NBA Finals Same Game Parlays & Picks: Knicks vs. Spurs (Game 1)
The NBA Finals start tonight, and the San Antonio Spurs are slight home favorites over the red-hot New York Knicks. Not only do I like the Spurs in this game, but I also love a Victor Wembanyama prop. I also highlight a great prop for Jalen Brunson, as he tries to bring the Knicks their first title since 1973. Here are the best NBA Finals same game parlays (SGPs) and picks for Game 1.
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Wednesday’s Best NBA Finals Same Game Parlays
(Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook)
Knicks vs. Spurs Same Game Parlay
Leg #1: Spurs -4.5 (-110)
The Knicks have swept back-to-back series, while the Spurs just played a seven-game classic against the Thunder. However, I don't think the rest will be positive for the Knicks.
In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, the Spurs went on the road and upset the Thunder, who had just swept the Lakers. Meanwhile, the Knicks, coming off their sweep of the 76ers, trailed by 22 against the Cavaliers before mounting an incredible comeback.
The point is, when you're playing your best basketball, you don't want long stretches of rest. While the time off may prove fruitful if the series goes six or seven games, I want the team that hasn't had any time to lose its rhythm.
With this game also being played in San Antonio, where the Spurs are an astounding 38-11 this season, there's no reason not to back them as small favorites.
Leg #2: Victor Wembanyama Over 12.5 Rebounds (+125)
Omitting the NBA Cup Championship, Victor Wembanyama pulled down 13 rebounds in each game against the Knicks in the regular season. He played just 24 minutes in one of those games and 34 in the other. Playing time is a key reason I prefer Wembanyama's alt line over his standard line.
Wembanyama averaged fewer than 30 minutes in each of his first two series, but he averaged 37.7 minutes against the Thunder. The only times he didn't play more than 31 minutes against Oklahoma City, the Spurs won by at least 21.
The price for this over is really favorable right now, because Wembanyama struggled on the glass in his last five games against the Thunder. He recorded 10 or fewer rebounds in all five of those games after combining for 41 in the first two contests of the series. But this is a new series against a new team, and I'll take a shot on Wembanyama for a very favorable price.
Leg #3: Jalen Brunson Over 6.5 Assists (-124)
Jalen Brunson has recorded fewer than five assists just once in his last 10 games, so he enters this contest with a really high floor. During that 10-game stretch, he's recorded at least eight assists four times and at least six assists eight times.
Brunson also recorded at least seven assists in both games against the Spurs during the regular season. In the NBA Cup Championship, he had eight. And while Brunson is averaging 20 field-goal attempts per game during the postseason, he's still found plenty of ways to keep his teammates involved.
Additionally, the Spurs aren't a terrible matchup when it comes to assists, as they allowed 26.2 per game during the regular season, the 12th-fewest in the league.
Parlay Odds: +625
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Phil Wood is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Phil, check out his archive and follow him @Phil_Wood_Jr.