Knicks Favored for First Time in NBA Finals

The New York Knicks returned to Madison Square Garden with a 2-0 advantage and, for the first time in these Finals, are favored to win both the third game and the championship. The game can be followed live on Radio MARCA and MARCA.com, with sponsorship from bwin.es, the official NBA sponsor in Spain. They have not lost since April 25.

The New York Knicks are increasingly close to making history. After winning the first two games of the NBA Finals in San Antonio (105-95 and 105-104), the series now moves to Madison Square Garden, with the Knicks needing just two more wins to claim their first championship since 1973. For the Spurs, the situation is critical but not yet definitive. The team led by Victor Wembanyama must respond immediately to avoid an almost insurmountable deficit.

1. For the First Time, the Knicks Are Favorites
After dominating the first two games of the series and regaining home-court advantage, New York approaches these Finals for the first time as a favorite to win a game. bwin.es offers odds of 1.75 for a Knicks victory in the third game, while a Spurs win is at 2.10. This is the first time in the entire series that the Knicks are ahead in the betting, highlighting the changed dynamics of a Finals that began with San Antonio as the favorite.

2. History Against the Spurs... and the Knicks Now See the Championship Closer
The San Antonio Spurs come to New York facing not only the Knicks but also history. Only five teams have come back from a 0-2 deficit in the NBA Finals: the 1969 Celtics, 1977 Trail Blazers, 2006 Heat, 2016 Cavaliers, and 2021 Bucks. However, none had to do so after losing the first two games at home. New York has executed the perfect game plan: they won both games in Texas, stole home-court advantage, and now return to Madison Square Garden just two victories away from the title. bwin.es betting reflects the series situation: the Knicks’ championship odds are now at 1.20, while a historic comeback by San Antonio is at 4.75.

3. The Spurs Have Survived Similar Situations
Although the 2-0 deficit seems daunting, San Antonio has reasons to believe. The Spurs held double-digit leads in both games of the series and throughout the season, they never lost three consecutive games. Moreover, they have previously demonstrated their ability to respond away from home during the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City, where they won games 1 and 7 in a similarly hostile environment.

4. Brunson and Wembanyama Still Need to Shine
Though they are the leading scorers for their respective teams, neither Jalen Brunson nor Victor Wembanyama has showcased their best performances in these Finals. The Knicks’ point guard has shot below 40% in both games, while the French star is still searching for a dominant performance to bring San Antonio back into the series. Betting markets expect both to take on offensive roles at Madison Square Garden. bwin.es has Wembanyama scoring over 25 points at 1.50 and over 30 points at 2.40. For the Knicks, Brunson surpassing 25 points pays 1.54, while exceeding 30 points is at 2.50.

5. Will the Knicks Sweep?
New York is forging a historic playoff run. With the victory in the second game, the Knicks have now achieved 13 consecutive wins this postseason, one of the best streaks in recent memory, showcasing the confidence with which Jalen Brunson’s team is playing. They now have two consecutive home games at Madison Square Garden to move decisively closer to the title. bwin.es offers intriguing odds that the Knicks could win the championship in a clean sweep of 4-0 at a rate of 2.50, reflecting the immense confidence that currently exists in seeing New York finish one of the most dominant postseason runs in recent NBA history.