The Indiana Pacers added to their list of improbable victories across this playoff run in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. While Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winning shot with just 0.3 seconds on the clock rightfully steals all the headlines, it was Pascal Siakam who led the team in scoring with 19 points.
Oklahoma City is sure to respond after the frustrating Game 1 result. Things went according to plan for the majority of that game, and if it were a 47-minute matchup, the Thunder would hold a 1-0 series lead. But the games are 48 minutes for a reason, and the Pacers can put themselves in an excellent spot if they pull off another upset. It will take a spirited effort from Siakam and the rest of the roster for this to be possible.
Looking at the Game 2 odds, the Thunder enter as 11-point favorites with -520 odds on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Pacers hold +390 odds of getting the outright victory, with the game total set at 228.5 points.
With the stage set, here are my favorite Pascal Siakam prop bets for the Game 2 matchup.
Best Pascal Siakam Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Pascal Siakam’s props are listed at over/under 18.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 made three-pointers, and 29.5 combined points, rebounds and assists.
Pascal Siakam Over 7.5 Rebounds (+114)
One surprising move that was made ahead of Game 1 was the Thunder making a change to inject Cason Wallace into the starting lineup. Isaiah Hartenstein was sent to the bench despite the success that the double-big man lineup has had all season. As a result, Indiana outrebounded Oklahoma City 56-39. Expect adjustments to be made based on this, and for the rebounding battle to be a storyline to monitor throughout this series.
Pascal Siakam averaged 6.9 rebounds per game in the regular season and has seen this number drop to 6.0 per game in the postseason. However, he pulled in 10 rebounds in the first game and also tallied nine and 10 rebounds in the pair of regular-season matchups with the Thunder. Siakam has averaged 10.9 rebound opportunities across the postseason and had 15.0 rebounding chances in Game 1.
Chet Holmgren will be better than he played in Game 1, and it should be expected that there to be more double-big minutes in this matchup. While rebounds will be more difficult to come by tonight, Siakam has a unique combination of length and athleticism that will be beneficial in battling on the boards. He has shown a strong commitment to battling for these extra possessions, with four of his rebounds coming on the offensive end. This is a high number based on how Siakam has produced. But the Pacers will need him to deliver from a rebounding standpoint, and I like Siakam to record over 7.5 rebounds for the second straight game.
Pascal Siakam Over 18.5 Points (-120)
Tyrese Haliburton will continue to dominate the headlines due to his game-winning shot, but he largely struggled in most of Game 1. He was held to 14 points on 6-for-13 shooting from the field. Expect shot opportunities to be even more difficult to come by in Game 2, with the defense set to be ratcheted up another notch. This puts more on Siakam’s plate, and he has a cleaner matchup against this Thunder team compared to their array of impressive perimeter guard defenders.
After averaging 20.2 points per game in the regular season, his scoring output has grown to 20.9 in the postseason. The three-time All-Star tallied over 18.5 points in 46 of the 78 games and has cleared this number in nine of the 17 postseason games. Siakam led the team in field goal attempts with 15 in Game 1, which is on par with the 15.2 field goal attempts per game he is producing throughout the postseason.
One of the fair critiques of Haliburton is his acceptance of being too passive when a high level of defensive attention is sent his way. Expect this to be on full display in Game 2 and for Siakam to step into the spotlight. The 31-year-old has a championship ring on his finger for a reason and can scale his role up or down depending on what the team needs. Expect him to need to play in a score-first role tonight and produce his second straight game of over 18.5 points.
