*Update*: New York in Finals fever – Wembanyama in focus, city goes wild

New York is not sleeping anymore – at least not officially. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has, according to Yahoo Sports, suspended the city's bedtime for children so that the entire city can follow the NBA Finals. The gesture is symbolic, but it strikes a real nerve: the Knicks are in the Finals for the first time in decades, and Yahoo Sports describes how the whole city is swept up in it.

The sporting heart of the pre-game coverage is the question of how New York should handle Victor Wembanyama. Bleacher Report analyzes that the Knicks must rely on physical double teams, consistent help-defense rotation and early post coverage – Wembanyama's length and shooting range make him a matchup nightmare for nearly every center in New York's roster.

The bookmakers still see San Antonio ahead. Azcentral and The Arizona Republic report on current spreads and moneylines that give the Spurs a clear home advantage in Game 1. In favour of the Knicks, on the other hand, is their collective style: The New York Times draws a comparison to Dave DeBusschere, the defensive cornerstone of the Knicks championship teams of the early 1970s – a hint that this team scores through teamwork and effort, not through a single superstar.

Two paths to the same stage

The Washington Post highlights the contrast between the two franchises: New York, the league's largest market with decades of hunger for success, faces San Antonio, which has ushered in a new era with a tight budget and continuity under coach Becky Hammon. Both paths led to the same stage – in completely different ways.

On the sidelines of the sporting preparations, Bleacher Report unveiled the new Finals USA jersey patches for both teams, which were presented in time for the trading card release – another sign that the marketing machine is already running at full speed. CBS Sports lists the arguments for why San Antonio can win the series: Wembanyama's dominance, Hammon's tactical flexibility and home-court strength in Games 1 and 2 are at the top of the list.