Yahoo Sports The Daily Sweat: We'll find out in Game 4 if there will be a competitive NBA Finals
We've had three NBA Finals games and three double-digit winners.
That doesn't mean the Milwaukee Bucks-Phoenix Suns series hasn't been interesting. There have been some great subplots, and the magnificence of Giannis Antetokounmpo after it looked like his season might be done due to a knee injury is already bordering on legendary.
There just hasn't been a great game yet. The Suns won the first two games at home, by 11 and 10 points, then the Bucks came home and won by 20. That sets up a pivotal Game 4. The Bucks are 4.5-point favorites at BetMGM.
This is the game in which the Suns can practically win a championship. If they can win at Milwaukee in Game 4, the series will be 3-1 with Phoenix hosting two more games in the series. Anything can happen but it's really hard to imagine the Bucks winning three in a row to close the series.
If the Bucks win, we're back to a best-of-three series. Phoenix would likely be favored to win because they're tough at home, but it would be a series again. As it stands, the Suns are a pretty significant -275 favorite to win the NBA Finals. But at least the Bucks would have a shot if they tie the series 2-2.
I'll take the Suns in Game 4, just because we're getting a close game at some point. This is a fun matchup between two talented teams and they won't just trade blowouts. The Suns did not play well in Game 3 (continuing an odd pattern; they're 1-3 in Game 3's this postseason) between Deandre Ayton's foul trouble and Devin Booker's weird off night. They'll be better in Game 4.
The Suns have been a great team all season and the only time they've lost two in a row came back in the first round against the Los Angeles Lakers, when Chris Paul's shoulder was hurting. Perhaps the Suns won't win, but we're due for a great game and taking 4.5 points seems like the right move.
Here's the first look at the sports betting slate for Wednesday:
We're still in the betting abyss, right?
Hey, at least the late-starting NBA Finals gives us something on this post-MLB All-Star Game Wednesday, which is usually the slowest sports day of the year. There are four Champions League first-round qualifying matches and two Gold Cup matches on Wednesday, and not much else.
MLB returns with one game Thursday, and it's Red Sox vs. Yankees. The British Open starts Thursday. At least that's on the horizon.
The Olympics start on July 23 (be wary of betting on USA Basketball) and NFL action will be here before you know it. But we're heading into a bit of a dry spell once the NBA Finals are done. Let's hope that goes seven games.
Who cashed a ticket yesterday?
The American League won again, beating the National League 5-2 for its eighth consecutive All-Star Game win. Those who took the AL as a small underdog were happy. The game went under the total, which moved to 11 due to the Coors Field factor, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made those who bet on him to win MVP very happy by winning the award.
Is there any best bet?
Here's one that's off the radar a bit: Deandre Ayton is +2500 to win NBA Finals MVP at BetMGM. It will be very hard to beat Chris Paul for MVP if the Suns win, but that's why Paul's odds are -165. Ayton is averaging 16.7 points and 13 rebounds per game in the Finals. He's hitting 64.5 percent of his shots. If Ayton has a huge finish to the series and the Suns win a title, he'll get some consideration to win MVP over Paul. That's worth a 25-to-1 shot.
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