The NBA Eastern Conference Finals have gotten off to as exciting a start as one could script. The Indiana Pacers pulled off the comeback win after being down 17 points, complete with a Tyrese Haliburton choke sign to the enemy crowd and an eventual overtime victory. New York has already shown their resilience throughout this playoff run and will need to pick up the pieces once again tonight.
Game 2 will be a crucial matchup with teams only climbing out of a 0-2 series hole 7.3% of the time across the 465 postseason matchups in NBA history. Expect a spirited effort from the Knicks tonight, with Indiana having a chance to take full control of the series.
There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in the action this evening. One of the unique features on DraftKings this year is Pick6 Fantasy Basketball!
This article will look at my top Pick6 plays on Friday, May 23. You simply choose whether each statistic will be more or less than the set number. With the stage set, here are my favorite picks for the Game 2 matchup between the Pacers and Knicks.
Jalen Brunson More Than 29.5 Points
When looking for production on this Knicks team, the conversation must start with Jalen Brunson. The star guard dropped 43 points in Game 1 despite battling foul trouble and playing the ninth-most minutes he has in this playoff run. Brunson averaged 26.0 points per game across the regular season and has increased his scoring output to 29.9 points per game in the postseason. He has tallied more than 29.5 points in seven of the 13 postseason games.
Brunson is one of the more proven playoff risers in the postseason and was a problem for this Pacers team last playoffs. He averaged 29.7 points per game in the seven-game series and has leveled up his skillset again this year. Brunson is posting a monstrous 32.6% usage rate in the postseason and attempting 22.5 field goal attempts per game. He also got to the free-throw line 14 times in the series opener. Indiana mixed up their coverages with Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, T.J. McConnell, Bennedict Mathurin, and even Ben Sheppard, with each attempting to slow down the Knicks’ star.
None of these options proved effective enough in Game 1, as evidenced by Brunson’s 43 points and 15-for-25 shooting output. New York will continue to lean on the scrappy guard to lead the offensive charge and will have the ball in his hands more than any other player in this game. Expect the Villanova product to continue seeing high shot volume and set the tone for what will be a desperate effort by this Knicks team. New York will only go as far as Brunson takes them, and count on him recording more than 29.5 points for the eighth time in these playoffs and second straight game against the Pacers.
Aaron Nesmith More Than 2.5 Made Three-Pointers
Tyrese Haliburton’s game-tying shot with his toes in the line will steal the majority of the thumbnails in Game 1 highlight reels. But it was Aaron Nesmith who gave the Pacers a chance for the comeback. The Vanderbilt product shot 8-for-9 from beyond the three-point arc, with six of these three-pointers coming in the final five minutes and 20 of his 30 points occurring in the fourth quarter.
This was an outlier shooting night that likely will not be replicated. But Nesmith has been a weapon for this Pacers team across his past three years with the franchise. He shot 43.1% from beyond the three-point arc in the regular season and is shooting 53.8% from the perimeter this postseason. Nesmith has done a respectable job matching up with Brunson, which expands his opportunities for minutes on the floor, and is attempting 5.9 three-pointers per game in the postseason. Nesmith has connected with more than 2.5 three-pointers in six of the 11 games thus far in these playoff runs.
Indiana has a deep roster with a variety of players capable of scaling up their offensive roles and stepping up on any given night. But Nesmith is the best three-point shooter on the team by a comfortable margin and will need to produce as such. Count on Indiana continuing to have a focus on generating three-point looks for their sniper and for Nesmith to continue delivering. He is playing confident basketball and should continue to see a high volume of opportunities. Look for Nesmith to tally more than 2.5 made three-pointers for the seventh time in this playoff run and second straight game against the Knicks.
Myles Turner More Than 14.5 Points
In the early parts of the Game 1 matchup, Myles Turner looked to be emerging as a significant storyline. He dropped 11 points in the opening eight minutes of the matchup with a few of these long-range jumpers just inches away from being three-pointers. He finished with 14 points, with the Pacers leaning on Tyrese Haliburton and their guards for most of the offensive production as the game progressed.
Look for Indiana to attack with Turner at a more consistent rate in Game 2. Karl-Anthony Towns struggled greatly in sticking with the Pacers’ pick-and-pop sets. Towns’ preference of playing drop coverage played right into Turner’s strengths. The two-time block champion averaged 15.6 points per game in the regular season and has tallied more than 14.5 points in 39 of the 72 games. He is also averaging 16.3 points per game in the postseason while connecting on 43.2% of his three-point attempts. Towns is such an important part of the Knicks’ offensive attack that the team must live with some of his defensive shortcomings. The team has had much more success defensively with Mitchell Robinson on the floor, both next to and in place of Towns. While Robinson is a high-level defender, he also can struggle when forced to guard on the perimeter.
Turner has tallied more than 14.5 points in seven of the 11 postseason games thus far. His floor spacing ability will continue to be impactful against this Knicks defense, and expect Indiana to lean on this at a higher rate in Game 2. Turner shot 6-for-11 from the floor in Game 1, and if he sees this level of shot volume or greater again, I like Turner’s chances of getting back on track with more than 14.5 points. Expect the big man to be a more prominent part of the game plan tonight and help contribute to the team’s scoring at a greater rate.
