In Game 4, the home team finally won in this series, even if it took a near-miracle to pull it off. The Knicks trailed by 29 points in the third quarter but rallied for a 107-106 victory on a game-winning tip-in by OG Anunoby. They are now one game away from their first championship in 53 years.
The Spurs will be looking to make sure that the celebration does not start in their building. Victor Wembanyama and Dylan Harper will look to lead the way. Meanwhile, Anunoby and Josh Hart are a pair of players that I will be eyeing for the Knicks.
Let's get into my NBA Finals Game 5 parlay for Knicks vs. Spurs on Saturday, June 12.
NBA Same Game Parlay Strategy Guide for Spurs vs Knicks Game 5
The Angle: Wembanyama & Harper Help Spurs Stave Off Elimination
Victor Wembanyama 25+ Points
While De'Aaron Fox got much of the blame for the Spurs' poor late-game execution, Victor Wembanyama missed two critical free throws late in a game his team would lose by one point. He also went 3-for-14 from the field in the second half.
As a result, parlays that needed Wembanyama for 25 points took a tough beat, as he finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds. It was his first game under 25 points in the series, and it took a tough beat as he missed 16 shots and three free throws.
Wembanyama is still averaging 27.8 points per game in the series. He has also scored 25 points in seven of his last nine games against the Knicks while averaging 29.6 points per game.
Fatigue may have been a factor for him, as he played 44 minutes. However, he has played at least 38 minutes in every game in this series.
Now, with his team on the brink of elimination, he needs to shake off another rocky performance.
He may have to approach 40 minutes again, and if so, he likely scores 25 points considering his volume.
Pick: Victor Wembanyama 25+ Points
Dylan Harper 20+ Points & Rebounds
Mitch Johnson wants to stick with Fox, whom he publicly supported again in a press conference yesterday. However, it is becoming harder and harder to ignore what Dylan Harper has done.
When Wembanyama and Harper share the floor together in the NBA Finals, the Spurs have a +10.3 net rating compared to -1.6 when Fox and Wembanyama share the floor.
Harper has made 72 field goals in the restricted area this postseason while shooting 67.2%. That is the most made field goals in the restricted area by a point guard in the postseason since Russell Westbrook in 2014, but Harper is shooting 14% better.
His remarkable efficiency has led to him scoring in double figures in 17 of 22 games this postseason. That includes each of the first four games in this series, in which he has averaged 16.3 points.
Harper has added 6.8 rebounds per game, and that has helped him record 20 combined points and rebounds in every game in this series and five of his last six.
As he continues to produce, Harper has played 32 minutes in each of the last three games. Now the question becomes how involved he is in the fourth quarter.
Pick: Dylan Harper 20+ Points & Rebounds
OG Anunoby Over 16.5 Points
If the Knicks win the NBA Finals, Jalen Brunson will likely be named Finals MVP. However, OG Anunoby is making a compelling case that it should be him instead.
In this series, he is averaging 23.8 points per game and four rebounds on 58/56/92 shooting splits. That adds up to a 78.4% true shooting percentage, which would make him the most efficient scorer in NBA Finals history.
He has also scored just 23 points fewer than Brunson while attempting 56 fewer field goal attempts.
Anunoby is now in the +200 range to win Finals MVP. That comes after he scored 61 points in his last two games.
He has scored 20 points in three of his last six games, and that has moved his points line up. However, I still like him to reach 20 points tonight.
Pick: OG Anunoby Over 16.5 Points
Josh Hart 8+ Rebounds
In Game 2, Josh Hart had just six rebounds as he was limited to 18 minutes because of foul trouble. Thus far, that game has proven to be the exception, as he has recorded eight rebounds in three of the first four games in this series while averaging 9.5 rebounds per game.
Hart is averaging 8.8 rebounds per game in the playoffs while recording eight or more in 11 of 18 games.
Hart had 15 rebounds in Game 1 as the teams combined for exactly 200 points. Despite higher-scoring games in the last two outings, he was still able to reach this line.
He is averaging 14.8 rebound chances per game in this series. If he has 15 rebound chances again, I like him to collect just over half of them, which would get him eight rebounds and potentially 10 again as well.
Hart has five games with 10 rebounds this postseason and three double-doubles. He is +322 for a double-double tonight.
Pick: Josh Hart 8+ Rebounds
Same Game Parlay Building Blocks (+575)
- Victor Wembanyama 25+ Points
- Dylan Harper 20+ Points & Rebounds
- OG Anunoby 20+ Points
- Josh Hart 8+ Rebounds
Compounding Angle (+5500)
- Victor Wembanyama 30+ Points
- Dylan Harper 25+ Points & Rebounds
- OG Anunoby 25+ Points
- Josh Hart 10+ Rebounds
