Game 1 of this series produced one of the most statistically remarkable individual performances in NBA playoff history, and San Antonio still came up short by two points.

Victor Wembanyama recorded 12 blocks, breaking the all-time NBA playoff record for blocks in a single game. The previous record of 10 had been shared by Mark Eaton, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Andrew Bynum. Wembanyama also grabbed 15 rebounds and the Spurs finished +5 in scoring during his 40 minutes on the court.

Maybe most notably, he became only the third player in league history to record a postseason triple-double that included blocks instead of assists, joining Olajuwon and Bynum. His 12 individual blocks outnumbered the combined block total of both teams.

And yet Minnesota won 104-102.

The Spurs had more points in the paint, more fast-break points, more points off turnovers, but the reason they came up short is fairly straightforward.

Wembanyama shot 5-for-17 from the field and missed all eight of his three-point attempts, setting a Spurs franchise record for three-point misses without a make in a playoff game. De'Aaron Fox was equally cold going 0-4 from deep. San Antonio's two primary creators combined for 21 points on 10-of-31 shooting while Wemby was setting defensive records at the other end.

To their credit, Minnesota's fourth-quarter adjustment made a big difference. With Rudy Gobert on the bench for ten minutes, the Timberwolves deployed a five-out lineup with Julius Randle and Naz Reid, and scored 32 points in that stretch. Spreading the floor pulled Wembanyama away from the rim and at least slightly neutralized his shot-blocking. Expect Minnesota's coaching staff to lean into that approach more in Game 2.

Anthony Edwards returned from his knee injury and played 25 minutes, scoring 18 points including 11 in the fourth quarter. He acknowledged he was not fully healthy but gutted through it. Ayo Dosunmu and Donte DiVincenzo both missed Game 1, leaving the Wolves unusually thin in the backcourt despite the win, but both are officially questionable for Game 2. 

Game 2 stays in San Antonio, and the Spurs are favored by 9.5 points. Given how competitive Game 1 was with Minnesota missing two rotation guards, that number feels steep. As long as Edwards plays again, Minnesota covering is the right lean.

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🏀 Wednesday Night Playoff Bets

With Wemby getting the bulk of Minnesota’s defensive attention, opportunities open up for other players.

Julian Champagnie Over 1.5 Three-Pointers Made (-165)

Champagnie has cleared 1.5 made threes in all six playoff games, averaging 2.6 makes per contest during that stretch. He takes 73% of his shots from beyond the arc, ranks in the 92nd percentile for three-point frequency at his position, and 97% of his made threes come off assists.

That last number is the key detail. As long as Wembanyama's gravity collapses the defense and the Spurs' playmakers find him in rhythm, the volume will be there. His effective field goal percentage of 58.3% confirms he is not just taking these shots but converting them at an above-average rate. For a shooter performing at this level right now, back him at home in a game where San Antonio needs a bounce-back performance.

Shifting to Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks are rolling and the 76ers are in serious trouble.

Mikal Bridges Over 14.5 Points and Rebounds (+100)

New York blew Philadelphia out by 39 points in Game 1, and the matchup problems that drove that result have not gone anywhere. Bridges is at the center of one of the more interesting subplots in this series. He grew up in Philadelphia, was drafted by the 76ers, and was immediately traded to Phoenix on draft night. If you believe players carry personal motivation into specific matchups, this is the one.

Whether you buy into that narrative or not, the numbers make the case on their own. In five regular-season games against Philadelphia this year, Bridges averaged 20.6 combined points and rebounds and hit this line in four of them. The Sixers rank 25th in the league defending the wing position and allow offensive rebounds at the 27th-highest rate, which plays directly into Bridges' high-motor style on both ends. Getting even money on a player averaging 20.6 in this matchup is worth taking.

Joel Embiid Over 0.5 Double Doubles (+150)

We flagged this one on Monday and it stays on the card for Game 2. Embiid is the only reason Philadelphia has any path to staying competitive in this series. Karl-Anthony Towns pulling him away from the rim creates real problems for the Sixers' defensive structure, but Embiid's individual production does not disappear because of it.

He has recorded a double-double in three of his last five games and has hit this mark in both games against the Knicks in the regular season. His rebounding average over his last five games sits near double digits and his scoring floor as the focal point of an undermanned roster keeps the points coming regardless. Price is even better for us in Game 2, and it still feels like the right call.

🌲 The Pine Line

🤖 Use Pine’s sheets to find top trending player props. Take a look before tonight’s tip-off.

🏆️ A city waited 25 years for this moment. The celebrations were a fitting finish to the season.

🏒 New leadership, new prospect, new future. Toronto won the lottery on Tuesday night.

⚖️ Diggs walked out of court a free man. Not so fast, the NFL isn’t done with him yet. 

😡 Jaylen Brown can’t take back what he said. But the NBA can make him pay for it. 

🏒 Could We See a 3-0 Series Comeback?

by Ed Egros 👉️ Follow on X @EdWithSports

Earlier these Stanley Cup Playoffs, I analyzed whether it was worth betting on the Pittsburgh Penguins to come back from down 3-0 in their first-round series (tl;dr: it was not).  

But here’s a more general question on Kalshi: will we see ANY team make a 3-0 series comeback these playoffs?  “Yes” has a probability of 7% at last check.

The Argument for No

If you go by history, it seems like that probability should be much lower.  Of the 216 times a team led 3-0, only four times was there a comeback, good for just 2%.

The Argument for Yes

We have seven series left before awarding the Cup.  Logically, any of these matchups must have a team leading the series 3-0 for the bet to cash.

There’s a good chance the Carolina Hurricanes will have such a lead on the Philadelphia Flyers after Game 3.  The Canes are decent favorites to win Thursday night on the road.

What Must Happen for the Flyers?

When asking Jaxon about this bet, one of the key contributors for a massive comeback that stood out is goaltending disparity.  

You could make the case that the Flyers have the better netminder in Dan Vladar.  The younger goalie has outperformed Carolina’s Frederik Andersen where it matters most–he has saved more high-danger shots on goal these playoffs and logged more regular-season starts with a save rate of greater than .900.  

This season, Vladar has proven to be more consistent in high-leverage situations.

But is There Value on Yes?

If the Canes win Game 3, the probability goes up and the value plummets, so either act now or not at all.  

Many other things like health and puck bounces must break in the Flyers’ direction for any chance at a comeback.  But that netminding disparity means yes, 7% is worth a sprinkle, but not a massive bet.

And hey, if Philadelphia can’t do it, there will likely be another series where one team leads 3-0.  That’ll mean another opportunity to cash.

Wednesday’s Slate

Now for playoff games happening Wednesday, let’s go back to Jaxon and find other bets that’ll pad our bankroll:

Golden Knights Moneyline vs Ducks (-150)

Already, our Vegas -1.5 series bet looks good, so let’s run it back.

One of the bigger changes we’re seeing from the Golden Knights since John Tortorella took over is generating shots near the net.  Some of them have been off rebounds, but breakaways and patience on the cycle have amounted to more high-danger shots on goal than anyone else these playoffs.  

Especially against a netminder like Lukas Dostal who’s struggled against high-danger chances, the Golden Knights have a lot going for them in Game 2.  

🎯 Still betting on gut feelings?

There's a better way. Ask Jaxon about tonight's matchups, check the prop sheets for edges, or let the Parlay Generator do the heavy lifting. Whatever you need — Pine Sports has it.

👉 Start Researching on Pine