Following a dramatic Game 4, the first round series between the Knicks and Pistons continues Tuesday with Game 5 in New York. The Knicks hold a 3-1 series lead and a win in Game 5 would book them a ticket to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. On DraftKings Sportsbook, New York is a 5.5-point favorite for Game 5 and this contest carries a total of 214.5 points.
Below, I dive into three of my favorite player prop bets for Tuesday’s Game 5 between the Knicks and the Pistons on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Best Knicks vs. Pistons Player Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Josh Hart O 5.5 Assists (-120)
Hart has been a great playmaker this season, averaging 5.9 assists on 10.0 potential assists per game. His 20.3% assist rate ranks third for the Knicks this season and Hart has topped 5.5 assists in two of these four games against the Pistons in the first round. The veteran has logged over 40 minutes in three straight games and he is guaranteed to surpass this threshold in Tuesday’s crucial Game 5.
Hart is averaging 6.6 assists per game in the 26 games that he has logged 40+ minutes this season and attacking Hart for over 5.5 assists quickly is wise, as this line has the potential to move up to 6.5 before game time.
Karl-Anthony Towns O 1.5 Made Three-Pointers (-140)
After being highly criticized for his tentative play in Game 2, Towns was far more aggressive in Games 3 and 4, especially from deep. After going 4-for-8 on three-pointers in Game 3, Towns hit 5-of-7 three-pointers in Game 4. Towns is one of the best outside shooting big men in the NBA and this season, he is shooting 44.5% on three-pointers and averaging 2.0 made three-pointers on 4.7 attempts per game.
This season, Towns has knocked down 3+ three-pointers in four of his seven matchups with the Pistons and Detroit is allowing its opponents to make three-pointers at the sixth-highest clip in the league. As he has in back-to-back games, Towns should log over 40 minutes tonight with the Knicks looking to advance and in the 11 contests that he has cracked the 40-minute mark this season, Towns is averaging 2.7 made three-pointers per game.
Ausar Thompson U 13.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-105)
Thompson has played a small role for the Pistons in this series and with their season on the line tonight, the 22-year-old should continue to see low playing time. Through the first four games of this first round matchup with the Knicks, Thompson is logging only 20.8 minutes per game, which has resulted in 7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game for the second-year player.
Thompson has fell short of 13.5 PRA in two of these four games and the inexperienced wing should be timid in the hostile environment of Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. Thompson should record an underwhelming stat line in this tough setting and is a sharp bet for under 13.5 PRA.
