The 2026 NBA Finals delivered an absolute thriller as the visiting New York Knicks escaped with a dramatic 105-104 victory to take a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 will see the San Antonio Spurs travel to face a hostile Madison Square Garden crowd on Tuesday (AEST), and they simply can’t afford to fall into an insurmountable 0-3 hole.
Below is our preview and best bet for the NBA Finals Game 3 matchup!
2026 NBA Finals Game 3 Betting Tips
San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks (Tuesday 10:30am AEST)
Game 2 of the NBA Finals went right down to the wire in a heartbreaking finish for the hosting San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs started the night strong and controlled the opening quarter, before the rampaging New York Knicks stormed back into the contest. Karl-Anthony Towns led the charge with a monster double-double, but when foul trouble sent him to the bench, the Spurs mounted a fierce fourth-quarter comeback. Trailing by one point with seconds remaining, the ball found Victor Wembanyama, but the French phenom's potential game-winning shot at the buzzer bounced away, sealing the Knicks' narrow 105-104 victory.
Wembanyama bounced back brilliantly from a poor shooting night in Game 1, finishing with a game-high 29 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks. He looked much more like the towering force we have grown accustomed to, anchoring the defence and rallying his teammates down the stretch. De’Aaron Fox stepped up significantly after a quiet series opener, adding a vital 20 points and five assists. Rookie Dylan Harper also continued his impressive Finals debut, providing a crucial 15-point spark off the bench. For the Knicks, Towns earned Player of the Game honours with 21 points and 13 rebounds, whilst Jalen Brunson struggled with his efficiency (7-25 shooting) but used his playmaking and relentless defence (five steals) to will New York over the line.
The Knicks have now won an astonishing 14 straight games in the postseason, extending their historic run. However, their aura of invincibility was finally tested in Game 2, proving they are vulnerable when teams can weather their surges and match their physicality. The series now shifts to New York, where the Knicks will be backed by a ferocious Madison Square Garden crowd, but the pressure of ending a 53-year championship drought is mounting. The Spurs are simply too talented and well-coached to lie down, and with Wembanyama and Fox finding their offensive rhythm, they appeal as +2.0-point underdogs.
Spurs +2.0
$1.90 (2 Units)
