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00:00Game number five of the Eastern Conference Finals tonight inside the world's most famous arena.
00:06It is Madison Square Garden.
00:07Can the New York Knicks keep this season and their series alive against the Indiana Pacers?
00:13Or will we, for a second consecutive night, have a spot in the NBA Finals?
00:17Booked in the entirety of that championship matchup set.
00:21Tonight, DRS, the New York Knicks trailing in this series by two games, 3-1.
00:25Booked as a four-point home favorite inside the Garden to at least extend this series to a sixth game back in Indy.
00:33Total stands at 2-23.
00:36Let's start with the line.
00:37The Knicks are a four-point home favorite inside the Mecca, inside the world's most famous arena.
00:43But they are only three and five straight up at home in this playoff run.
00:48Do you agree with the Knicks being a four-point home favorite tonight against the Pacers?
00:51I do, because you're looking at a game where the Knicks must win here.
00:54And also, being at home does mean something.
00:57We're not talking about six-and-a-half, seven-and-a-half, but also it's not two-and-a-half, which I do think is big.
01:01If you're looking for the best performance of the New York Knicks, I do believe you're going to get that tonight.
01:06And that means it's Jalen Brunson, Jalen Brunson, and more Jalen Brunson tonight.
01:11We'll go over the prop bets in just a little bit.
01:13But if you are going to win a series, you can't win it in game number five when you're already down in the series.
01:19You can't even win it in game number six.
01:21You've got to get to game number seven.
01:22So, one win is what the Knicks need to have is that building block.
01:26And you take a look at Tom Thibodeau.
01:27What did he say after the last game?
01:28It's very important for our guys to understand.
01:30The series isn't over, but you can't win it in game number five.
01:33Game by game is how you have to take it.
01:35I agree.
01:36I think the Knicks win this game and at least force a game number seven, or excuse me, game number six.
01:41And if we get a game number seven, that would be fantastic.
01:44But tonight, I think it's a Knicks night.
01:45So, let's start with the betting statistics that we love on the FanDuel Sportsbook, where you get an idea of how the public is approaching this game and what it could mean for how we handicap it, at least on first blush.
01:56DRS, when you look at it right now, four-point spread in favor of New York, 72% of the money on the spread is backing the road underdog in the Indiana Pacers.
02:06And frankly, really, who could fault them for doing so?
02:10The Pacers have won each of our first two games inside Madison Square Garden and have been a great underdog throughout the entirety of this playoff run.
02:1862% of the overall volume of bets, backing Indiana as the underdog as well.
02:24This line opened for game five.
02:26Understanding the Knicks were now on the prink of elimination as a five-point number.
02:31Yesterday, we were discussing, was around four and a half.
02:33Now, it is at four.
02:35Do you think that is the public buying in on Indiana that has moved the line by a full point?
02:39And also, Carl Anthony Towns being questionable as a game-time decision.
02:43We all think he's going to play, but that's the news coming out.
02:46And any bad news on a team usually is going to be reflective in that point spread.
02:50And I do agree.
02:50Like, the Knicks were just giving hype tonight because they're at home and they're a good basketball team.
02:54But nobody's going to be surprised.
02:56Oh, the Pacers can't win in New York.
02:57No, they've done that multiple times already in this series alone.
03:00They can win this game.
03:01But just for me, this is that Knicks' last stand.
03:03And you can't correlate to what we even saw yesterday because that was the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road in an elimination game for themselves.
03:11Ah, just not able to get it done.
03:13OKC's better.
03:13This is the Knicks in an elimination game, but they're at home.
03:16So they're going to get that hometown crowd that's not going to allow them, Ben, to have a 26-9 first quarter.
03:22Like, you want the 26-9 first quarter in your favor at this point.
03:25So I think some things need to change for the Knicks, yes.
03:27But just my overall opinion, it's never wavered.
03:30Even after the last game they played in the Pacers won, I always thought the Knicks would win game number five.
03:34Three and five straight up for the New York Knicks at home inside Madison Square Garden this postseason.
03:40Also three and five against the number.
03:42They have been booked as a favorite, as New York, in six of those eight games.
03:46Not the first two games in their series against the Celtics.
03:50They were booked as an underdog for both games three and four against Boston.
03:54Indiana has been an otherworldly underdog.
03:57Throughout this season, outright and on the road, the Pacers, much like the Knicks, entering game number four in Indianapolis, are six and one straight up away from Indy.
04:08So they will look forward to this test tonight.
04:10And it's also why the public is buying in on the Pacers.
04:13Maybe the odds just having it slightly incorrect.
04:16When you look at the odds for the series, outright DRS, the Pacers minus 650 on the Eastern Conference Finals.
04:24Even if New York can keep its season afloat tonight, does Indiana ultimately win the East?
04:28Yes, absolutely.
04:29I think they probably win it in six.
04:31But for me, again, we already have one collapse in the Western Conference Finals, which means we don't have any more games.
04:35Just as a fan right now of the NBA, boy, I would absolutely love to see what?
04:40Hey, take a look at this.
04:42Game number six, yeah, big win by the Knicks in Indiana, forcing a game number seven at Madison Square Garden for the right to go to the NBA Finals.
