NBA Odds, Best Bets and Expert Tips | June 9

I’ve got three NBA Finals Game 3 bets for Tuesday NZT across NZ betting sites as the series shifts to Madison Square Garden. San Antonio are down 2-0 but they’ve been in both games, and I’m not convinced the Knicks are about to walk to the title just yet.

Spurs +2.5 | $1.90 @ VipLuck

A 2.5-point spread in the Finals is too narrow to pass up when the team getting points went 62-20 in the regular season. San Antonio had double-digit leads in both games before letting them slip - the talent deficit here isn’t what the 2-0 scoreline suggests.

Victor Wembanyama scored 26 and 29 across the two games. De’Aaron Fox bounced back from a 3-13 shooting night in the opener to go 8-12 in Game 2. Stephon Castle tweaked his ankle late in Game 2 but has been cleared to play. I’m taking San Antonio to cover on the best NBA betting sites I can find.

Under 216.5 | $1.95 @ Betista

Game 1 finished with 200 combined points. Game 2 finished at 209. Neither has come close to this number.

New York forced 13 turnovers in Game 1 and racked up 11 steals in Game 2. San Antonio shot 36% from the field in the opener, and even their improved 47.4% night in Game 2 only produced 104 points. I’d expect both teams to grind even harder at the Garden with the stakes this high.

Spurs ML | $2.10 @ Betandplay

$2.10 on a 62-win team in a one-score series - I’m interested. 

New York are on a 13-game playoff winning streak and heading home, so I’m not pretending this is a safe bet. But the Spurs haven’t lost three straight all season under coach Mitch Johnson, and the numbers back them up: they’re 15-1 straight up this year when coming off losses in two of their last three.

Dylan Harper has been fearless off the bench, scoring 16 in Game 1 and 15 in Game 2 as his role expanded late. If Wembanyama can sort out his clutch-time decision-making - two poor possessions in the final minute of Game 2 cost San Antonio the win - there’s enough here for a Spurs victory at plus money on the live betting sites I use.