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2026 NBA Playoffs NBA Finals: Knicks @ Spurs Game 5 – Time to Win a Goddamn NBA Championship

The Knicks head back to San Antonio, the same place where they sucked the souls out of the Spurs by beating them in Games 1 AND 2 (only, like, the third time that that has ever happened in NBA history) to complete the soul-devouring by finishing this series in five games, which is how many games I predicted the Knicks would win the series in, so I am very much hoping that I am right, and not because it is fun to be right, but, because, well, come on, you know, I want the Knick to be NBA champions.

I went to a family reunion-type get together today, and my Uncle Rich and Aunt Sue were there. They got married in September 1973 (they can’t believe that I remember their anniversary), and therefore, despite being married for nearly 53 years, the Knicks have not won a title in their entire marriage. Amazing.

That will end tonight.

I hope.

The Spurs are just too young and dumb. The Knicks are not. The Knicks will take this down.

I don’t like that Wemby is going to get a lot of rest the rest of the way if the Spurs win this one. But hopefully it doesn’t matter.

The Spurs can be good LATER, the Knicks are going to be champions TODAY.

Let’s go, Knicks!

ONE win away!

Feelin’ alive for the Knicks in five!

475 replies on “2026 NBA Playoffs NBA Finals: Knicks @ Spurs Game 5 – Time to Win a Goddamn NBA Championship”

“Mister I ain’t a boy, no I’m a man
And I believe in a promised land”

LET’S
GO
KNICKS!

LET’S
GO
KNICKS!

Fuck it. We’re going to run these assholes out of their own gym.

100%.

By Post Author

It’s 8pm and my morning confidence has not waned. In fact, it has grown.

This has been one of the sunniest, most glorious days New York has ever seen. The city is alive. The air feels charged. The streets know.

Tonight will not end in disappointment.

There are nights that pass like any other, and there are nights that become part of who we are. Nights we remember by where we stood, who we were with, and what we believed before the rest of the world caught up.

This is one of those nights.

And if the basketball gods demand belief, then let them find no shortage of it here. Let us all be Brian tonight.

We few, we lucky few. We band of bloggers. We will remember this night when the softer souls ask where we stood.

We stood here.

Knicks in 5.

2

please god…i don’t ask for much…just a W tonight..thx

oh…and fuck wemby

I was 14 yo the last time Knicks played a game with a chance to win the NBA championship, 32 years later the dream will finally come true!

i got a color tv
so i can see
the knicks play basketball

and, win a flipping championship, yeah, let’s do that tonight…

go knicks, now and forever…

Let’s end this tonight. I won’t be able to handle the stress of a game 6 with game 7 in San Antonio.

i want to get loaded but i talked myself into waiting till half time …my wife just asked me why i look weird…she has no clue what basketball is…

1

Think they’ll double down with the goofy and incredibly disrespectful intro music?

Hope so — worked so well the first two times…

Just one more analytic win for the opposition tonight and the trophy is ours.

1

Lets go Knicks. Get off to a good start! Limit the fouls and turnovers.

I took a Xanax

It’s 8pm and my morning confidence has not waned. In fact, it has grown.

okay jk went xanax and hubert went viagra anyone else?

2

Savor it all, every bit of it, we’re ending this, and them, tonight!!!

(Klonopin and iced coffee)

Knicks deserve this for changing the paradigm. If JB isn’t a tent pole star he’s a winner at every level after tonite. LFG Knicks

Streaming the knicks radio broadcast and sound off on tv….not sure how bad the lag is gonna be

1

For those who have been rooting for this team for decades,
For those who joined Knicks Nation in the last few weeks, and
Most importantly, for those who departed from us before seeing a Knicks team take it at all (RIP Ari & Raj),
Let’s do this tonight!

3

Let’s just not go down by double digits and collect 10 fouls in this first quarter.

What do the Spurs think this is, the end of the fourth quarter?

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We’re not immediately losing by 20, so that’s an improvement. Easily out best start this series.

Hart might have to have his minutes limited tonight.

Let them play the 1st qrt and then we decide who’s playing good or not

We’re not immediately losing by 20, so that’s an improvement

Exactly what i’m thinking

Why do I put myself through this?

