The New York Knicks got the clutch points when they mattered most, as they rallied from a 14-point deficit to defeat the Spurs on the road. San Antonio even held a 95-94 lead with 2:16 remaining in the fourth quarter, but could only watch as New York scored the game's final 11 points to wrap things up.
One area the Spurs will particularly like to see some improvement in is inside the paint. New York outscored San Antonio 50-42 in this category, with Knicks guard Jalen Brunson posting a game-high 16 points compared to just eight points for Spurs center Victor Wembanayama.
And while you can be sure there will be some adjustments in Game 2, our approach won't necessarily be to break down the individual matchups. Instead, we'll seek to highlight players that offer the best value in the DraftKings Game Leaders market.
Let's dive into my NBA Finals game leader props for Knicks vs. Spurs Game 2 on Friday, June 5.
NBA Game Leader Props for Friday, June 5
- Three-Point Leader: OG Anunoby (+566) / Landry Shamet (+930)
- Most Assists: De'Aaron Fox (+369) / Josh Hart (+462)
NBA Finals Game 2 Three-Point Leader: OG Anunoby / Landry Shamet
A zig-zag approach for the top scorer would make a ton of sense in this series, as Brunson and Wembanyama are too important to their teams not to get their fair share of touches.
However, after cashing a Game 1 ticket on Brunson at +198, Wembanyama's odds of +110 simply aren't long enough to get me excited.
The good news is that the 3-point market still has plenty of value, with multiple candidates listed at 5-to-1 or better.
San Antonio's Julian Champagnie (+343) is the current favorite after we cashed a +517 ticket on him to finish with the most 3-pointers (five) in the series opener. You would think the Knicks would have had a better scouting report on Champagnie after seeing him knock down six 3-pointers in Game 7 against OKC.
Now, after strong back-to-back performances, I'd expect New York to keep a close eye on the Spurs forward.
Should Champagnie's regression come to fruition, New York's OG Anunoby and Landry Shamet are viable options to lead this category.
Both players hit three 3-pointers in Game 1 and are tremendous shooters. Anunoby is shooting 48.4% through the playoffs, while Shamet is at 58.5%.
Anunoby also has a chance to be a great second option for the Knicks because his teammate, Karl-Anthony Towns, will likely have his hands full with Wembanyama.
And if we do a deep dive into Shamet, Knicks head coach Mike Brown is starting to entrust him with more minutes.
He logged 33 minutes in the opener, his most in this playoff campaign, and has scored three or more 3-pointers in his past three games.
Therefore, with the Spurs likely selling out to try to slow down Brunson, look for Anunoby and Shamet to shoulder some of the heavy lifting in Game 2.
Pick: 3-Point Leader: OG Anunoby (+566) / Landry Shamet (+930)
NBA Finals Game 2 Assists Leader: De'Aaron Fox / Josh Hart
Although I haven't dabbled much in the assists leader market, the current odds suggest there's no truly defined favorite. San Antonio's Stephon Castle has the shortest odds at +221, while Brunson ranks second at +243.
However, Castle's teammate De'Aaron Fox (+369) looks more likely to be the primary ball handler because the Spurs could desperately use the calming presence of a veteran to run the offense.
Turnovers have been an issue at times for Castle in the playoffs, so it would make plenty of sense to shift some of that responsibility over to Fox.
Fox also hasn't been at his best since returning from an ankle injury. He averaged just 11.2 points in the OKC series and managed just seven points in Game 1 against the Knicks.
Since good players tend to find a way to get involved even when they're not at their best, I suspect we'll see more of Fox in a facilitator role than a traditional finisher at the end of a play.
Another player who can still contribute despite a bad game is New York's Josh Hart. Hart (+462) managed just three points on 1-of-5 shooting but still grabbed 15 rebounds and dished out six assists in 27 minutes of action.
Wembanyama's presence in and around the paint is a natural deterrent for Hart, who tends to be more of a slasher.
However, Hart's ability to rebound and defend ensures that he'll continue to get minutes even if his offensive production takes a hit.
With Brunson always on the lookout for 1-on-1 matchups, the diminutive guard is more likely to shoot than pass when he gets an iso.
Therefore, this series is almost tailor-made for players like Hart, who aren't necessarily great passers, but can still be viable options for the most assists in a game.
Pick: Most Assists: De'Aaron Fox (+369) / Josh Hart (+462)
