By Megan Armstrong
The 2026 NBA Finals were a source of mixed emotions for the San Antonio Spurs, who found themselves overshadowed by the New York Knicks. The Knicks’ victory marks their first NBA Championship win since 1973, a significant milestone celebrated by fans and players alike.
The Spurs experienced frustration, particularly due to their remarkable playoff point differential of +173—the highest for any team that didn’t clinch the championship. Despite leading in all five games with substantial double-digit margins, San Antonio faltered in crucial moments, allowing the Knicks to secure victory in four of those games.
Data shared by Rodger Sherman highlights the Knicks’ stunning ability to stage comebacks. They now hold the record for the largest comebacks in NBA Finals history, emerging victorious from deficits that included a 29-point turnaround in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden on June 10.
“One of many things I learned is the margin of error is very, very thin,” said Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, expressing the lessons grasped from their defeat.
Wembanyama, who earned the NBA Defensive Player of the Year title, emphasized the need for consistency. “Our domination stints are absolute; we absolutely dominated for most of this series. However, our mistakes are punished so hard,” he explained.
Reflecting further, Wembanyama shared his frustration with the lengthy wait before another potential Finals appearance, acknowledging the necessity for patience and resilience over the upcoming 100-game journey.
Despite their loss, the Spurs find solace in historical context. In 2013, they held a +147 playoff point differential yet fell short of winning. Nonetheless, they returned stronger the next season to capture the 2014 title. Signs point to optimism as the way-too-early odds for the 2027 NBA Finals list Spurs as slight favorites, according to ESPN.
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