Data shows just how close these NBA Finals games have been

Data GraphicsThese NBA Finals games have been the closest matchups of the past 10 years, data showsThe Spurs-Knicks games so far have been decided by an average of 4 points. The average margin across NBA Finals series is 11.8 points.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00The moment after New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby made a game-winning tip shot against the San Antonio Spurs during Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday. The Knicks won by 1 point, the second 1-point game of the series.Vincent Carchietta / Imagn ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 11, 2026, 1:25 PM EDTBy Joelle Gross and Rohan NadkarniIf you have been sweating watching the New York Knicks the last few games, it is probably not due to the heat wave in New York alone. These games have been unusually close.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The series between the Knicks and San Antonio Spurs — which the Knicks lead 3-1 after the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history on Wednesday — has been the closest finals matchup since 2016, with the average margin of victory coming in at only 4.0 points through the series’ first four games.Since 2016, no other finals series has had an average margin of victory of less than 7.5 points.Every tilt between the Spurs and Knicks has come down to the wire. All four games meet the NBA’s definition of a clutch game, which means the score has been within 5 points with five minutes or fewer left in the fourth quarter.NBC News analyzed Sports Reference NBA Finals scores data and calculated the average margin of victory across finals series.After New York won the opening game by 10 points — pulling away in the final two minutes — the last three games have been about as close as they can get. The Knicks’ last two wins have each come by only a point, including their epic 29-point comeback in Game 4. San Antonio’s lone victory in the series came by 4 points.Through the first 192 minutes of action,...