Published Jun 7, 12:56am ET by
James Tillman - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jun 7, 12:56am ET
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Updated Jun 7, 12:56am ET
Monday’s NBA Playoff action features the New York Knicks hosting the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Who has the edge in our Knicks vs Spurs pick?
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| New York Knicks | -2 (-114) |
| San Antonio Spurs | +2 (-106) |
New York came into this NBA Finals series as the underdog. However, this battle-tested squad is in the driver's seat at the moment after edging the Spurs 105-104 to take a 2-0 series lead back to the Big Apple.
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New York led by 14 before San Antonio stormed back to take a 104–102 lead with 57 seconds left. But Jalen Brunson’s contested jumper — plus a free throw — proved to be the difference, adding another dramatic moment to this Finals series.
Five players reached double figures for the road team. Karl-Anthony Towns showed up and showed out, finishing with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists. Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson added 20 points apiece, while OG Anunoby contributed 17 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
The Spurs were the prohibitive favorites coming into this series after dethroning the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. After the first two games, though, they find themselves facing a two-game hole for the first time during their postseason run.
San Antonio trailed by 14 before ripping off a 21–5 run to take a two‑point lead with under a minute remaining. New York answered on the next possession to tie it at 104, and after the Spurs got a stop, Victor Wembanyama committed a costly turnover that led to Jalen Brunson splitting a pair of free throws.
On the final possession, San Antonio had a chance to steal the win, but Wembanyama’s long jumper missed as the buzzer sounded.
“We showed tremendous desperation, urgency, and competitive response,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “Hopefully we can try to bottle that up … and try to play to that same level.”
Four of the team's five starters tallied double-digit scoring totals. Following a quiet first half, Wembanyama finished with 29 points, nine boards, four blocks, and two steals. De'Aaron Fox contributed 20 points and five assists, going 8-for-12 from the field.
Will the Spurs finally get on the board in this series, or will New York take another step toward winning its first championship in 53 years?
After taking the first two games, New York 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 Knicks have won seven of the last 10 meetings in this matchup, and they’re also 7–0 in their past seven home games against the reigning Western Conference champions. Given those trends, New York holds the advantage here.
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Pick
New York Knicks (-2)
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