Victor Wembanyama knows the math is simple: win Game 5 on Saturday night and the San Antonio Spurs live to fight another day. Lose, and the New York Knicks are NBA champions.

Speaking after practice on Friday, the 22-year-old French rookie didn't sugarcoat what's at stake. “There are two possible outcomes,” Wembanyama said. “San Antonio wins and extends the series. New York wins and becomes NBA champions. That’s it. It’s one or the other.”

The Spurs find themselves in a 3-1 hole after a brutal collapse in Game 4. San Antonio led by as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter but watched the lead evaporate. Wembanyama himself missed two critical free throws down the stretch — a rare miss from a player who shot 82 percent from the line during the regular season.

But the Spurs aren't ready to pack their bags. “We still believe,” Wembanyama said.

San Antonio has been here before — sort of. The franchise has won five NBA championships, all under coach Gregg Popovich. But only once have they come back from a 3-1 deficit: in the 2008 Western Conference semifinals against the New Orleans Hornets. That series is ancient history now, but it's the kind of precedent the team clings to.

Wembanyama has been the story of these Finals. The 7-foot-4 phenom averaged 28 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks through the first four games. He's the reason the Spurs even made it this far in just his second season. But even he can't do it alone.

The Knicks, meanwhile, smell blood. New York is chasing its first championship since 1973. Led by Jalen Brunson and a ferocious defense, they've outplayed the Spurs in crunch time all series. Game 4's comeback was their third fourth-quarter rally of the Finals.

Game 5 tips off Saturday at 8 p.m. Central at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. If the Knicks win, the trophy stays in New York. If the Spurs win, they force a Game 6 back in Madison Square Garden.

For Filipino fans watching from Manila or Cebu, this series has been a treat — especially those who stayed up past midnight to catch the live broadcasts on NBA TV Philippines. The drama has been worth every peso of the cable bill.

  • Spurs trail the Knicks 3-1 in the NBA Finals
  • Game 5 is Saturday, June 13, 2026, in San Antonio
  • Wembanyama missed two critical free throws in Game 4's collapse
  • Spurs last overcame a 3-1 deficit in 2008 against New Orleans
  • Knicks are seeking their first championship since 1973