Pascal Siakam Less Than 18.5 Points
The Pacers took a big swing by trading for Pascal Siakam last year, which helped accelerate this team’s leap into contention. He has undeniably raised the level of this team, but Siakam’s impact does not always show as much in the box score. The three-time All-Star averaged 20.2 points per game in the regular season and tallied more than 18.5 points in 46 of the 78 games he played.
However, his scoring output has dropped to 18.6 points per game in the postseason. Siakam was held to 17 points in Game 1 of this series and has scored less than 18.5 points in six of the 11 games. He has drawn the toughest defensive assignment in the series, and it will continue to be a struggle for him every night. OG Anunoby limited Siakam to 1-for-5 shooting across 48.8 partial possessions in Game 1. Siakam shot 7-for-16 from the field overall. The Pacers star also struggled against Anunoby in the regular season, shooting 5-for-14 across 71.1 partial possessions. Including the playoffs and regular season, he is shooting just 31% against his former teammate.
Siakam’s combination of size and athleticism, paired with his sporadic movement patterns, is his primary vehicle for generating his shot opportunities. He does not have as clear of an advantage against an opponent like Anunoby, and it will take a high volume to reach this number. It would not be surprising if this volume is limited even further in Game 2, and count on Siakam being held to less than 18.5 points again tonight.
Tyrese Haliburton More Than 9.5 Assists
Few players have risen to the moment and helped change the overall perception of themselves as much as Tyrese Haliburton has in this postseason. Wearing the “Most Overrated” chip on his shoulder, Haliburton has looked fearless in this playoff run and has been masterful in his ability to pick apart opposing defenses. He finished with 31 points and 11 assists in the Game 1 matchup.
This comes following a regular season in which Haliburton averaged 18.6 points and 9.2 assists. The two-time All-Star started the season slowly and hit his stride in the second half of the year, with the team’s success following right along with him. Looking at the postseason, Haliburton is averaging 18.7 points and leading the NBA with 9.5 assists per game. He has tallied more than 9.5 assists in six of the 11 playoff games thus far.
The success Haliburton had as a scorer in Game 1 should be a major aid in creating playmaking opportunities for the Pacers’ star. When he is at his best, Haliburton leverages his scoring to create plays for others. He is one of the best playmakers in the NBA and will punish defenses whenever there is a pass to be made. The supporting cast surrounding him has looked ready for the challenge in the postseason. Expect the surrounding shooters to be ready to knock down shots and for Haliburton to tally more than 9.5 assists for the seventh time in this postseason run and second straight game against the Knicks.
Karl-Anthony Towns More Than 13.5 Assists and Rebounds
The Knicks took a big swing trading for Karl-Anthony Towns shortly before the season and have reaped the benefits. The five-time All-Star averaged 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists across the regular season. This marked a career-high in rebounding for the former Timberwolves star, which is extremely notable. These numbers have decreased a bit in the postseason, with Towns averaging 20.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists across the opening 13 games.
In Game 1 of this series, Towns finished with 35 points, 12 rebounds, and two assists. It will be an interesting storyline to watch how much the Knicks utilize Mitchell Robinson moving forward. The defensive metrics are undeniable, but Tom Thibodeau is stubborn in his decision-making, and there is a convincing case that the success is a bit of a “less is more” situation. Robinson’s impact is evident, but he has his limitations as a player as well.
If Towns plays more minutes at the forward spot, expect him to be more involved as a playmaker, where he has been underutilized to this point. He has averaged as many as 4.8 assists per game over a series and is more capable of generating looks off the drive than he has shown. Towns has tallied as many as five assists in a game during this playoff run. He has pulled in 11 or more rebounds in nine of the 13 games so far this postseason. Count on this providing a high floor for the assist total he needs to reach and for Towns to do the rest as a passer. He has tallied more than 13.5 combined rebounds and assists in five games during this playoff run, and look for him to add to this in the second straight game against the Pacers.
What is DraftKings Pick6?
Pick6 is a peer-to-peer fantasy variant where you build a lineup (your “Pick Set”) of at least two players and select whether you believe each will outperform their listed stat projection. Enter your Pick Set in Pick6 contests to compete against other users. Get enough picks correct and win a share of cash prizes.
How to Play DraftKings Pick6
Create a Pick Set
Create a Pick Set by choosing 2+ players from the same sport and Pick Group (a set of picks available from a group of set competitions). For each player, simply select if you think they’ll have more or less than their listed stat projection. In each Pick Set, you cannot pick the same player twice and you must select players from at least two different teams.
Enter an Amount
Once you finalize your Pick Set, choose your entry fee amount. Your entries will be automatically distributed into available contests, subject to your confirmation.
Sweat Your Picks
When the games go live, use the My Picks tab to follow your picks in real time to track how your players are performing against their projections and how they stack up against other users.
Compete for Prizes
Make enough correct picks and win a share of the contests’ guaranteed prizes. Any prizes won will be credited to your DraftKings account after contests are finalized.
Play at DraftKings Pick6 or by downloading the DraftKings Pick6 app on Apple or Google!
