A dominant Pacers win has put them one game away from reaching the NBA Finals. Now, with the series shifted back to New York, the Knicks need a victory to keep their series alive. Which players should you expect to step up (or take a backseat) on Thursday? Before the start of tonight’s contest, get in on the action with DraftKings NBA Pick6! Let’s look at six different players fantasy basketball managers should be targeting ahead of Knicks-Pacers Game 5.
Karl-Anthony Towns more than 21.5 points
In what has been an otherwise disappointing series for the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns has been a bright spot. Through four games, the big man has averaged 25.8 points and 11.5 rebounds while shooting 52.4% from the field. In addition, KAT’s 20-point fourth quarter gave New York a pivotal Game 3 victory. At this point, it’s safe to say the center is a matchup problem for the Pacers. Myles Turner and the rest of Indiana’s front court have looked a step slow against one of basketball’s best scorers.
Towns’ production has been erratic at times this postseason. Therefore, it’s easy to see why his point total has remained close to 20 for most of this series. With that being said, this is an ideal matchup for the seven-footer. During KAT’s last ten meetings with the Pacers, he’s dropped 27.2 points on 55.5% shooting. That’s included a stellar 50.0% mark from three-point range. As a member of the Knicks, Towns has reached 22 points in over 71% of his appearances vs. Indiana. There’s a good chance the All-Star’s success continues on Thursday.
Myles Turner more than 2.5 free throws made
It’s been a good series for almost every member of the Pacers. If there was one player on Indiana’s roster due for a better performance, it’s Myles Turner. To be clear, it’s not as though he’s been a total scrub. Through four games, he’s averaging 15.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks while shooting 53.7% from the field. However, he’s had several missed opportunities, whether it’s missed layups or misses at the free throw line. In this series, Turner is shooting a mediocre 70.0% at the charity stripe.
On top of the center’s offensive struggles, he’s failed to contain Karl-Anthony Towns on defense. Still, that matchup has some advantages for Turner on the other end of the floor. KAT, for all his offensive prowess, is prone to collect several silly fouls over the course of 48 minutes. That’s allowed Turner to take a total of 20 free throws in this series. Even if the veteran were to shoot 60% at the line, that number of attempts would allow him to reach three free throws. Indiana’s talented big man is too good of a shooter to give away this many points. More consistent shooting would allow Turner to easily clear this total tonight.
Josh Hart more than 18.5 points + rebounds
There are several things that have looked ‘off’ about the Knicks recently, including Josh Hart. Typically, the eighth-year pro brings instant energy, capable of pushing the pace and providing maximum effort on defense. While there have been flashes of that in the ECF, it’s been more sporadic than usual. In this series, the veteran has averaged 8.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists on 52.9% shooting. With middling numbers such as those, head coach Tom Thibodeau has opted to bring Hart off the bench.
New York’s newest sixth man looked more comfortable in Game 4, delivering 12 points and 11 rebounds. That’s a promising sign of things to come, as the Knicks will need Hart at his best tonight. Fortunately, the forward has a history of success in this spot. In nine of Hart’s previous 14 contests vs. the Pacers, he’s accounted for at least 19 points + rebounds. If anything, the 30-year-old is well-suited to deal with Indiana’s uptempo offense. Heading into Thursday, the two-way wing is poised for another stellar stat line in Game 5.
Aaron Nesmith less than 4.5 rebounds
It’s been a postseason to remember for Aaron Nesmith, who has emerged as a go-to scoring option for the Pacers. Despite spraining his ankle midway through Game 4, the wing returned to action during the fourth quarter. Assuming he plays tonight, Nesmith should continue to serve a significant role on Indiana’s offense. However, his recent injury could prove detrimental in other ways, including as a rebounder.
It’s not as if a healthy Nesmith makes a massive difference down low. The 6’6″ forward can certainly snag some boards, as seen during Games 2 & 3. This postseason, he’s averaging 6.0 rebounds per game. However, the Knicks have allowed the second-fewest boards to opponents this season (49.8). That number doesn’t even reflect New York’s current starting lineup, in which seven-footers Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson share the floor. Right now, it’s difficult to trust any Pacers on the glass, let alone a player dealing with ankle issues.
Mikal Bridges more than 1.5 steals + blocks
Mikal Bridges isn’t perfect, but this postseason has been a reminder that he’s still a winning player. The forward, acquired this offseason, has been a stabilizing force for New York. As a scorer, Bridges has averaged 15.8 points on 44.6% shooting during the playoffs. On the other end of the floor, he’s posted 1.8 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. However, Game 4 saw the 28-year-old fail to record a counting stat on defense.
As one of the better wings in basketball, it’s a bit shocking to see Bridges fail to make an impact on defense. Regardless, I’m willing to bet that Tuesday’s performance was an aberration. In 12 of his last 15 games, Bridges has notched at least two combined steals + blocks. That includes the first three games of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pacers. Indiana’s uptempo offense should lead to plenty of possessions, and turnovers, tonight. Look for New York’s best perimeter defender to play with a sense of urgency during Thursday’s do-or-die Game 5.
T.J. McConnell more than 5.5 assists + rebounds
Today’s NBA is filled with guys that are so good, it doesn’t even look like they’re trying. That’s why the persistent, harassing play style of T.J. McConnell is a breath of fresh air. The diminutive guard isn’t an elite shooter or a generational athlete. However, he’s earned his rotation spot with the Pacers thanks to crafty playmaking and a never-ending amount of hustle. That’s been on full display during the Eastern Conference Finals. Over his last four appearances, McConnell has posted 9.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists on just 15.6 minutes per game.
Obviously, it’s tough for any guard to get a heavy workload when playing behind Tyrese Haliburton. Still, there’s something about playing the Knicks that brings out the best in T.J. In seven of his last ten outings vs. New York, the 33-year-old has reached six or more assists + rebounds. In fact, Tuesday was the first time McConnell failed to reach that mark in five games, going back to last November. Expect another all-around performance from Indiana’s pesky point guard tonight.
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