The Indiana Pacers in Game 6 on Saturday night in an effort to force a winner-take-all matchup on Monday.
Here are four expert player prop picks for what could be the final game of this best-of-seven series, including a rebounding prop for Karl-Anthony Towns (+100) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 31.
Karl-Anthony Towns OVER 11.5 Rebounds vs. Pacers (+100 at Sportsbook)
Preview: New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers, 8 p.m. ET
The overwhelming consistency of Towns on the glass versus Indiana is what draws me to this particular prop once again, especially after witnessing him grab 13 rebounds across 35 minutes of action during New York's convincing 111-94 victory on Thursday night. That marked the fourth time in five games that Towns exceeded 11.5 rebounds and the ninth in his last 12 postseason appearances. He currently ranks second amongst players who've suited up for double-digit playoff games this year at 11.5, with that number rising against the Pacers to 13.5 rebounds.
Towns' strongest rebounding line in this series thus far came on the road in Game 3 when he finished with 15 to cement yet another double-double with 24 points. He's contributing 13.3 boards in the three contests since head coach Tom Thibodeau inserted Mitchell Robinson into the starting lineup and moved Josh Hart to the bench, with even Hart's rebounding numbers improving (10.3) since the change was made.
Jalen Brunson UNDER 6.5 Assists vs. Pacers (+110 at Sportsbook)
Preview: New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers, 8 p.m. ET
I wagered the UNDER on Jalen Brunson's assists in Game 5 at +105 value which connected after he ended up with five in 34 minutes. The logic behind this was that the Knicks needed a win by any means necessary, and with Brunson serving as the primary offensive option, his focus would be more so on scoring the rock rather than facilitating, barring Indiana just throwing double team after double team at him (akin to what the Oklahoma City Thunder did to Anthony Edwards in Game 4 of their series) and forcing him to get rid of the ball. That ultimately was the case, as Brunson had a game-high 32 points on 18 shot attempts, although his 11 potential assists also led all players who saw the floor.
Brunson has now fallen UNDER 6.5 assists in each of the last three games with the Pacers and six of the last seven overall. He's averaging just 3.5 dimes in the series as as whole, and totalled only six dimes across Games 3 and 4 in Indiana, recording just one in Game 3 in what was still a victory for New York.
Tyrese Haliburton OVER 4.5 Rebounds vs. Knicks (+102 at Sportsbook)
Preview: New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers, 8 p.m. ET
One would tend to lean more so towards a scoring, assists, or 3-pointers made prop for Tyrese Haliburton as those are clearly strengths in his personal repertoire, but Game 5 gave me great pause on that front. His box score read eight points, two rebounds, six assists, and zero makes from distance in a potential closeout game for the Pacers, and while most of his teammates also failed to show up on Thursday, as the leader of the team, Haliburton's line was more glaring at a time when sports media talking heads are questioning whether or not he fits the bill as a "superstar."
Rebounding is more so an effort stat and one that can overcome a cold shooting night, so grabbing five or more in Game 6 is a reasonable ask considering he leads Indiana with eight in the two home games. That number is of course boosted by the 12 Haliburton grabbed in Game 4 after finishing with just four in Game 3, which would be an UNDER for Saturday's prop. It helps to know, as well, that Haliburton has yet to put together consecutive UNDERs at this total in the playoffs, so patterns would suggest that the two-time All-Star will maintain that trend with at least five boards here.
Bennedict Mathurin OVER 9.5 Points vs. Knicks (-110 at Sportsbook)
Preview: New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers, 8 p.m. ET
Unlike Haliburton, backup guard Bennedict Mathurin was unquestionably the Pacers' best player on Thursday and someone who can hold his head high for how he performed. He led Indiana in both scoring (23) and rebounding (nine) in just 25 minutes, and perhaps most impressively, Mathurin got to the charity stripe nine times and drilled all nine attempts. This came after he went 10-of-11 at the free-throw line in just 12 minutes during Game 4. This has led to him averaging 21.5 points over the last two games which is a single point off the lead on the roster behind Pascal Siakam's 22.5.
If all he needs is half of that to go OVER, then that's a risk worth taking. Now Mathurin did fail to score in the double digits in five prior appearances, but this recent spurt of his has turned a lot of heads. Starters Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith combined to shoot 4-of-16 from the field in Game 5, which left the door open for Mathurin to step up in their stead. That could very well occur again in Game 6, but even if those two are more efficient, Mathurin should still have a sizeable role and appease bettors with his offense yet again.
