The 2026 NBA Finals are here, and the Knicks will face the Spurs for a rematch of 1999.

It was the Spurs who emerged victorious 27 years ago, but times have changed. The Knicks defeated the Spurs in the NBA Cup final back in November - now they’ll have confidence knowing they have already emerged victorious once this season.

Last year, the Knicks were defeated by the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. This year they’ve stormed through and swept the Cavaliers. The Spurs had a more difficult path to the finals, having to battle all the way to Game 7 to beat last year’s champions OKC. Now that they’ve conquered their divisions, the Spurs and the Knicks will face off once again in their search for glory.

No NBA final is complete without two stars dueling for MVP. This year, it’s Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson who are the clear favorites.

Wembanyama has been a dominating force throughout the playoffs. At only 22 years old and still under his rookie contract, he’s already cemented himself as a generational talent. Not only has he got the height, but he’s also got elite shooting skills and the incredible agility of a guard.

Though Wembanyama will tower over 6’1” Jalen Brunson, he will find him difficult to deal with. Brunson has exceptional shot-scoring abilities, which, when combined with a cool head and the ability to play off two feet, make him a nightmare to defend. Will he be able to outsmart the Spurs, and lead the Knicks to their first Championship in 53 years?

The Spurs thrive in fast-paced games where they can take advantage of the chaos, whereas the Knicks perform better when Brunson is the one in control. So, it seems likely that whoever can set the pace will claim glory in 2026.

The NBA Early Payout Offer means if your team goes 20 points ahead at any stage during the game, we will pay your bet out in full regardless of the final result. If you've backed a team as part of a parlay and they gain a 20-point advantage, the selection will be marked as a winner. For more information and full Terms and Conditions, click here.

With Prop Protect, we've got your back if a player goes off injured. Prop Protect is applicable on any pre-game or Live bet placed on a Player Props market.

Provided the outcome of your bet has not already been determined, if the player you've backed is ruled out before the end of the first half, your wager is returned as Bonus Bets.

If the selection is part of a parlay, then the bet will be recalculated with any remaining selections left to run.

You can find out more about Prop Protect here.

bet365 aims to settle all bets within an hour of the event finishing. You can see all your settled bets in the My Bets tab. For more information on Bet Settlement, click here.

Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact Us here.

If you’ve changed your mind, or it doesn’t look like the game is going your way, Cash Out lets you settle your bet early and secure a return based on the current odds.

If Cash Out is available, it will be visible underneath your selections on your bet slip, with the Cash Out value displayed.

For further information, go to our Cash Out page.

You can also read our full Basketball rules here.