Friday night is Game 2 of the NBA Finals. The Knicks came out on top with a surprise comeback win on the road in Game 1. These two teams will square off again, with the Spurs needing to even the series before it transitions to New York. Let's take a deeper look at the matchup for our best NBA Finals picks.
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Friday’s Best NBA Finals Picks & Predictions
(Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook)
San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks
Throughout their matchups in the regular season and the NBA Cup, the Knicks were among the few teams that didn't seem bothered by San Antonio's length and athleticism. The Knicks averaged 123.3 points per game (PPG) in the three matchups and finished +24 in the rebounding margin.
The Knicks were an elite rebounding team all season, ranking in the top five of both offensive and defensive rebound rate. The Spurs are going to need to be on top of their shooting.
Game 1 played out a bit contrary to the regular season. San Antonio won the rebounding battle and held the red-hot Knicks to just 105 points on 41.5% shooting from the field. It was a dreadful shooting game from the Spurs that ultimately led to their demise. Because of this, it might be enticing to look at the Spurs in Game 2, but I'll be looking at the Knicks.
I expect the Knicks to move back to their season averages against the Spurs in Game 2 and dominate the glass. They should also shoot the ball better, even against a stout San Antonio defense.
Meanwhile, the Spurs should see a huge improvement in their offensive performance. They only shot 36% from the field and 26% from deep in Game 1. Both numbers are well below what they accomplished during the regular season and in the playoffs.
We should see an improved offensive performance from both teams. The Knicks showed during the regular season that they're the better team in this matchup. I like the Knicks to cover the spread and for the over to hit.
Picks: Knicks +6.5 (-118) & Over 214.5 Points (-112)
