For the first time since the series opener, the New York Knicks looked like the superior team against the Indiana Pacers during the Eastern Conference Finals Game 5. New York built an 11-point halftime lead and increased it throughout the third period to cruise to a 111-94 victory on Thursday.
Still, the Pacers lead the series 3-2 as play shifts to Indiana. Can the Knicks continue to stave off elimination and force a Game 7 back in New York? We’ll cover that and provide bettors with our top three player prop bets for Saturday’s Eastern Conference Finals matchup.
It was bound to happen. After having a triple-double with 32 points, 15 assists, and 12 rebounds in Game 4, Indiana point guard Tyrese Haliburton returned to Earth in Game 5. On Thursday, Haliburton finished with eight points, six assists, and two rebounds in the loss.
Now that the Pacers return to their home court, will Haliburton return to form? The short answer is yes. Bettors should expect him to score at least 20 points and finish with double-digit assists in Saturday’s outing.
New York guard Jalen Brunson had his most complete shooting game of the Eastern Conference Finals, nailing 12-of-18 field goals on Thursday. He was hit on four of his seven trifecta attempts, finishing with 32 points in his team’s win.
It’s the fourth time during this series that Brunson has scored over 30 points against the Pacers. There’s little doubt that he’ll again be a scoring force for the Knicks in Game 6, but his two previous contests inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse ended with him under 32 points. Expect his shooting woes to continue as he fails to cover this scoring prop bet.
Indiana relied heavily on power forward Pascal Siakam in last year’s playoff run, and he’s been even valuable despite Haliburton’s breakthrough performances. This year, he’s averaging 20.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists to get the Pacers within one win of the NBA Finals.
Siakam hasn’t been able to cover his rebounding prop bets in the playoffs. Not since the first round has the 6-foot-8 forward finished with more than seven rebounds in a home playoff game. That’s why bettors should take the under on this rebounding prop bet.
Outside of Game 5, every contest between these two squads has been a tight affair that was decided by single-digit margins. With the Knicks clinging to their postseason aspirations, there’s plenty of reason to believe this game will follow suit.
Expect a nip-and-tuck battle throughout Saturday night, one where the Pacers ultimately emerge victorious and advance to the NBA Finals. Take the Knicks to cover the spread, dropping a one-possession contest against Indiana in Game 6.