I could be watching Residential Alien and laughing at the stupidity of it instead of stressing out.

1

wemby has stepped it up on d

Let him get tired as the game goes on and we’ll see

okay jk went xanax and hubert went viagra anyone else?

Adderall on top of my normal off-label antidepressants

1

wemby has stepped it up on d

I truly think it’s that extra day of rest. We saw it in Game 3, too.

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It would be nice if we could shoot. We haven’t had one crazy shooting game yet. Only 1 quarter really maybe 2.

Knicks gotta let first good look from 3pt fly instead of constantly hesitating and looking for better shots.

2

Not bad considering how bad we are playing but also can we start a game well please

It’s totally true that the Knicks need to just fucking SHOOT.

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Maybe Landry Shamet shouldn’t be dribbling the ball that long.

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Can we play any worse?

They don’t give us much, but when we have something we are afraid to shoot.

This is like brain damage level basketball.

Mitch Johnson is annoyingly using Harper to handle the point over Fox. He’s not supposed to make intelligent adjustments.

3
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Not even Brunson shooting well is not a good sign, but maybe we need to be back by double digits to wake up everytime

It’s just Brunson & OG vs the Spurs right now.

But the Spurs can’t capitalize, and we’ll send the cavalry in the 2Q

Spurs look impregnable

Twitter seems to think it’s impossible for the Knicks to shoot with the Brunson T-Shirt Sydney Sweeney is wearing

I never thought Mitch shooting FTs might be considered good offense… but here we are

Not one of our guys can beat his defender off the dribble, and yet that’s all they are trying to do. Move. Pass. Cut. Score.

1

Ugly basketball, my guts are knotting.

Stay close, defend, believe.
And then Brunson.

The director is trying hard to not feature Knicks fans in the stands, it’s funny! Not an easy task! 😀

no excuse for not getting decent shots in the non wemby minutes. waiting way too long to set screens and start the action. every swing swing is a little off target.

1

Brown’s plan can’t be to just play Brunson the entire game, can it?

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okay jk went xanax and hubert went viagra anyone else?

I took my bp meds earlier. So just a jack n coke for me rn.

Run five out

I saw something where when Hart is off the floor in these playoffs and the other starting four are on the Knicks offense surges . No shock

Great 1Q defense for the spurs but we’ll solve it.

Mikal & KAT & Josh couldn’t have played any worse

Considering the circumstances that has to be the most disappointing quarter of the postseason by the Knicks.

I’m here now! Got out of that party and now at a bar. Let’s fuck the entire world up!!!

Not worried about being down 10 when SAn only has 23.

2

Yeah, absolutely brutal offense. Not the pattern I would have chosen but we have been here before.

Shamet needs to hit a three again

Mikal needs to participate in the offense

Hey ABC, how ‘bout some replays of the multiple “slips” by Knicks ball handlers? Either our guys are extremely uncoordinated for the first time in this season OR they are getting tripped & pushed.

Shamet needs to hit a three again

Hopefully him and Deuce hit their 3Ps at the usual clip

I am once again calling for Tyler Kolek

Dog house , but seems like a game with a series lead you get him in

KAT + Mikal + Hart = 0

And KAT seems to be getting guarded by Fox & Champagnie, so he might want to wake up soon

2 days between every game from now on is gonna be a huge fucking problem with Wemby looking this fresh.

1

That was AMAZING defense! Multiple blocks by the Knicks!

1
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2 days between every game from now on is gonna be a huge fucking problem with Wemby looking this fresh.

It’s crazy how different he looks!

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If Deuce passes up another three I’m flying to San Antonio and slapping him silly.

We’ll be lucky to score 50 in this game

Haven’t y’all learned anything from last game? 35 points 1st half, 80 2nd half, book it.

I don’t get it, did Mitch Johnson see the replay before challenging? Otherwise, I don’t know how you challenge that.

1
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KAT loves to hook people. Done it all year.

Please bail him out whichever Greek god is on duty tonight

Basically when they let them play like this, the Knicks can’t to anything on offense.

Real Handsy D by Spurs. Effective with no whistle

Exactly. Thank you. One team plays according the rules, the other don’t.

