need to buy plane tickets. But truthfully, both teams are formidable and will present their own challenges.”
Victor Wembaneyama was absent for Game 5 but made a statement in Game 6, scoring 28 points on 10-of-21 shooting and hitting 4-of-9 from beyond the arc, alongside 10 rebounds and three blocks. Stephon Castle chipped in with 17 points.
League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had a significant Game 5, managed only 15 points and missed all five of his three-point attempts.
Jaylen Williams returned after sidelining for three games due to a hamstring issue, yet he played just 10 minutes and failed to score. With nine missed games this postseason, his status remains uncertain for the Thunder.
Additionally, Ajay Mitchell has sat out the last three games due to a calf injury, which adds to the Thunder’s concerns.
The past three games in this series have been clear blowouts—two in favor of the Thunder and one for the Spurs. Game 7 will be hosted in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder holds an impressive 6-1 record this postseason.
