The Indiana Pacers stole Game 1 against the New York Knicks in a thrilling comeback effort. Myles Turner and company once again showed their resiliency by becoming the first team in 1,415 attempts to produce a victory after trailing by nine or more points in the final minute of a playoff game.
While Tyrese Haliburton’s fateful shot and Aaron Nesmith’s three-point barrage take the headlines, Indiana plays a team-oriented style of basketball. Turner was a key part of the early effort, pouring in 11 points in the opening eight minutes of the matchup. The plan of attack shifted more onto the shoulders of Haliburton and the guards as the game progressed, with Turner finishing with 14 points, five rebounds and two assists. The former block champion did not see the floor for the final 7:18 of the fourth quarter, but did make a return in overtime.
Heading into Game 2, the Knicks are six-point favorites with -258 odds on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Pacers hold +210 odds of getting the outright victory with the game total set at 224.5 points.
With the stage set, here are my favorite Turner prop bets for Game 2.
Best Myles Turner Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Myles Turner’s props are listed at over/under 14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 made three-pointers and 22.5 combined points, rebounds and assists.
Myles Turner Over 14.5 Points (-120)
In the early stages of Game 1, it looked as if Turner was in store for a massive offensive performance. He scored 11 of the team’s first 27 points with a few of his long-range jumpers just in front of the three-point line. Turner’s offensive opportunities slowed down as the game progressed, with Indiana’s guard play taking the lead.
Look for Indiana to attack with Turner more in this Game 2 matchup. Karl-Anthony Towns struggled to stick with the Pacers’ pick-and-pop sets, with Towns’ preference for drop coverage playing right into Turner’s strengths. The 6-foot-11 big man shot 39.6% from beyond the three-point arc this season. Turner averaged 15.7 points per game in the regular season and is averaging 16.3 points per game in the postseason while connecting on 43.2% of his perimeter shots.
Towns is such an important part of the Knicks’ offensive attack that New York must live with some of his defensive shortcomings. Indiana did not attack this at a great enough rate in the series opener. The team has had much more success on defense when Mitchell Robinson has been on the floor, both next to and in place of Towns. While the Knicks’ decision-making on these rotations will be a storyline to watch, Robinson also struggles when forced to guard on the perimeter.
Turner has tallied over 14.5 points in seven of 11 postseason games, in addition to 39 of 72 regular-season games. Expect his floor spacing to continue to be impactful against this Knicks’ defense, and for Indiana to attack this at a greater rate. Turner shot 6-for-11 from the floor in Game 1, and if he sees this level of shot volume again, I like the big man to record over 14.5 points.
Myles Turner to Record 3+ Made Three-Pointers (+215)
To take it a step forward, look for Turner’s three-point shooting to be a focal point. He shot 1-for-4 on three-pointers in the series opener, with a few of his long-range two-pointers sure to have the analytics department screaming from the sideline. This is not enough volume for the caliber of shooter he is, especially with this being a weak spot in New York’s defense.
Turner is connecting on 43.2% of his threes this postseason, and he shot 45.3% from beyond the three-point arc in last year’s playoff run. The standard three-point prop for Turner is listed at 1.5 made three-pointers, with the over favored at -135 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. He has connected with over 1.5 made three-pointers in four of the 11 postseason games, with him recording three or more in three of these games.
Expect Indiana to focus on creating more three-point looks for Turner in Game 2. Towns struggles to defend the perimeter, but Indiana didn’t take advantage of this enough. Expect this to be a more prominent part of the game plan. I am taking a swing on the +215 odds for Turner to knock down three long-range shots.