Spurs pace unsustainable yet again

Thankfully they’re shooting like shit too

I’m not sure Hart is playable right now. If he’s not rebounding and making plays at a plus level and he’s afraid to shoot and he can’t make one when he does, he can’t be on the court against this defense.

am once again calling for Tyler Kolek

Seems a little bit of a reach but he was clutch in the cup game and we just need someone to handle the ball and play with pace, take some pressure off Brunson.

Obvs that was Jose in the last game but I’m not sure we’re getting the repeat.

I also don’t understand how KAT continuously does this anyway. It’s just stupid.

If you thought Spurs were cocky and arrogant I can’t imagine their quotes after this game if this ass whooping continues.

TWO FOULS ON WEMBY! HUGE!

Reversed as usual, the new face of the League can’t do anything wrong.

Fuck these refs and fuck Adam Silver, this is the new WWE.

Incredible reffing

Guys, come on, the team has proved a lot of times that they can get back to games in the 2nd half. Don’t start the doom and gloom this early.

1

They just keep taking and bricking threes. It’s fucking Groundhog Day.

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Why in the fucking WORLD was Luke fucking KORNET orchestrating the offense there!?

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Hahaha, Mitch Johnson was, like, “Holy shit, Kornet!”

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Brunsons offense has been so painful this series

Edit: except from 3!

The adjustment we can make is shooting quicker. Too many guys passing up shots.

1

I can’t believe the Spurs keep taking these outside shots.

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Yeah, I don’t even SLIGHTLY understand how the Spurs are just letting Brunson shoot.

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Breen sees Brunson making a pass and it has to be RJ seeing Brunson taking a shot !?

I feel like Hart has struggled keeping the Spurs wings from driving to the rack. But l I’ll gladly take going into the half within 10.

Not good for KAT but feels manageable with how long he played with 5 fouls last game

Somebody on the bench just reminded Mikal how many picks we sent for him

Like I said earlier just shoot the first good look at 3pter!

yeah this needs to be a quick trigger game

1

really have gotten nothing from deuce this series

I keep waiting for the Deuce game, but he’s keeping us waiting.

1

really have gotten nothing from deuce this series

“Deeeeeeuce” chants have the power to mess with the opponent confidence… but yeah, i don’t remember the last time he hit one. Has he hit one in the Finals?

KAT can never stay of foul trouble

When was the last game he wasn’t in trouble

Somebody on the bench just reminded Mikal how many picks we sent for him

LOL

That last shot by Deuce looked very sling-shotty with no confidence

For as bad a jump shooter that Castle is he’s fucking Larry Bird from the FT line.

I legit don’t know why the Spurs don’t just use Keldon Johnson as the center with no Towns out there. Kornet is absolutely useless out there.

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Fox is a fucking moron for that push in the back—thanks!

Fox is a fucking moron for that push in the back—thanks!

He’s just the dumbest player alive.

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Mashburn got called for a flagrant on a similar foul he gave Oak in Game 5 of the 1998 playoffs!

1

When Mitchell Robinson’s injury was announced, but before surgery was announced, I learned that average time out after surgery is four weeks. Mitch came back in 9 days. He is better than Huk, but not his usual self.

1

Mitch Johnson’s obsession with Fox is just one of the great mysteries in this world.

1
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Feeling pretty good about that half all things considered

1

Ok good shot Vassell.

But honestly, only being down 5 at half given how this game has gone is perfectly fine.

1

I’m not very happy with the potential tying possesion ending in a Josh Hart floater…

I don’t get Breen’s position here. “The Knicks only score 37, and they’re only down 5!” If I heard that, I would assume it was a defensive-intensive game, which it was.

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Breen’s excited yelling on Vassel’s buzzer beater deserved an Oscar!

Right where we want them lol.

I wanted a blowout for my nerves. But we’re still in it and have room to play much better

Well. Not sure what to make of that half. We were terrible so glad we are only down 5 but also annoyed we are down 5

They can’t play any better on defense.

We struggled to a large extent because of their defense, but we also did not play well on offense.

It’s a miracle we are still in this game.

We played terrible in that half, the Spurs played some of the best D I’ve ever seen, and it’s a 5 point game.

I’m taking another viagra.

We’ll solve these MFers.

