San Antonio is a heavy favorite to even the series.At FanDuel, the Spurs have a -225 moneyline and are -6.5 (-106) favorites on a 215.5 total as of 12:45 p.m.
ET Friday.If I had to take a side, I’d take New York +6, down to +5.Since I gave out NYK to win the title (+170), and by at least 1.5 games (+270), before the 2026 NBA Finals started, I’m not betting San Antonio as a favorite in any game this series.KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS CREDITS LATE MOTHER FOR CALM FEELING HE HAD IN THRILLING GAME 1 OF NBA FINALSWhat’s holding me back from taking the points with the Knicks is the profitable trend of betting the heavy home favorite in Game 2 after they lost the series opener.
Usually, the home team rolls in Game 2.Nevertheless, I decided to handicap the total, and I’m betting the UNDER 215.5 for Knicks-Spurs Game 2, down to +212, and here is why.Look, I understand the logic behind betting the Over in Game 2.You’re zigzagging on the Game 1 result, which went way Under the 217.5 total with the Knicks winning 105-95.
The "zigzag theory" is an old-school NBA playoff handicapping angle where you bet the opposite of what happened in the game before.SPURS EXPECTED TO BOUNCE BACK IN GAME 2 AGAINST KNICKS AFTER BLOWING LATE LEAD IN SERIES OPENERNew York Knicks C Mitchell Robinson locks up San Antonio Spurs big Victor Wembanyama during Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in Texas.(Geoff Burke/Imagn Images)Also, maybe both teams had the jitters in Game 1 and will shoot better in their second night in the same gym for Game 2.
The series opener had a fast pace, and better shooting should help the Over Friday.Yet, Game 1 going Under despite its fast pace has more to do with these teams playing championship-level defenses than shooting variance.There were 50+ points scored in just one of the four quarters Monday.San Antonio forced Jalen Brunson into difficult shots.
New York bigs Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson defended Victor Wembanyama well.These teams ...