Published May 21, 7:13am ET by
James Tillman - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated May 21, 7:13am ET
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Updated May 21, 7:13am ET
Friday’s NBA Playoff action features the San Antonio Spurs hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of this conference finals series. Who has the edge in our Spurs vs Thunder pick?
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| San Antonio Spurs | -2 (-115) |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +2 (-105) |
San Antonio trailed by eight 11 points at the break. Although the road team got within five points late in the final frame, the Thunder made enough plays to send the series to Texas tied at one game apiece.
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The Spurs' offense featured five double-digit scorers. Stephon Castle led the way with 25 points, eight assists, and five rebounds, while accounting for nine of the team's 21 turnovers. Devin Vassell added 22, and Victor Wembanyama contributed 21 points, 17 rebounds, and six assists.
San Antonio returns home seeking to rediscover the defensive identity that fueled its Game 1 victory.
On the other side, despite leading by 13 in the fourth quarter, the defending champs watched their nemesis trim the deficit to five points. But thanks to a crucial bucket from the league MVP, the Thunder evened the series to avoid going down 0-2.
Seven players reached double figures for OKC. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paced the offense with 30 points on 50 percent shooting, along with nine assists and four rebounds. Alex Caruso delivered another strong performance off the bench, finishing with 17 points, five assists, and three rebounds. He shot 5-for-7 overall and 3-for-4 from beyond the arc.
Unfortunately, the victory did come with a cost, as Jalen Williams reaggravated a hamstring injury that sidelined him for six games in these playoffs. His availability, or lack thereof, could loom large for the rest of the series.
Can the defending champs produce another polished performance, or will San Antonio hold serve on its home court?
San Antonio enters this contest as a two-point favorite. Here's a look at what you need to know for both teams ahead of Game 3.
The Thunder are 2-5 in the previous seven meetings in this series. Furthermore, San Antonio is 7-3 across its previous 10 home outings. Although they came up short, the Spurs were within striking distance down the stretch in Game 2. With that in mind, look for the home team to take a 2-1 lead here.
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Pick
San Antonio Spurs (-2)
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