NBA Finals Game 5 preview: Why the Knicks are poised to close out the Spurs after stunning comeback

We could see the end of the 2026 NBA season tonight, and it might come with the New York Knicks hoisting the NBA Finals trophy. Those words mean a lot to many people, but before we get there, we get one last opportunity to make some money after going 2-1 on Game 4 with the lone loss coming by the hook.

Let's take on Game 5 of the NBA Finals. 

This paragraph is dedicated to Knicks haters: They should've lost at least three games in this series. It is very possible they could, and should be the team down 3-1. The only reason they are getting this opportunity is because of stupid decisions from the Spurs, and because they had an easy path to the Finals.

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If they played tough teams in the East, they might also be tired and banged up. Instead, they were gifted a surprising, but no-superstar Hawks, hobbled and tired 76ers team, an exhausted Cavs team, and an emotional and tired Spurs team. Your fans also don't deserve to win with the crap they've done to Spurs fans and players. 

I only really agree with the first two and last sentence of that paragraph.

For the Knicks lovers: Your team never quits. Being down 29 points and coming back is impressive in the regular season, but doing it in a Finals game to go up 3-1 instead of 2-2? That's marvelous. You have one of the best starting fives in the league. Jalen Brunson continues to show that he is among the best players in the league. He has no fear and a calm presence that is admirable. You all have stolen the heart from San Antonio and now get three chances to close it out.

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There will be no differentiating paragraphs for the Spurs fans. Your team blew it. I can't believe I actually need to defend this, but De'Aaron Fox is not the sole reason you lost the game. You had a 29-point lead and didn't cut the head off the snake. You had a chance to take Game 2 — one they led for the majority of the game, and then they settle for the worst shot in basketball with a 7-foot-4 player. This has been a masterclass on how to piss away games.

Let's go back to the play everyone seems to be talking about — Fox steals the ball, in a race, and goes for a layup. He is blocked by OG Anunoby. Then the Knicks shoot a 30-foot three and Anunoby gets a tip-in with about a second left. You were up 15 with 12 minutes left and you lost. You were up 14 with seven minutes left, and you lost. This isn't a meaningless regular season game, this is the NBA Finals.

Fox's play was... not great, but his layup attempt wasn't a terrible decision either. Sure, he could've potentially run out the clock. He could've missed both free throws and they would've had the same amount of time. I'd take the layup and go up 3. 

It is hard to take the Spurs here. Have they put up a good fight? Sure, but they are definitely in need of some maturing. That is why I picked up the Thunder to win Game 7. If you want to believe in them, go for it. I just don't. The Knicks shouldn't care about winning on the road or at home.

Based on how the New York fans have acted, they might burn down the entire city if the Knicks win, so it might be better for them to do it on the road. Give me the Knicks +5.5 here. You don't come back from losses like the Spurs took. It's over.