The Knicks went to Texas and not only took home court advantage, but they are returning home with a 2-0 lead. They have put the pressure on the Spurs to win four of the next five possible games with three of them in New York.
They had to hold off a late rally on Friday as the Spurs rallied from being down 14 to take a two-point lead. However, a late turnover by Victor Wembanyama set up a Jalen Brunson free throw and a one-point Knicks victory.
Wembanyama will need to atone for his late-game blunder to help his team avoid a 0-3 hole. Meanwhile, Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby will look to lead the Knicks to victory as they play their first NBA Finals game at home in 27 years.
Let's get into my NBA Same Game Parlay Strategy Guide for Knicks vs. Spurs Game 3 on Monday, June 8.
NBA Finals Parlay for Spurs vs Knicks Game 3
The Angle: Stars Shine at the Garden Tonight
Jalen Brunson Over 29.5 Points & Rebounds
Perhaps even more concerning for the Spurs than losing the first two games at home is the fact that Brunson has not shot the ball all that well in this series yet.
Brunson has made just 34% of his 56 field goal attempts in the first two games, but the volume has helped him to get 30 points in Game 1 and 20 points in Game 2.
Now, he returns home where he is shooting 50% from the field and 39% from three this postseason while averaging 30.6 points per game.
Brunson has scored 30 points in three of seven home games this postseason and finished with 28 and 29 points in two others.
The Spurs have the defenders to make it more difficult for him to score, but he has now scored 25 points in five of his last eight games against the Spurs while averaging 29.3 per game.
At 29.5, it will not be a surprise if Brunson cleared this line without grabbing a rebound. However, he has grabbed eight rebounds through the first two games of this series.
He has also had four rebounds in six of his last eight games against the Spurs while averaging 4.1 per game.
Four rebounds would put him on his way to clear his line again, which he has actually alternated clearing the over every other game over his last 10 games.
With 33 PR in Game 1 and 25 PR in Game 2, he would be on track for 30 again if that trend continues.
Pick: Jalen Brunson Over 29.5 Points + Rebounds
Victor Wembanyama 25+ Points
Like Brunson, Wembanyama shot below his normal percentages, 40.5% from the field and 26.7% from three, through the first two games.
However, he still gotten to 25 points in both games with the help of making 17 of 21 free throws. He scored 22 of his 29 points in the second half of Game 2.
He has now scored 20 points in each of his last nine games while scoring 25 points in nine of them. Wembanyama has also scored 25 points in six of his last seven games against the Knicks while averaging 30.1 points a span.
While fatigue has been mentioned a couple of times with him throughout his first playoff run, he has gotten two days off before tonight's game.
After being ejected in Game 4 against Minnesota, Wembanyama responded with 27 points in Game 5. Against Oklahoma City, he scored 28 points in Game 6 after a lackluster Game 5 performance.
Now, he needs to respond again after his costly giveaway and then missing the last shot in Game 2. I expect that he will be up to the task tonight.
Pick: Victor Wembanyama 25+ Points
OG Anunoby 15+ Points
While Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are the Knicks' best players, OG Anunoby is one of their most important.
His two-way impact takes some pressure off them and he has also proven to be a playoff riser.
After averaging 16.7 points per game in the regular season, he is up to 19.3 per game in the playoffs on 56/48/87 shooting splits.
Anunoby has scored 15 points in 11 of 14 games this postseason, finishing with 13 points once and 14 points twice in the three misses.
He has scored 17 points in each of the first two games of this series. He is now averaging 16.1 points over his last eight games against the Spurs.
Anunoby has made 5 of 11 3-point attempts in this series and he has knocked down two or more in eight of his last 10 games.
Two more triples tonight will put him well on his way to 15 points.
Pick: OG Anunoby 15+ Points
Dylan Harper Over 19.5 Points + Rebounds
Despite Wembanyama being the team's leading scorer, it would not be a stretch to say Dylan Harper has been the team's best player in this series.
He is averaging 15.5 points and seven rebounds per game in the series while shooting 54.5% from the field.
He did not get the start in Game 2, but he did play 32 minutes, his most in a non-overtime game this postseason.
Harper has scored in double figures in seven of his last 10 games while recording five rebounds in eight of those games.
In that span, he has averaged 18.9 points and rebounds combined per game. He has recorded 20 PR in three of his last four games with 19 in the lone miss.
The Spurs will need him to keep attacking to get back in this series.
Pick: Dylan Harper Over 19.5 Points + Rebounds
Same Game Parlay Building Blocks (+675)
- Jalen Brunson Over 29.5 Points + Rebounds
- Victor Wembanyama 25+ Points
- OG Anunoby 15+ Points
- Dylan Harper Over 19.5 Points + Rebounds
Compounding Angle (+2689)
- Jalen Brunson Over 34.5 Points + Rebounds
- Victor Wembanyama 30+ Points
- OG Anunoby 18+ Points
- Dylan Harper Over 19.5 Points + Rebounds
