In a rematch of the 2025 NBA Cup Final, the New York Knicks take on the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on Monday, March 2 (05:00 AEDT).
These two have been among the very best in their respective conferences this regular season, adding to the fact they were the final two in the NBA In-Season Tournament format throughout December.
However, the Spurs are arguably the better team currently, entering this game with an impressive run of form compared to the Knicks. Still, both will be legitimate contenders for the NBA Championship once the finals and postseason have been set based on what they've managed to achieve so far.
Quick Picks
- Our pick: Knicks to win
- Value bet: Knicks in the handicap to cover the spread
- Long shot: Brunson to have 25+ points
Betting Preview
In the NBA Cup Final, the Knicks managed to edge the Spurs 124-113, with OG Anunoby scoring 28 points. Karl-Antony Towns had a double-double, as he scored 16 points with 11 rebounds.
It's worth noting that Victor Wembanyama didn't have his best game, and has since improved significantly since that Dec. 16 meeting.
As of February 26 (prior to the Raptors game), he was leading the team with an average of 24.2 points per game and 11.3 rebounds. He has been a major reason as to why San Antonio have been as solid as they have over the last 10 games, winning nine in a row and going 9-1 over the last 10.
The Knicks have been exceptionally strong when playing at MSG this season, which could pose the Spurs a challenge. New York are 22-8 as hosts, although they are 6-4 over their last 10 ahead of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks (a road trip).
Still, the Spurs have been just as strong on the road. As visitors, they are 19-10, although this does show that they can be vulnerable when travelling, especially as they head over to the East Coast.
Betting Markets to Watch
Games against the two teams have been competitive, with no one team appearing to dominate the fixture. The Spurs have won the last two and are 3-2 over the last five. However, they are 4-6 over the last 10. When playing at MSG, the Spurs have lost the last five straight.
With this in mind, we think there's value in the Knicks' handicap bet to cover the spread. We think the game has the potential of going either way based on recent form, but with the Knicks' positive form at home, we think exploring the value in the handicap may be the safer bet.
We think there's value in Jalen Brunson's prop markets, too. He hasn't been as strong with his numbers recently, but with a big game like this, we think he may step up once again. He has consistently achieved 20+ throughout most of February, but we think there's value in him scoring 25+ points in this one.
Our Prediction
Check the latest NBA betting odds at Sportsbet.
As mentioned, we think that this contest will be extremely close and could be decided by a coin flip. If pushed, we think the Knicks would be the likely winners given the Spurs' struggles at MSG over the years. For those looking to understand how to bet on NBA games, matchups like this highlight how home court advantage can influence betting decisions.