A thrilling Game 4 victory has put the Pacers one win away from the NBA Finals. Tonight, they’ll attempt to finish off the Eastern Conference Finals on the road at Madison Square Garden. However, that’s easier said than done against a resilient Knicks squad. Which side has the edge going into this Game 5 showdown?
Entering Thursday’s contest, the Knicks are four-point favorites, with the over/under set at 223.5 total points. Before tip-off, here are the three best player props available on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Karl-Anthony Towns over 21.5 points (-115)
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.
T.J. McConnell over 5.5 assists + rebounds (-125)
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.
Josh Hart over 18.5 points + rebounds (-110)
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.
