NBA POTM π
San Antonio Spurs -5 -110 (5U)
β€οΈβπ₯ = TAILING
Analysis π
Game 4 was a brutal loss for San Antonio, but if there's one thing this team has shown all postseason, it's an ability to respond after adversity. Time and time again they've bounced back from tough defeats, and I don't expect them to fold the way teams like Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Cleveland did earlier in these playoffs. The Spurs are simply a different caliber of team with a different level of star power.
New York deserves a ton of credit for putting themselves one win away from a championship, but they've also gotten some unsustainably strong contributions throughout this series. OG Anunoby was the Game 4 hero once again, but his production has been far more modest away from MSG, averaging 17 PPG in Games 1 and 2 compared to 30.5 PPG in New York. Asking role players to continue outperforming expectations in a hostile road environment is never easy.
With their backs against the wall, I expect San Antonio to lean even harder into Victor Wembanyama. He's the biggest mismatch on the floor and there is no reason to save anything now with the season on the line. Expect his usage to climb as the Spurs look to play through their superstar early and often.
The Knicks have been excellent in closeout situations throughout this run, but this isn't a typical opponent. San Antonio has proven its resilience all season and has the talent to extend this series. Add in a home crowd desperate to keep the Finals alive, and this feels like a strong spot for the Spurs to deliver their best performance of the series and force a Game 6.