A series doesn’t start until a home team wins a game. Wait, that’s not how that goes.
After three games of the NBA Finals, the road team has won every game, leaving some confusion and plenty of uncertainty as Game 4 between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs is set to tip on Wednesday.
The Knicks went from overwhelming favorites after getting two wins in San Antonio to putting some doubt into the minds of their fans with Monday’s loss. All three games have gone down to the final couple of minutes, and the odds for Game 4 are very close. Buckle up.
Game 4: San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks
Knicks lead series 2-1
Time: Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Series odds: Knicks -190, Spurs +160
Knicks fans were euphoric and expectant entering Game 3. Now? They are probably thinking, “We couldn’t blow this,” before pausing to remember their entire history and then wondering, “Could we?”
The uncomfortable truth is that the sportsbooks still think the Spurs are the better team. Even after losing two games at home and with the public going hard on the Knicks, the Spurs were only getting 1.5 or 2.5 points (depending on when you looked) on the road. The sportsbooks trusted their numbers on this one and came out big winners.
The Spurs were bigger favorites (4.5 and 5.5 points) at home than they are underdogs on the road. The Game 4 spread is hovering right around where it was for Game 3, between 1.5 and 2.5 points depending on where you look. The Spurs are +105 on the moneyline on DraftKings.
It’s close.
You can make an argument that either team needs Game 4 more than the other. The Spurs don’t want to go down 3-1, but a 3-1 comeback doesn’t feel quite as daunting with two home games left in the series if they can get there. If the Knicks lose Game 4 and head back to San Antonio 2-2, who would still be picking the Knicks to win this series?
So far, all three games have played out somewhat similarly. The Spurs have built double-digit leads in every game, only to see the Knicks eventually storm back before the game goes down to the wire. On Monday, the Spurs led by 12 points early in the second quarter and trailed by seven at halftime.
Victor Wembanyama scored 32 points on 18 shots, and Stephon Castle had one of his best games of the playoffs with 23 points on 14 shots and five assists with only two turnovers. Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns, who was arguably the Knicks’ best player in each of the first two games, scored 11 points and none in the fourth quarter.
On the upside for New York, Jalen Brunson got going. After two off shooting nights in San Antonio, Brunson scored 32 points on 11-for-25 shooting in Game 3.
With Brunson’s big game and Towns’ disappearing act, Brunson has stepped in as the clear favorite to win NBA Finals MVP. He is +105 on DraftKings with Wemby at +165. Towns is next at +400.