After a great weekend of NBA playoff basketball that included the Game 1 of each of the eight playoff series, Monday night basketball brings us a pair of great Game 2 matchups. The first of those two games is the Pistons at the Knicks after a 21-0 fourth-quarter run propelled a Knicks comeback win in Game 1. Can the Pistons earn a split in the Big Apple or will the Knicks go up 2-0? We’ll find out when the game tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden. Let’s take a look at my Pistons vs. Knicks best bets for Game 2 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
In the bigger picture, the Knicks are 6.5-point favorites with the total set at O/U 221.5 points. The only real question mark on the injury report is Isaiah Stewart (knee), who left Game 1 and is questionable for Game 2 due to a knee injury.
Pistons vs. Knicks best bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Jalen Brunson 30+ points (-105)
Brunson has scored at least 34 points in five straight first-round playoff games for the Knicks after dropping 34 points in 40 minutes in Game 1. He went 12-of-27 (44.4%) from the field and scored 23 points in the second half to help the Knicks surge to the win.
Brunson did appear to tweak his ankle late in the third quarter but didn’t appear limited by it at all down the stretch. He missed a month with an ankle injury before returning for the last four games of the season, but he is not on the injury report for Monday, so he should be ready to roll.
Brunson is a proven playoff performer and averaged 32.4 points per game in his last 19 postseason contests. If he’s close to 100% in Game 2, he has a good chance to go over 30 points once again, and his -105 odds at this level make it one of my Pistons vs. Knicks best bets for Monday.
Malik Beasley 18+ points (+155)
Beasley was in my best bets for this matchup on Saturday, and I’m going back to the well on Beas in Monday’s Game 2. His point total is a little higher after he dropped 20 points in Game 1, but I still love getting this at +155 in my Pistons vs. Knicks best bets for Game 2.
Beasley has gone over this mark in three straight games and in six of his last 10. He has hit at least three three-pointers in nine of his last 10 games and was a key part of the Pistons gameplan for Game 1, playing 35 minutes and getting 16 shot attempts.
If he’s in a similar role again on Monday, he’s a great pick to go over his point total and I’m willing to go even higher and back him at this level for plus-money as well.
OG Anunoby over 24.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-105)
Anunoby has a nice PRA (Points + Rebounds + Assists) line for this matchup and basically even money to get at least 25 PRA. He was excellent in Game 1 with 23 points and seven rebounds for 30 PRA.
He has been over 24.5 PRA in 40 of his 75 games this season (53.3%) and ran off a string of 10 straight games over this mark before the last four games of the season, when he played two games and sat two games.
Anunoby always plays huge minutes for coach Tom Thibodeau, and I expect another full stat line in Game 2, making this another one of my Pistons vs. Knicks best bets for Monday night.
