The New York Knicks will look to cut their series deficit in half against the Indiana Pacers tonight as the Eastern Conference Finals switch to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Game 3.
Jalen Brunson has put the Knicks on his back through the first two contests of the series, averaging nearly 40 ppg, and my Knicks vs. Pacers props will be looking for New York’s point guard to deliver another 30+ point performance in a must-have game.
Here are my favorite NBA picks for Sunday, May 25.
Best Knicks vs Pacers props
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Brunson o31.5 pts (-115) -
Nembhard o11.5 pts (-110) - Bridges o6.5 FG (-135)
Knicks vs Pacers player props for May 25
Jalen Brunson Over 31.5 points (-115 at bet365)
The New York Knicks disappointed again in Game 2 as they dropped their second straight contest at Madison Square Garden against the Indiana Pacers. One player who did not disappoint, though, was Jalen Brunson.
The Knicks point guard scored a team-high 36 points with 11 assists to snag his third double-double of these playoffs and his eighth 30-point performance in 14 games.
Brunson scored 43 in Game 1 against the Pacers and is averaging 39.5 ppg this series, though that still hasn’t been enough to lift the Knicks to a win in the Eastern Conference Finals. With their backs up against the wall in Game 3, Brunson has no choice but to deliver another big game.
The 28-year-old has taken matters into his own hands this series with 52 total field goal attempts over the two games, accounting for nearly 30% of New York’s shots.
Brunson is scoring nearly 40% of his points in the paint — an area that Indiana has struggled to defend. The Pacers are giving up 47.7 ppg in the paint — the sixth-most among all playoff teams and the most among the four clubs still playing.
With the pressure on New York to pick up the win, I think Brunson has another big night in the box score.
Andrew Nembhard Over 11.5 points (-110 at bet365)
The Pacers’ depth shone again in Game 2 as six players and all five starters scored in the double-digits. Andrew Nembhard was among those players as he contributed 12 points in the win.
It marked the third straight game in which Nembhard scored Over 11.5 points, as well as the ninth time in 12 outings this postseason.
The guard has tormented the Knicks from 3-point range as he’s shooting 80% (4-for-5) from beyond the arc in the series. That’s been a common theme all postseason for Nembhard, who’s drained over 53% of his attempts from long range — nearly double his rate in the regular season (29.1%).
But we shouldn’t be surprised about Nembhard’s impressive postseason production. The third-year pro has shown a penchant for stepping up his game in the playoffs. He averages 9.6 ppg in the regular season, while that number jumps up to 14.7 in the postseason.
Head coach Rick Carlisle seems to trust Nembhard as well, with his minutes per game (33.3) also seeing a nice boost compared to the regular season (28.9).
Mikal Bridges Over 6.5 field goals made (-135 at bet365)
The Knicks largely fell flat offensively in Game 2 but it wasn’t for a lack of trying, especially on the part of Mikal Bridges. The forward went 9-for-18 from the field and dropped his third 20-point game in his last five contests.
After having a breakout campaign with the Nets last year, Bridges came back down to earth with the Knicks this season. But he has at least remained a consistent scoring threat in the playoffs.
Bridges is scoring 15.8 ppg this postseason, tied for third-most on the New York roster, while he also ranks third in both field goal attempts (14.9) and makes (6.9) per game. He’s taken on an even more prominent role in the Eastern Conference Finals, averaging 8.5 makes on 17 field goal attempts per game vs. Indiana.
Like Brunson, Bridges has been productive near the rim, with 51.6% of his points coming in the paint. The Pacers defense will be honing in on Brunson in Game 3, which should open up some space for Bridges to have another big day from the floor.
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