Knicks vs Pacers Game 2: Pascal Siakam Leads Our NBA Best Player Props

The other one-seed out West also handled business in Game 1. The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Mavericks by 22 points, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way. OKC has now played five playoff games and has yet to allow 100 points! We missed our rebound prop with Chet Holmgren, who seemed to need help with the physicality that Daniel Gafford was bringing. Gafford came through for us, posting a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double in the loss. I expect this series to give some great moments coming up.

🏆 TUESDAY’S FINAL SCORES 🏆

Jaylen Brown comes out in attack mode, scoring 15 in the 1st, on way to 32 for the game as the @celtics take Game 1!

White: 25 PTS, 7 3PM, 5 AST
Tatum: 18 PTS, 11 REB, 5 AST
Mitchell: 33 PTS, 4 3PM, 6 REB, 5 AST

Game 2: Thursday, 7:00pm/et on ESPN pic.twitter.com/3cfhBdmcWi

— NBA (@NBA) May 8, 2024

On Wednesday, we have just one game ready to tip-off. The Knicks are in action as they look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead in Game 2 at 8:00 p.m. ET. There was plenty of drama in the final minutes of Game 1, and the Indiana Pacers are looking to steal one on the road. My NBA predictions have been red-hot, so let’s keep things rolling with the best NBA player props for Wednesday’s Knicks vs. Pacers.

Best NBA Player Props Today

1. Knicks PG Miles McBride Over 5½ Points

I can already hear the DEUECEEEE chants vibrating off the Madison Square Garden walls again ahead of tonight’s Game 2 matchup with the Pacers. The Knicks, a team known for their strong defense and home-court advantage, are already without Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, and Bojan Bogdanovic. This means they will need to find more scoring off the bench. Miles McBride, a promising young player who has shown his scoring ability in previous games, has proven to be the spark off the bench for Thibs. He finished with an average of 11 points per game in Round 1 against the 76ers, demonstrating his consistency and potential to exceed the 5½ points line.

Deuce has become a fan favorite in the Garden, and the Knicks will need him to produce if they want to take a commanding 2-0 lead in this series. He was over this line in 16-of-26 games after the All-Star break, showing his ability to consistently score. Indiana struggled to defend opposing guards at times, allowing the second-most points per game to opposing shooting guards during the regular season, and I expect McBride to have a few moments to make his mark in tonight’s game. The Pacers could do their best to harass Jalen Brunson, leaving the door open for role players like McBride. The refs could force the Knicks into early foul trouble and McBride is becoming the lone scoring option off the bench. This line is a gift. Don’t doubt Deuce!

2. Pacers PF Pascal Siakam Under 20½ Points

If you’ve followed along with my NBA bets this season, you might have been shocked to see our first UNDER bet of the entire year back in Game 1. Well, it cashed, so I’m running it right back! I typically handicap by identifying advantageous spots; there is always value to be found in the under markets, especially in the playoffs. I’m fading Pascal Siakam again. Siakam was tremendous for the Pacers in Games 1 and 2 against the Milwaukee Bucks, scoring 36 and 37 points, but he disappeared for the remainder of the series. Siakam scored 17, 13, 12, and 19 points in the next four games. He finished with 19 points in Game 1, sneaking in right under his prop.

In Game 1, I touched on the underlying storyline of former teammates in this series. The Pacers acquired the former All-Star Siakam in a surprising move from the Toronto Raptors in January. The Knicks also made a shocking trade with the Raptors in January when they acquired OG Anunoby for RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. Both have performed exceptionally well for their new teams and are fierce competitors. Anunoby is one of the premier defenders in the NBA. You may recall seeing tons of Tobias Harris slander from the 76ers fans after he failed to produce against the Knicks. If you had watched, you would have seen OG as the primary defender of Harris. Anunoby held him to 7, 10, 8, 10, 19, and 0 points against New York after averaging 17.2 PPG in the regular season!

Siakam has been held under this line in four consecutive matchups with the Knicks and eight of his last eleven. I’m fading Siakam again, expecting Anunoby to continue slowing him down.

OG STEAL AND SLAM.

KNICKS BACK IN FRONT IN GAME 1.#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel on TNT pic.twitter.com/UNd2EMnhbJ

— NBA (@NBA) May 7, 2024

3. Knicks C Isaiah Hartenstein Over 11½ Points

I expect this game to be close tonight, and the referees will call it much tighter after missing multiple calls in Game 1. Isaiah Hartenstein has become one of the most important players on this Knicks roster this season. Mitchell Robinson had surgery on his ankle in December, and unfortunately, he suffered a stress fracture in that same ankle in Game 1. The Knicks announced that Robinson will be out for the remainder of the playoffs.

Hartenstein was forced into the starting lineup this season and has delivered for Tom Thibodeau. The 7-foot center scored 13 points in Game 1, although it took a half-court heave at the halftime buzzer to reach this number. He also had 12 points and 19 rebounds in the final regular-season meeting with Indiana.

ISAIAH HARTENSTEIN FROM HALFCOURT 🚨

Pacers up 55-49 at halftime on TNT. pic.twitter.com/HFOuT90bGY

— NBA (@NBA) May 7, 2024

Indiana allowed the second-most points per game in the paint and the most free-throw attempts per game during the regular season. These statistics indicate that the Pacers’ defense is particularly vulnerable in the paint and tends to foul frequently, which could create scoring opportunities for the Knicks’ big man and a good player prop bet for us. Hartenstein shoots over 70% from the free-throw line, which will be pivotal in him climbing over his points.

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