Ranking every possible Finals series: Which matchup would be the most compelling?
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- New York Knicks hold a 2‑1 regular‑season edge over the San Antonio Spurs, including a win in the NBA Cup final in Las Vegas.
- Tim Duncan won Finals MVP at age 22 in 1999 when the Spurs beat the Knicks 85‑80 in Madison Square Garden.
- Julian Champagnie hit 11 three‑pointers to help the Spurs eke out a two‑point victory over the Knicks in their other meeting this season.
- Mike Brown served as an assistant on the 2003 Spurs championship team and later lost the 2007 Finals to the Spurs while head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Why it matters: Fans could witness a historic showdown that might finally deliver a championship to the Knicks after a 53‑year drought while giving the Spurs a breakout Finals MVP run for 22‑year‑old Victor Wembanyama.