NBA Finals Game 1 Best Bets: Knicks vs. Spurs Predictions and Player Props

Where were you when the San Antonio Spurs defeated the New York Knicks in five games to win the 1999 NBA Finals?

With high school on the horizon, this prognosticator recalls a soon-to-be coach gushing over San Antone’s dominance before and after training runs for the looming cross country season.

If that makes you feel old, it shouldn’t, because it’s kid’s stuff compared to Western Conference Finals MVP Victor Wembanyama. “Wemby” still was roughly 4 1/2 years from existence in June 1999. Knicks leading scorer Jalen Brunson was about to graduate from the terrible twos.

Add the three our ages together and you still couldn’t get someone of legal betting age. But that’s not a problem for you, dear reader. Right?

Let’s check out some Best Bets for Wednesday’s Finals opener. Odds are via BetMGM.

While a lead subplot Wednesday understandably is whether New York finds rest or rust – the Knicks haven’t played since completing a sweep of Cleveland in the East Finals on May 25 – they’ll encounter Wembanyama regardless.

The Knicks counter with their own versatile big man in Karl-Anthony Towns, a 7-footer who gives up four inches to “Wemby” but is averaged 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals in 14 postseason games while shooting 57.2%, including 48.9% from long range.

New York is fond of the 3-ball up and down the roster, of course. Because the Knicks won’t be as solely dependent on getting in the paint as Oklahoma City was in the West Final, that could throw wrinkles in spacing and keep Wembanyama on the move.

Look for the rookie to be impactful Wednesday and in the series at large, but he’ll need time to gain his footing as the Spurs and Knicks figure each other out.

Victor Wembanyama 25+ points (-220)

Spurs guards Stephon Castle and De’Aron Fox helped hound Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander into 36.8% shooting or below four times the seven-game West Finals.

Brunson shot better than 50% twice as New York rolled in the East, a rate he replicated in a semifinal sweep of Philadelphia.

Something’s gotta give, but don’t expect it to be Brunson, who has shown little sign of slouching and rises to the stingier defensive test here.

Jalen Brunson 30+ points (+195)

The Knicks have won 11 straight games in these playoffs, shooting 41% from 3-point range while winning by an average of more than 23 points per contest.

The otherworldliness of “Wemby” and the backcourt talent around him will keep the opener and other games from approaching runaway status, but the multiple ways in which New York can score shouldn’t be overlooked.

Ditto for the Knicks’ edge on the bench. San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson may sprout from the Gregg Popovich coaching tree, but he doesn’t have the direct Finals experience of New York counterpart Mike Brown. That was why the Knicks opted for Brown over Tom Thibodeau last offseason, right?

New York draws first blood in what shapes up as a more competitive Finals than its 27-year-old cousin.

Knicks +4.5 (-110)