Knicks, Spurs stumble in season openers in rare feat
The Knicks and Spurs stumbled in their 2026-27 NBA season openers, becoming only the third pair of reigning conference champions to lose their first two games.
The New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs have both started the 2026-27 NBA season with two losses each. According to ESPN Insights, this is only the third time in NBA history that the two reigning conference champions have lost their first two games of the following season.
The Knicks lost 107-103 to the Boston Celtics at TD Garden, while the Spurs were defeated 114-110 by the Houston Rockets at home. San Antonio’s home loss is particularly notable, as they had a strong 32-8 record at Frost Bank Center last season.
After the Knicks’ loss, Jalen Brunson provided a thoughtful analysis, acknowledging areas for improvement. He told reporters, “I think we took a stride, just not big enough strides… There’s positives and negatives to take from this game. We know what we have to do, and the things I think are glaring to us are controllable. So that’s a positive we can take from this.”
In the Spurs’ game, a key moment occurred when Victor Wembanyama’s potential game-tying layup was blocked by Amen Thompson in the final seconds. Wembanyama later expressed regret, saying he would have attempted a dunk instead if given another chance.
Wembanyama also addressed the team’s closing lineup, which featured three guards: Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, and De’Aaron Fox.
Both teams began the season with high hopes, but their performance has not met expectations. The Knicks, who ranked fourth in offensive rating last season, have dropped to 20th. The Spurs, previously third in defensive rating, now sit at 17th.
