Pacers vs Knicks Predictions: 3 Player Props and Best Bet for Game 2

With 6:26 left in the fourth quarter, the New York Knicks were in command of their Eastern Conference Finals series opener against the Indiana Pacers. The Knicks held a 17-point lead and looked primed to take a 1-0 advantage over their dreaded playoff nemesis.

That’s when Aaron Nesmith’s shooting took off. The small forward made six of his eight three-pointers with less than five minutes to go, and Tyrese Haliburton hit the bouncing, game-tying trifecta to go to overtime. From there, Indiana closed out a back-and-forth contest to steal a road victory over New York.

Can the Knicks rebound after their late-game defensive collapse to even the series? We’ll cover that and provide bettors with our top player prop bets from Friday’s second game of the Eastern Conference Finals.

New York Knicks PG Jalen Brunson OVER 29.5 Points

New York guard Jalen Brunson has made the most of his fifth consecutive playoff appearance. The 6-foot-2 star has averaged nearly 30 points a game in the playoffs, and he went off for 43 points in Wednesday’s epic contest against the Pacers.

That was the seventh time in 13 postseason games that Brunson has scored 30 or more points against his competition. It’s also why bettors are not wagering against him for Friday’s contest. Take the over on this player prop bet for Game 2.

Indiana Pacers PG Tyrese Haliburton UNDER 9.5 Assists

One of the NBA’s top point guards – Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton – was needed for his scoring on Wednesday. Haliburton finished with a team-best 31 points, adding 11 assists and four rebounds to his final stat line.

Haliburton would have finished with a single-digit assist total if not for the Pacers’ fourth-quarter comeback. In two previous games, he finished under 10 assists, too. Expect Indiana to rely heavily on his scoring, and he’ll end the night with fewer than 10 assists.

New York Knicks C Karl-Anthony Towns OVER 35.5 Pts + Reb

New York wanted a veteran big man for a postseason run, and Karl-Anthony Towns fits the mold. After starting the postseason by averaging under 20 points and 12 rebounds, the seven-footer finished with 35 points and 12 rebounds in the first outing against Indiana.

At first glance, Towns’ 35.5-mark for combined points and rebounds is a little high despite the veteran big posting that during the regular season. But in four games against the Pacers, Towns has posted at least 37 combined tallies every time. Take this player prop bet as a lock for Friday night.

Best Bet: Knicks (-6)

Let’s not mince words: Indiana stole this victory after Nesmith scored 20 points in the final five minutes. For the season, the fifth-year player had exactly one other contest where he scored 30 points, and only three games where he topped 20 points.

Bettors should consider the first game a fluke, and Indiana would find it nearly impossible to replicate. Expect the Knicks to be fired up and ready to send a message to the Pacers. Take New York to cover their six-point spread on Friday to even the series.