Villanova Knicks Learn NBA Finals Matchup

The Villanova Knicks trio of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges now knows their opponent for the 2026 NBA Finals: they’ll play the San Antonio Spurs, who they defeated 124-113 in the NBA Cup Championship back in December. San Antonio will hold home court advantage in the series, which will begin at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3.

Brunson won MVP honors for his performance in the NBA Cup’s final weekend in Las Vegas, where he scored 40 points against the Orlando Magic in the semifinals. If the Knicks manage to win it all, their Villanova trio will join Donte DiVincenzo and Kyle Lowry as Wildcats products with a championship ring.

New York went 2-1 against the Spurs in the regular season, dropping a 134-132 game in San Antonio before blowing out the return game 114-89 in the Big Apple. As such, they match up well against the Spurs, who roster one of the best players in the league in 7-foot-4 phenomenon Victor Wembanyama.

The Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games, while the Spurs’ series with the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder, last year’s finals champions, went to seven games. Winners of 11 in a row, the Knicks faced the same situation heading into the Eastern Conference Finals. They came out flat in Game 1 of that series, needing a 22-point comeback to force overtime, but went on to sweep a worn-down Cavaliers team.

Villanova fans tuning in for the finals will recognize a number of other familiar faces from the Big East: New York’s Tyler Kolek (Marquette) and San Antonio starters Stephon Castle (UConn) and Julian Champagnie (St John’s).