Updated

Updated · USA TODAY · Jun 13

Spurs Grab 23-13 Game 5 Lead Over Knicks as New York Chases 1st Title in 53 Years

Updated

Updated · USA TODAY · Jun 13

Spurs Grab 23-13 Game 5 Lead Over Knicks as New York Chases 1st Title in 53 Years

Q: After a historic collapse, can Wembanyama's Spurs force a Game 6 and begin an impossible 3-1 comeback?

Yes — the Spurs can force a Game 6, and early signs in Game 5 suggested they had a real chance. San Antonio led 23-13 after one quarter, with Victor Wembanyama setting the tone through rim protection and activity on both ends: six points, four rebounds and three blocks in the opening period. That start mattered after the Spurs’ historic Game 4 collapse, when they blew a 29-point lead and shot just 20.5% in the second half of a 107-106 loss. The path is clear but extremely narrow. San Antonio must win Game 5 at home, then beat New York twice more, including a road game at Madison Square Garden. Only one team in NBA Finals history has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit: the 2016 Cavaliers. Across all NBA playoff series, only 15 teams have done it. There are reasons to think the Spurs can extend the series. Every game in this Finals has been tight, with no margin larger than 10 points and all four previous games within one possession in the final two minutes. Betting markets and USA TODAY’s expert panel also leaned toward a Spurs win in Game 5. But “can” is different from “will.” The Knicks have been more resilient, and Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby just delivered one of the greatest comeback wins in Finals history. Wembanyama’s Spurs have the talent and home floor to force Game 6, but turning that into a full 3-1 comeback would still rank as one of the rarest feats the league has seen.

3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jun 13

San Antonio opened NBA Finals Game 5 with a 23-13 first-quarter lead, holding New York to its lowest-scoring quarter of this postseason.
New York shot just 3-for-20 in the period after a 1-for-10 start, with Karl-Anthony Towns scoreless after missing all three attempts.
Victor Wembanyama set the tone for the Spurs with 6 points, 4 rebounds and 3 blocks, while Dylan Harper added 7 points on 3-for-3 shooting.
Jalen Brunson kept the Knicks afloat with 8 points and OG Anunoby scored 5 as New York tried to clinch its first championship since 1973.
The early San Antonio edge came after the Knicks stole Game 4 with a record 29-point Finals comeback, leaving the Spurs needing a win to avoid elimination.

Sources

USA TODAY1d ago

Spurs Lead Knicks 23-13 After First Quarter of NBA Finals Game 5

ClutchPoints3h ago

Spurs news: Victor Wembanyama on all-time NBA Finals history watch after dominant 1st quarter

WRAL News13h ago

Game 5: Knicks, and their fans, are in San Antonio, hoping to close out the NBA Finals with a title :: WRAL.com

9 Sources

Can the Knicks overcome a slow start to finally end their 53-year championship drought in San Antonio?

After a historic collapse, can Wembanyama's Spurs force a Game 6 and begin an impossible 3-1 comeback?

2026 NBA Finals: Knicks’ 3-1 Edge, Game 4’s 29-Point Comeback, and Spurs’ Fight for Survival

Overview

Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals began with the New York Knicks holding a narrow 3-1 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs, despite only outscoring the Spurs by eight points across the first four games. This slim margin highlights how tough the series has been, with the Spurs presenting a real challenge as they face elimination on their home court. Analysts expected the Spurs to start aggressively due to the do-or-die stakes, while ESPN gave the Knicks just a 43% chance to win Game 5, reflecting the pressure and unpredictability of this pivotal matchup.

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