KAT needs to pull his head out of his ass, though. But it’s been up there so long it might be stuck.

The answer might be centerless lineups with OG guarding Wemby

That was an awful first half, but it doesn’t matter. They’re only down five. They’ll win this shit.

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I think you guys are seeing this the wrong way, the Spurs are playing great defense but we are slowly adapting to it. I expect a great 2nd half from our team.

I don’t see them maintaining the Defensive intensity, they already started to fall flat a bit.

Concern is Wemby hasn’t played that much and he’s gonna be fresh-ish for the 2nd half.

Keep these young boys running around.

Also we may need some brain dead Jordy minutes

1

Spurs have gone pretty cold. They’re also struggling on offense, just more quietly.

Barkley has it right. Down five is basically like the Knicks are up.

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Kenny spitting truth on Johnson’s idiotic substitution patterns, and his obsession with Fox.

2
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The more Fox plays, the better the Knicks chances. Harper was playing like an All NBA star. I too think Knicks took Spurs best shot and are only down 5. OTOH, Johnson kept Wembies minutes down. He’s probably good for 22 min in 2nd half

man, that felt like a really fast first half…

Yeah, Geo, my thoughts exactly.

1

“Okay, Fox is fucking things up like he does EVERY GAME (except for a big shot in Game 3), let me just stick with Fox!”

You keep being you, Mitch Johnson!

1
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Watching Nic Batum and Vlade do halftime commentary somehow and they are actually pretty good.

I will take a five point deficit but that last shot cut deep. Tough shot

man, that felt like a really fast first half…

Very few fouls, so few stoppages in play.

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Kenny spitting truth on Johnson’s idiotic substitution patterns, and his obsession with Fox.

Fox must be Johnson’s security blanket.

We are playing better but we are slow on some defense rotations when they shoot 3s. Let’s play quicker.

Two best defenses in the playofffs are smothering the two top offenses in the playoffs
Both teams are being affected and it is probably causing doubt in the shooters.
This really is all about D.

1

I don’t think the current score matters much either way. It’ll all come down to how well the two teams play in the third. Five points is effectively nothing.

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Let’s play quicker.

Alvy, Shamet, Deuce, and Hart seem a step slower than in the first four games. Not sure why they would be. Shamet was a whirlwind out there. Not so tonight.

Last time Knicks Spurs played a Game 5 in the NBA Finals Spurs were up 40-38 at halftime.

Might have to just ride with Brunson and see if he can bring the title home.

Mikal actually took some initiative, if he keeps on it will open everything up.

1

For such a low scoring game, the fact that the Spurs let Brunson shoot so much is just BAFFLING to me.

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“Listen this is too close, call a foul on Towns on the first play”

“Okay Mr. Silver”

1

Mitch smh

The Fox one was definitely worse though

Guys stop passing up 3s

Yeah, the Knicks are doing the opposite of the Spurs. They’re not shooting ENOUGH threes.

1
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The refs are already against us, why doing this dumb stuff to help them fuck us even deeper?

Neither one of these should have been a flagrant, there’s more contact on every play.

The thing is that there is so much fucking contact but they only call it on KAT.

Idk guys, repeatedly going at the guy on pace for the triple double with blocks is pretty tempting

I feel like the refs are too present in this game. Feels like soccer. That’s never a push in a normal game.

Mitch doesn’t matter in this series unless it’s a final defensive stop because he doesn’t move Wemby at all on defense.

I don’t know how you rest Wemby at all. As soon as he’s out of the game, the Knicks start dominating.

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I feel like the refs are too present in this game

Biggest problem with the sport tbh.

That was AND-1 on that OG layup… they would’ve call it for the Spurs.

If OG is the Knicks’ center, then why in the fucking WORLD is Kornet in the game?

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We are getting shots to stay in the game but can’t get those big shots to tie it up.

The problem is OG has 3 fouls so you can’t play him on Wemby right now. So when Wemby is in you have to play a center.

It’s insane to me that the NBA has decided that KAT can’t play in the finals

It’s insane to me that the NBA has decided that KAT can’t play in the finals

Yeah, but it all series it seems. Philly was an issue as well

The NBA has tried to rig every game since g1 we just won two of them anyway. This sucks

That was a foul on Brunson no call. These

Update – indeed a flagrant

If Landy’s gonna hesitate on that he shouldn’t be playing any more

That was OUTRAGEOUSLY wimpy.

