The San Antonio Spurs kept Game 1 of the 2025-26 NBA Finals competitive for 46 minutes – then fell asleep during the last 120 seconds. As a result, the New York Knicks claimed homecourt advantage and proved their naysayers wrong by gaining the upper hand in the best-of-7 championship series.
The Knicks went on an 11-0 run to end the final two minutes of Game 1, making the 105-95 final score seem like a more comfortable victory than it really was. Still, getting a win in San Antonio was a “must” for a New York team that hadn’t participated in an NBA Finals game since the 20th Century.
The unexpected outcome of Game 1 has already flipped the Kalshi trading market on its head as both teams prepare for Friday night’s Game 2 matchup. While the SAS moneyline has spiked up to 65 percent, the Jalen Brunson MVP bid has switched places with Victor Wembanyama’s line.
We like the Spurs to win Game 2, but 65¢ per contract seems a bit overpriced given how easily New York was able to dominate late in the 4th Quarter of Game 1. Therefore, our best pick is going with the underdog Knicks to win Friday at a price of 36 cents.
On the flip side of that coin, now is going to be the best moment to pick up Victor Wembanyama for series MVP if you’re confident the Spurs can rebound from Wednesday night’s lapse. His price will most certainly go back up on prediction market apps and potentially surpass Jalen Brunson if the Spurs can even the series at Frost Bank Center before traveling to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 on Monday.
If you don’t count Julian Champagnie, the Spurs’ 3-point shooting Wednesday night was awful. The foursome of De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, Victor Wembanyama, and Stephon Castle went a combined 4-for-22 from beyond the line. Meanwhile, Jalen Brunson was, once again, the spark that New York needed to ignite the Knicks’ chances of winning their first NBA title since 1973.
As a side note – if you’re wondering about the cost of midcourt front row tickets for Game 3 on Monday at Madison Square Garden – the going price is up to $595,000 according to Bleacher Report. Knicks fans who are hoping to squeak by on a budget by purchasing one of the “cheap seats” can expect to pay $4,000 just to get in on the balcony.
The Knicks have made it a series with their Game 1 performance; ticket re-sellers rejoice. Of course, if you can’t afford to attend Monday’s Game 3 in person, you can always go to a retail sportsbook in your area to catch all the action live as it happens, courtesy of ABC. There’s also the option of purchasing a premium subscription to DIRECTV if you want to enjoy the game from the comfort of your own living room.
The Jalen Brunson for series MVP line has skyrocketed to 48%, which may be hard to justify for professional traders but is understandable given his 30-point effort on Wednesday night. By comparison, that forecast was priced at 34 cents per contract before the NBA Finals tipped-off.
Karl-Anthony Towns has also become a more expensive MVP trade on Kalshi. The former Kentucky Wildcats center played 34 minutes and scored 18 points Wednesday night, and can currently be bought for 7¢ if your gut tells you he’ll outshine superstar Jalen Brunson and lead the Knicks to the NBA title.
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