Knicks +165 to Sweep Spurs in 2026 NBA Finals

Asher Hyre Updated: 11 hours ago

The New York Knicks are in the midst of one of the most dominating playoff runs of all-time, and they're just two wins away from claiming a historic championship.

The Knicks are 14-2 in the playoffs after defeating the Atlanta Hawks in six games, sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers consecutively thereafter, and taking the first two games of the NBA Finals in San Antonio.

If New York can pull off the sweep, their 16-2 record (.889 win percentage) would finish as the fourth best postseason win percentage of all-time. These are the best playoff runs ever, if the Knicks hypothetically win two more games in a row:

2016-17 Warriors, 16-1 (.941 win percentage)
2000-01 Lakers, 15-1 (.938)
1982-83 76ers, 12-1 (.923)
2025-26 Knicks, 16-2 (.889)

What makes their playoff stretch even more impressive is the amount of blowout wins and dominant scoring runs put on by the team. Their +282 point differential is unprecedented and obliterates the previous record held by that unstoppable 2016-17 Warriors team that had a +230 point differential.

Their run comes as quite the shock - while their 53-29 regular season record and third place finish in the Eastern Conference is very good, the record is something that is seen every year. Six other teams had the same, or better, record as the Knicks this season.

So what's made them so unbeatable in the playoffs? Initially, fans were skeptical due to their strength of opponents in the East, as New York avoided having to play each of the top-two teams in the conference - the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics.

However, those teams might have not been as good as their record said, and the Cavs were playing some great ball heading into the Eastern Conference Finals after beating Detroit by 31 in Game 7 on the road. Also, the two wins in San Antonio shut the critics up very fast.

Simply, New York has played a different, more team-friendly style of basketball in the playoffs that includes more ball movement, open threes, and knockdown shooting. Every possession just feels efficient.

Karl-Anthony Towns, for example, has completely changed the way he's played. He averaged 3.1 assists in the regular season last year and 3.0 this year - his two seasons in New York. In the playoffs, he's averaged 5.6 and has recorded two triple-doubles (he had four in his entire career before these playoffs).

He's taking less threes (which isn't a bad shot for him), and instead is collapsing the defense with his aggression driving to the basket, and he's making the correct reads on kick-outs or shot attempts at the rim.

His defense has also been spectacular, specifically against Victor Wembanyama. He's made the Alien look more like if E.T. - if it tried to play basketball. His strength and length have knocked Wemby off his spots, leading to awkward shot attempts and a 17-42 shooting start to the series.

Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Landry Shamet have also done excellent jobs keeping the ball swinging and attacking on off-balance close-out defenders.

Not to mention their lights-out shooting - Shamet, Towns, Anunoby, and Miles McBride have all shot over 41% from three in the playoffs, with the first three names all shooting over 47%.

Jalen Brunson's name hasn't even been brought up yet. It's a spectacular formula to have when your best player isn't always the reason the team wins - similarly to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the OKC Thunder last year.

And, similarly to SGA, Brunson is the guy that will close out tight games with his hyper-efficient clutch shot-making. The star guard is averaging 9.3 points in the fourth quarter in these playoffs, while shooting 55.7% from the field and 50% from three.

Now, the Knicks need just two more games of the same style of play to celebrate their first basketball title since 1973. With the next next couple of games coming from the raucous Madison Square Garden, the Knicks are heavily favored to do just that.

Let's get into the odds for the Knicks to win the chip and sweep, along with an updated look at the odds for Finals MVP, provided by bet365.