It’s been 30 years and New York Knicks fans still wake up in a cold sweat with nightmares of the Indiana Pacers burying their team under a barrage of 3-pointers.
Those terrors will be a reality when these long-time rivals clash once again in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals tonight.
But instead of No. 31 in yellow and blue doing the haunting, it will be No. 0.
Tyrese Haliburton can torment New York from beyond the arc and that’s one of my best NBA picks and Pacers vs. Knicks predictions on May 21.
Tyrese Haliburton player prop picks
- Best bet
Tyrese Haliburton Over 2.5 threes
(+100) - SGP pick
Tyrese Haliburton 3+ threes
Tyrese Haliburton 20+ points
Pacers +4.5
(+300)
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
Tyrese Haliburton best bet
Tyrese Haliburton Over 2.5 threes (+100 at bet365)
Tyrese Haliburton helps his team in so many ways. His playmaking, defense, and rebounding all contribute to the Indiana Pacers’ postseason success. But it’s his scoring that could swing this series if Indiana can steal a game in Madison Square Garden.
As Pacers writer Elie Deglaoui (of the aptly named blog 8 Points 9 Seconds) unpacked, Indiana is at its best when Haliburton is most aggressive on offense. He points out that the Pacers went 10-2 when their star point guard attempted 18 or more field goals in the regular season (as well as 6-0 SU with 19 or more FGAs).
Haliburton has only crossed that threshold twice in the playoffs (19 FGAs in Game 2 win over Milwaukee, 22 FGAs with the help of OT in a Game 5 win over the Bucks) and has averaged just over 13 shots per game in the playoffs.
While he may or may not threaten 18-plus attempts in Game 1, he can still be aggressive from the outside. Haliburton is shooting half of his FGAs from 3-point range, making 2.2 triples on 6.5 attempts from deep.
He had a spotty shooting effort in the second round versus Cleveland but finished off the Cavs with a 6-for-10 showing from distance in Game 5. Tonight’s player models expect another sound shooting night from downtown, with Haliburton’s 3-point projections calling for at least three triples.
Forecasts range from 2.9 to 3.1 and if Haliburton does have the green light to attack more, his attempts and makes have a much higher ceiling. Add in Indiana’s increased pace of play — compared to the Knicks’ last two foes — and Haliburton is very flammable from beyond the arc.
With my number at 3.1 makes from distance, Haliburton Over 2.5 threes should be listed around -130. You can find this at EVEN money at bet365.
Tyrese Haliburton same-game parlay
Tyrese Haliburton 3+ threes
Tyrese Haliburton 20+ points
Pacers +4.5
Indiana is at its best when Haliburton looks for his on offense. Projections all call for three or more triples tonight.
With success from deep, Haliburton’s points projections all flirt with 20 points in Game 1.
Indiana is a different beast than the Knicks’ last two foes. The Pacers’ chaos keeps this close.
Pacers vs Knicks betting resources
- Pacers vs. Knicks prediction
- Pacers vs. Knicks props & best bets
- Pacers vs. Knicks same-game parlay
- Pacers vs. Knicks series preview
- Jalen Brunson predictions & best bets
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