2
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Fuck these refs protecting Golden Child. Even Prince Harry knew that was a flagrant one

Wemby could kill a man on 5th Avenue and they’d call a flagrant on the dead guy

1

Lmao they’re going to suspend him for game 6. Spurs get the ultimate escape card.

Surely that gets upgraded to a flagrant before game 6 right? The fuck are the refs looking at?

(There will be no game 6)

1

not only did it cost us the flagrant but jalen was down and we gave up a three. how the fuck do you miss a giant wemby foot under the shooter at the top of the key.

If this gets back to NY, i hope there’s chants “dirty Wemby” at MSG… he clearly deserves it!

Knicks should have Hukporti come in and shove Wemby’s head till Huk fouls out and dare the refs to call a flagrant on it

not an ideal time to rest OG

Can’t have both KAT and OG with 4 fouls going into the 4th.

It has to be unmistakable that the refs were told not to call flagrants on Wemby. Unmistakable.

1

I threw my remote when Shamet passed that shot.

Then I did it again when the rascals didn’t whistle the flagrant on JB.

Surely that gets upgraded to a flagrant before game 6 right? The fuck are the refs looking at?

lol you just get here?

Holy fucking shit. That was right in front of Tyler Ford too. Unreal

Wemby should be suspended next game. Not a shock they showed Adam Silver to show the fix is in. I want that man gone

It is increasingly difficult to sincerely believe the league is not putting their thumb on the scales to protect Wembitch

That is really tricky. How do you NOT change that after the game, and at that point, he’s suspended for Game 6.

1
By Post Author

That is a flagrant 2 on Wemby. Should be upgraded if Knicks don’t win tonight. Wemby should be disqualified from Game 6.

Wemby should have been ejected for that dirty play.

1

They’re gonna say Harper knocked him into the landing area. It’s complete bullshit, but they have their cover possibility now.

That was a game changing call and potentially series changing call.

FUCK THE REFS.

It’s mind boggling how rigged basketball has become. This is WWE level rigging. No is on is going to convince me these are honest mistakes or that I’m being biased. I see suspect calls the other way, but some of these are blatantly obvious bullshit.

If this goes to game 6, can that be reviewed and Wemby suspended?

Yes. But as noted, they’ll probably say it was accidental.

1
By Post Author

Pretty cool how the landing area rule has literally only applied to us this series

1

Refs: “Missed that one as well. Missed that one as well. Missed that one as well. Missed that one as well.”

Great play by Mitch. He’s been good today outside that flagrant.

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Clearly they decided it’s time to start doubling JB. Not sure what took so long.

Does it matter if it’s accidental?

Why do I watch this fucking fake ass sport?

Clearly they decided it’s time to start doubling JB. Not sure what took so long.

NO IDEA.

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I love, “They decided to start calling fouls more now.” Huh?!

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“Plus it fucking DID look intentional”

It was another of those weird Starship Trooper stomps, just like the one where it looked like he went after OG’s ACL.

I should have know 3-1 actually meant 3-3 because we were getting at most one fairly officiated game of the three remaining, and possibly none

Oh my god, Jefferson, shut the fuck up about this “You’re not a rookie after 82 games” stuff.

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Let’s not forget the slap across Mikal’s face with a poke in the eye in front of the official that knocks him down and no foul is called.

It’s just the same shit game after game after game after game.

Four games in a row they are just fucking raping us

1

Harper seems like at worst the third best player in this series. And then he does that.

Harper seems like at worst the third best player in this series

Agreed given that Towns isn’t allowed to play. He is basically serving the suspension Wemby should be under rn

1

What are these fouls. With as physical game as it’s been, OG gets called for that

He took Harper out for Fox lol.

Few coaches are THIS dumb.

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This is McBride’s third straight game with zero points. He has 11 pts in the series.

McBride should’ve been benched , but I guess his defense keeps him on the court …

Huge foul there. Three on Harper, and now three free throws for Brunson! Can get it to single digits!

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