The Knicks and Nuggets are eager to reclaim homecourt advantage when they visit the Hawks and Timberwolves on Thursday night in Game 3 of their first-round series in the 2026 NBA playoffs.
Both teams dropped Game 2 on their home floor on Monday, and the Knicks and Nuggets can ill afford to lose Game 3. Going down 1-2 after the first three games is not ideal, so expect these top-seeded teams to go all-out against their lower-seeded counterparts to recalibrate their NBA 2026 odds of advancing to the next round.
In contrast, the Cavaliers are gunning for a 3-0 advantage. The Kenny Atkinson-coached squad won both of their first two home games against the Raptors, who have yet to figure out how to get one of their stars going in this series.
SBOTOP is here for the preview of the three Game 3s on Thursday.
New York Knicks @ Atlanta Hawks
After notching a 113-102 win in Game 1 last Saturday, the Knicks dropped Game 2 against the Hawks, as CJ McCollum became the new Madison Square Garden villain. The 34-year-old combo guard dropped 32 points (game-high), three rebounds, six assists, and two steals in 35 minutes of action.
McCollum also hit the baseline jumper that gave the Hawks the lead for good, before Jalen Johnson put the game beyond doubt with his late fastbreak dunk to make it 107-103. Jalen Brunson hit a key three-pointer to make it 107-106 (final score), and when McCollum missed his two free throws, Mikal Bridges had the chance to win the game, but he missed his midrange jumper.
For the second straight match, Brunson was the Knicks’ leading scorer. In Game 2, the three-time All-Star had 29 points, seven assists, and four three-pointers on 10-for-26 shooting from the field in 35 minutes. Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson, and Mikal Bridges added 18, 15, 14, 13, and 10 points.
As for Atlanta, McCollum had help from Jonathan Kuminga, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu, who had 19, 17, and 15 points. Nickeil Alexander-Walker was held to only nine points on 3-for-12 shooting after he had 17 in Game 1.
Betting tip – Under 215.50 @ 2.02
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Toronto Raptors
The Cavaliers are ahead by two games against the Raptors, as Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are putting up numerous NBA 2026 highlights. After combining for 54 points in Game 1, the Adidas backcourt duo combined for 58 points in Game 2, with Mitchell leading the way with 30 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and four three-pointers on 13-for-23 shooting from the field, and Harden adding 28 points, five rebounds, four assists, and five steals on 9-for-14 shooting from the field and 7-for-10 shooting from the charity stripe.
Evan Mobley also stepped up for Cleveland in Game 2, notching 25 points and eight rebounds on 11-for-13 shooting from the field, while Jarrett Allen added 10 points. Moreover, the Cavaliers’ stars paid tribute to fellow starter Dean Wade, who was tasked with slowing down Brandon Ingram, holding him to only seven points and five turnovers on 3-for-15 shooting from the field in 36 minutes.
Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett have done their part thus far, combining for 45 points in Game 1 and 48 points in Game 2, but it’s Ingram who will likely be the difference between winning and losing for Toronto. Meanwhile, rookie forward Collin Murray-Boyles has been a spark off the bench for the Raptors, having notched 31 points in his first two career playoff games.
Betting tip – Over 220.00 @ 1.92
Denver Nuggets @ Minnesota Timberwolves
The Nuggets missed the opportunity to go up 2-0 against the Timberwolves after losing 119-114 to them in Game 2 on Monday, as Christian Braun missed two late free throws that would’ve sent the game to overtime.
With less than 30 seconds remaining, the Nuggets had the chance to tie or take the lead. After playing a two-man game with Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic found himself open on the free throw line, but the three-time MVP passed up on a floater to drop the ball down to Braun, who was fouled inside the paint.
Murray and Jokic combined for 54 points, while Braun, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Cameron Johnson added 16, 16, and 13 for Denver. As for Minnesota, Anthony Edwards had 30 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks on 10-for-25 shooting from the field, and Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Jaden McDaniels, Bones Hyland, and Naz Reid added 24, 16, 14, 13, and 11 points.
Betting tip – Under 234.00 @ 1.88
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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