There are a pair of Game 3s set to go down on Friday as the Knicks will face the 76ers in Philly, and the Spurs will take on the Timberwolves in Minnesota. The Knicks lead their second round series with the Sixers, 2-0, and Spurs vs. Wolves is tied, 1-1. Below, we will dish out a betting preview for both games.
New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers
A week ago at this time, the 76ers were still battling the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. This series against the Knicks is pretty much on an every-other-night schedule, and Philly is already in danger of going into a 3-0 hole in the conference semifinals.
The Sixers looked much more like the team that beat Boston in Game 2 of their series with the Knicks than they did in Game 1 of the best-of-seven semifinals series. Game 2 was the definition of nip and tuck, as it featured 25 lead changes, with the Knicks hanging on for a 108-102 win.
Philly was playing without Joel Embiid (right hip soreness, right ankle sprain). Embiid will likely be a game-time decision to play in Game 3 Friday night.
The Knicks are slim -1 favorites for Game 3 at Fanatics Sportsbook.
Philly was a +10.5 underdog in Game 2 and covered. The Sixers were a +7.5 underdog in Game 1 and did not cover.
In the NBA Playoffs thus far, the Sixers are 6-3-0 against the spread, while the Knicks are 5-3-0 ATS.
For the third straight game, the total for Knicks vs. Sixers has been set at 213.5. The two teams went Over the total in Game 1, and Under the number in Game 2.
So far in the postseason, Knicks games have gone Over four times and Under four times. Sixers games have gone Over three times and Under six times.
Fanatics has player props up for Embiid despite his unknown status for Friday night. The Sixers big man has a points O/U of 26.5. He scored just 14 points in 25 minutes in Game 1.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson has a points O/U of 25.5 for Game 3. Brunson scored 35 points in Game 1 and 26 points in Game 2.
San Antonio Spurs at Minnesota Timberwolves
The Spurs desperately needed to put a good game together in Game 2 after a lackluster performance in Game 1. Boy, did they ever, as San Antonio blasted Minnesota 133-95 to tie the series, 1-1. Both teams pulled their starters with 10 minutes left in the game, as San Antonio held a 104-66 lead.
The series now shifts to Minnesota, where the Spurs are -4 road favorites for Game 3 at Fanatics Sportsbook. San Antonio covered a -10.5 spread in Game 2, but did not cover a -9.5 spread in Game 1.
The Spurs are an NBA-best 5-2-0 against the spread so far in the playoffs. Minnesota has also been impressive against the spread as it has a 5-3-0 ATS mark.
The two teams went Under a 218.5 total in Game 1, and Over a 217.5 total in Game 2.
In the playoffs thus far, Spurs games have gone Over the total two times in seven games and Wolves games have gone Over the number two times in eight games.
Fanatics has Victor Wembanyama’s points Over/Under for Game 3 set at 25.5 points with juice on the Over. Wemby posted just 11 points in Game 1. He had 19 points in the Game 2 blowout.
Anthony Edwards’ O/U is set at 23.5 points with juice on the Under. Edwards, who has been coming off the bench so far in this series, scored 18 points in Game 1 and 12 points in Game 2.
