In addition, there has been all kind of nods towards the original games: special powers and the githiyankis, mindflayers and drows had quite the presence in BG2. Plot wise there is enough ground to call this game Baldur's Gate 3. If you take into account how gaming has changed the last decades, I think this game justifies the title. Personal opinion, of course.
I wouldn't say that "special powers and the githyanki, mindflayers, and drow" are nods to the original games. Having special powers is the generic premise of ~all chosen one stories, and all those species exist in the D&D world. The presence of these certain races & creatures in both games doesn't necessarily connect the games - that's just a result of both games being based on an edition of D&D.
If there's a quest about investigating a mine that's producing sub-standard quality ore, that'd be a nod to BG1&2. Or if named characters from BG1&2 show up (e.g., Minsc), that'd be a nod.
