Spurs Look to Get Back in The Finals
San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks Betting Analysis
The Spurs are in a hot spot … and we don’t mean Madison Square Garden … for Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday. San Antonio trails the Knicks after losing both games at home. Now, they are faced with winning multiple games on the road if they hope to win the NBA championship. NBA Finals odds have the Knicks as a lukewarm 2-point favorite. The total is set at 216 1/2.
Among the major concerns the Spurs have is that they are in this hole despite Knicks star guard Jalen Brunson shooting 19-for-56 from the field. Brunson also missed a late free throw in Game 2 that set the stage for Victor Wembanyama’s possible game-winning shot that missed. The moneyline in Game 3 has the Knicks at -125. NBA lines have the Spurs at +105.
NBA betting odds have the over/under for the Knicks to score 109 points. The Spurs are at 107 in this category. Given how incredible the defense has been in this series, it seems unlikely that both teams would go over 100 points.
To win the series, the Knicks are -450, and the Spurs are +355. San Antonio fans will love those odds if they still believe in their Spurs.
NBA Player Props
The prop market will be focused – again – on Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson. Much was made about Wemby’s errant pass that led to the foul on Brunson and the game-winning free throw. What is lost is how the big man scored 22 points after the halftime break to bring San Antonio back into the game.
That’s the price one pays when their team loses and falls into a 0-2 hole. Odds for NBA Finals would have swung in San Antonio’s favor had Wemby’s shot fallen. It didn’t, and the Spurs have a major challenge.
On the Knicks’ side, Josh Hart needs to be a rebounding force if he is to be a factor in NBA Player Props. He did not have a basket in Game 2 and only had six rebounds. That makes his inconsistency a liability now in props. The other Knick to be concerned about is Brunson, who is being harassed by San Antonio. Could that be why he is shooting around 33% from the field? The Knick, who is a force in the prop market, is Karl Anthony-Towns. He has been doing it all.
NBA Finals MVP Odds
The NBA MVP betting odds when it comes to NBA betting lines. First, Wembanyama was the favorite, then Brunson, and now, entering Game 3, the guard is still a +105 choice while KAT is at +175.
If the Knicks win this series quickly, it would be difficult to see anyone else taking the honor. Brunson has shot poorly, missed that late free throw, and Wembanyama is not about to win the MVP award if the Spurs get closed out quickly.
Everyone else is a long, long shot, so keep the focus on the top three, with KAT being tempting at the current number.
Injury Report
Both teams appear to be healthy heading into Game 3 at MSG.
