The Knicks head to San Antonio with a chance at NBA history.
Their miracle Game 4 comeback was as much of a group effort as it gets, but Jose Alvarado’s second-half spark off the bench may have been the adjustment that changed everything.
The Brooklyn native has taken on a bigger and bigger role in Mike Brown’s rotation for the Knicks as the series has gone on, but he truly became a secret weapon in Game 4, likely leaving the head coach no choice but to continue giving him run Saturday night.
Alvarado saw a playoff-high 16 minutes in Game 4, helping the Knicks outscore the Spurs by 11 points when he was on the floor.
His fierce perimeter defense helped fuel the Knicks’ wild second-half run, but it was his secondary ball-handling that allowed their offense to flow and give Jalen Brunson a breather from San Antonio’s relentless pressure.
With the ball in his hands a ton and his aggressive play style, Alvarado provided help both scoring and on the glass, dropping eight points with three assists and a pair of rebounds.
Even in limited time this series, Alvarado has found ways to impact the box score, scoring 5.3 points with three rebounds and nearly two assists per game.
Betting on the NBA?
He could easily approach those numbers once again, with Brown likely to pull him off the bench early and often Saturday.
Alvarado does not need a huge scoring night to clear it, either.
A few extra minutes, one transition bucket and his usual activity on loose balls would likely be enough.
The play: Jose Alvarado Over 7.5 points + assists + rebounds (-110, bet365 Sportsbook)
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Dylan Svoboda is a versatile writer and analyst across many sports. He’s particularly knowledgeable about the big three — MLB, the NFL and the NBA.