A 2-0 lead and the move to MSG make the Knicks the clean NBA side today

The NBA's official schedule puts Game 3 of the Finals in New York on Monday night, and the practical angle is the home side: New York Knicks to win.

The series state matters. NBA.com's official Finals recap confirms the Knicks escaped Game 2 by 105-104 and now lead the series 2-0. That result did not come from one lucky quarter either. New York handled the pressure moments again, survived San Antonio's late push and now gets the first Madison Square Garden game of the series with the chance to put a real grip on the matchup.

That combination is enough on its own. A team that has already shown it can close two different Finals scripts now gets the noise, whistle pressure and emotional lift of home court. San Antonio still has the star power to flip a game, but the cleaner betting read is to stay with the team that has already proved it can finish these possessions better. Knicks to win is the straightforward play.