The New York Knicks successfully avoided elimination by winning Game 5, pushing their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Indiana Pacers to a crucial Game 6. The action returns to Indiana on Saturday night. The Knicks delivered their most convincing performance of the series with a dominant 111-94 wire-to-wire victory. However, trailing 3-1 after losing Game 4 in Indiana, New York still needs two more wins to advance. Pascal Siakam heads back to his home court, where he has delivered some of his best performances during this postseason run. Projections suggest another strong, all-around game from the Pacers forward in Game 6. Analysis indicates the most favorable value lies in betting on Siakam to go Over 9.5 combined rebounds and assists. Siakam was instrumental in the Pacers` 130-point Game 4 win in Indiana, contributing 30 points, which makes him and his teammates popular choices for various betting markets.
Analysis from a projection model, known for its successful NBA picks over several seasons, has identified specific player props offering significant value for today`s game slate. Insights derived from simulating the game multiple times highlight these favorable opportunities. It`s worth noting that betting odds can fluctuate, so timely consideration of these picks is advised.
Top Player Prop Bets for Knicks vs. Pacers Game 6:
- Myles Turner: Over 15.5 Points + Assists (-102)
- Pascal Siakam: Over 9.5 Rebounds + Assists (-122)
- Mikal Bridges: Over 18.5 Points + Assists (-110)
Myles Turner Over 15.5 Points + Assists (-102)
Turner had a quiet outing in Game 5, but that game was challenging for Indiana overall. He finished Game 5 with five points, two rebounds, and two assists. However, in the two previous games played in Indiana this series, Turner averaged 16 points, 3.5 rebounds, and two assists. His points alone in those home games exceeded the current combined points + assists total, presenting a potential “buy-low” opportunity after Game 5 marked only the second time this postseason he scored under 13 points.
Despite Thursday`s performance, the Pacers center is averaging 15.5 points and 1.5 assists per game throughout the postseason. With Karl-Anthony Towns having played Game 5 (scoring 24 points and grabbing 13 rebounds) despite being a game-time decision likely not at full health after a fall in Game 4, the Pacers might look to leverage favorable matchups for Turner against Towns at home in Game 6. The best odds for this prop are currently listed at -102.
Pascal Siakam Over 9.5 Rebounds + Assists (-122)
A pattern has emerged this series where Siakam alternates between superstar-level games and more modest performances. Odd-numbered games have seen relatively subdued numbers, while even-numbered games have featured Siakam scoring at least 30 points and impacting the game significantly across the board. Due to this trend, his total points prop for Saturday has been adjusted upwards. However, analysis suggests the best value lies in his combined rebounds and assists total. Siakam registered six rebounds and five assists in Game 5, totaling 11, despite being limited to 15 points.
Looking at the season, Siakam has gone Over this line in 54 out of 93 games (58.1%) with an average of 10.1 combined rebounds and assists. The projection is based on expecting a typical performance from Siakam in a game where he is expected to play maximum minutes. The most favorable odds for this particular bet are -122.
Mikal Bridges Over 18.5 Points + Assists (-110)
Bridges has exceeded this combined total in three of the five games played in this series and has not finished below 16 points + assists against Indiana this round, consistently hitting close to or going over the number. He is averaging 16 points and three assists per game in the series, a slight dip from his regular-season averages of 17.6 points and 3.7 assists. While Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns have taken on increased offensive responsibilities in the postseason, Bridges remains highly involved, averaging 15.8 shot attempts per game, providing ample opportunities to surpass this prop line.
The 28-year-old small forward averages 22 points + assists over his last 22 games against teams with winning records and defenses ranked in the middle third of the league, going Over this total in 15 of those 22 contests (68.2%). He leads the Knicks in minutes played per game (39.6) this series. Projections forecast Bridges to record around 17 points and 3.2 assists over approximately 41 minutes in this win-or-go-home Game 6, supporting the pick for Over 18.5 points + assists at -110 odds.
Jasper Hawthorne