The New York Knicks may hold a 3-2 series lead over the Jayson Tatum-less Boston Celtics heading into Game 6, but New Yorkers are far from confident after a bad showing in Boston last time out.
With pressure mounting to put away the defending NBA champs, all eyes are on the Jalen Brunson odds tonight.
Here’s my best NBA picks for Celtics vs. Knicks on Friday, May 16.
Jalen Brunson player prop picks
- Best bet
Brunson u29.5 points
(-115) - SGP pick
Brunson u29.5 points
Brunson o6.5 assists
Brunson o2.5 turnovers
(+500)
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
Jalen Brunson best bet
Jalen Brunson Under 29.5 points (-115 at bet365)
Jalen Brunson certainly has the big game marbles to blow past this point total tonight, especially after scoring 39 points the last time he was inside Madison Square Garden.
However, in the other four games in this series, the New York Knicks star has failed to crack the 30-point plateau and is coming off a 22-point showing in Game 5, in which he finished 7-for-17 from the floor.
Brunson isn’t just the main objective of the Boston Celtics' defensive schemes, as the Celtics’ offense is also picking on the 6-foot-2 guard. Boston went head-hunting in Game 5, working the ball around to get Brunson in check.
Not only does that have the Knicks’ superstar working hard on both ends, but Brunson was also whistled for six fouls — five coming in the third quarter — with the Celtics’ making that targeting part of their halftime adjustments.
Boston will try to wear him out on both ends in Game 6 tonight, and player projections believe the C’s can do it. Game models range from 25.0 to 26.2 points from Brunson tonight, which gives the Under 29.5 plenty of headroom.
The Knicks' supporting cast has been terribly inconsistent in this series, and Boston will try to take the ball out of Brunson’s hands. Take the Under on his points prop tonight.
Jalen Brunson same-game parlay
Jalen Brunson Under 29.5 points
Jalen Brunson Over 6.5 assists
Jalen Brunson Over 2.5 turnovers
Brunson is being worked by Boston on both ends of the floor, and his scoring forecasts come in well below his current scoring total.
With New York trying to take Brunson out of the action, he’ll need to trust his teammates to take and make shots. His assists projections sit just north of seven.
The combination of Brunson’s fatigue and the Celtics' defense could lead to poor decision-making. He’s recorded more than 2.5 turnovers in two games this season, and models sit around 2.5 TOs tonight.
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