Tyrese Haliburton’s 2025 “reboot” of Reggie Miller’s 1994 choke gesture took sports media by storm following the Indiana Paces’ crazy comeback against the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Haliburton finished with 31 points in the overtime victory — including that “shooters bounce” on the game-tying long 2-pointer to complete the Pacers’ rally.
What does Indiana’s star guard have in store for Game 2 tonight? Find out with my Tyrese Haliburton prop predictions and NBA picks for May 23.
Tyrese Haliburton player prop picks
- Best bet
Tyrese Haliburton Under 2.5 3-pointers
(+120) - SGP pick
Tyrese Haliburton Under 2.5 3-pointers
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 23.5 points
Knicks moneyline
(+400)
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
Tyrese Haliburton best bet
Tyrese Haliburton Under 2.5 3-pointers (+120 at bet365)
Tyrese Haliburton was an inch away from a game-winning triple and five total 3-pointers on that now-infamous buzzer beater to force overtime on Wednesday.
He finished with four makes from beyond the arc in Game 1 (4-for-12) and has been busy from outside in his last two playoff outings, shooting a collective 10-for-22 from distance in those contests.
That aggressiveness from deep is in contrast to his postseason up until that point. In his first nine playoff games, Haliburton averaged only 1.8 makes on 6.1 3-point attempts per outing in matchups with Milwaukee and Cleveland.
Wednesday’s 12 shots from deep tied as Haliburton’s third-most attempts from outside all season, with that action prompted by the Indiana Pacers trailing for most of the game. The Pacers were behind by as many as 17 points, and that urgency gave Haliburton a green light from downtown.
The game prior also saw the Pacers trailing the Cavaliers by 19 points early on in Game 5 of their conference semifinal set. Haliburton once again ignited Indiana’s comeback by making 6 of 10 shots from the perimeter.
After Indiana buried 15 triples (on 37 3PAs) — including that barrage in the final two minutes — the New York Knicks will put an emphasis on getting their heels above the 3-point arc.
Player projections for Haliburton hover around three made 3-pointers from the Pacers’ superstar, but unless there’s the urgency of an early deficit, he won’t feel the pressure to press from the perimeter.
Haliburton’s 3-point prop for Game 2 opened as high as 3.5 (Over +145), which is a bar he’s drawn only three other times in the playoffs so far. He went Under in all three games instances. That inflated total was instantly bet down to 2.5 (Over -170), and that continues to drop with the market buying up the Under.
Tyrese Haliburton same-game parlay
Tyrese Haliburton Under 2.5 3-pointers
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 23.5 points
Knicks moneyline
Haliburton averaged 1.8 makes on 6.1 3-point attempts in the first nine playoff games but has been prompted to shoot more with the Pacers falling behind big the past two games. I see two triples, but no more.
Karl-Anthony Towns chewed up the Indiana defense in Game 1 and his inside-out play will give the smaller Pacers fits. He dropped 35 points in the opener and has routinely had big nights against this defense.
The Knicks controlled Game 1 for 47 minutes and can’t afford to give away another game at MSG. While I don’t think Indiana is a “happy with the split” kind of team, they could come out flat after a wild Game 1 rally.
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