04:49But I just think it's a Knicks night tonight.
04:51But game number six, the avalanche might be on on the Knicks.
04:54And they better come correct.
04:56They can, but for me, to get to the original point, Ben, I just don't see it, though.
04:59I don't see the Pacers giving this series up.
05:02The shortest correct score, the team to win and in how many games, is actually the Pacers in five,
05:07which, of course, would be tonight in MSG at plus 148.
05:10About 15 cents short than the plus 164 number for Indiana to win at home in six.
05:17Welcome to our number three, our third and final live right here on this Thursday on the early line on Sports Grid.
05:23He is Donnie.
05:24I am Ben in person together for one more hour up until 11 a.m.
05:29Eastern time in plenty to preview, including game five tonight of the Eastern Conference Finals
05:34between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers.
05:36New York with its season on the brink at home inside Madison Square Garden.
05:41Can they extend this series and stave off elimination?
05:44Or will the Pacers, as they have done oftentimes throughout this playoff run,
05:48and certainly here in the Eastern Conference Finals, win outright as a road underdog?
05:54Plenty to discuss.
05:55We hear from you about this very subject in a matter of moments.
05:59It's the Prop Perspective with TV Tom Becchio of Sports Grid here in this third and final hour on a Thursday as well.
06:06And some MLB previews to break down.
06:09DRS, plenty to get to here in this third and final hour.
06:11Absolutely.
06:12And also, big changes could be made tonight depending on which way this game goes,
06:16which includes the New York Knicks getting knocked out.
06:18Now, is there a difference between them getting knocked out in five, six, or seven,
06:21losing in the Eastern Conference Finals?
06:22I think there is.
06:24You lose in five games in your own building, there will be changes.
06:27You extend this to six or seven, hey, you know what?
06:29We haven't got here in a long time.
06:31Building blocks.
06:32The team's just learning how to play together.
06:33A lot of new pieces.
06:34We'll take it into the next season.
06:36That's what's on the line tonight in Madison Square Garden,
06:38and we'll spend a lot of time talking about that in our number three.
06:41It is a good point, DRS.
06:42And I think we should have that discussion here after we hear from the people.
06:46If they get bounced in a gentleman's sweep,
06:48despite having home floor advantage in the Eastern Conference Finals,
06:51having gotten through the Boston Celtics,
06:54not needing to beat the number one seed in the Cavaliers
06:56to reach an NBA Finals for the first time this millennium,
07:00does it change things because of how abruptly it came to a close for the future?
07:05Do the Knicks make changes to the roster?
07:07Yeah.
07:07And maybe the coaching staff and head coach Tom Thibodeau.
07:10But before we get to all of that,
07:11will the season even come to a close for the Knicks at home tonight?
07:15Will Indiana earn a spot in the NBA Finals?
07:18Will we have a long break before game one on June 5th?
07:21With two consecutive nights of teams pulling off a gentleman's sweep
07:25and a spot in the championship series.
07:27That was the question to all of you.
07:29What's the best bet in Fade the Public?
07:38At SportsGrid on Twitter,
07:40what is the best bet for tonight's Pacers versus Knicks game?
07:44In DRS, this is where Fade the Public really comes in handy.
07:48Your four options, of course.
07:50The Knicks is a four-point home favorite.
07:52Indiana as the underdog on the road inside Madison Square Garden as well.
07:56Over 223 or under that total.
08:00And an overwhelming amount of the public.
08:02Four four options given.
08:03More than 50% of the updated vote.
08:06Backing Indiana as the road underdog.
08:09Pacers plus four.
08:10Of course,
08:10they have won outright in each of the first two games
08:13inside the Garden in this series.
08:16DRS, are you fading the public?
08:17I'm actually shocked by the way this vote has gone.
08:20Not the fact that the Pacers actually are the favorites at 50%.
08:23It's that the New York Knicks minus four is 21.7%.
08:26So let's just call it 22%.
08:28That's what I'm shocked by.
08:29Because you do look to the public,
08:31which typically does like favorites,
08:33and also in their own building in a must-win situation
08:35and say what's not to like.
08:37But the public is so far gone here on the Pacers,
08:39which you can't fault them.
08:40They've been the better team all the way through,
08:41and they have a chance to close out in five games
08:43when many thought maybe when the series started,
08:46game number five at Madison Square Garden
08:48with the Knicks closing out the Indiana Pacers.
08:50They've been great here.
08:51But now we're taking a look at that huge separation.
08:53We'll get to the total in just a moment.
08:55But just a 22% to 50%,
08:57I'm shocked it's that wide of a margin.
08:59I went with the Knicks at the minus four here at 21.7%.
09:02So if you're into just fading the public
09:04and how that works out,
09:05I think I'm sitting in a really good spot at this point
09:07because I thought it would be so much closer
09:10from the public at least evening it out slight a bit.
09:12I would completely agree, DRS.
09:14I'm a little bit surprised,
09:15not necessarily in terms of the betting stats
09:18and where they are right now.
09:19I think it's easy for the public to look at the odds
09:22and see Indiana as a four-point underdog again
09:25and just think the odds makers have this wrong.
09:28It should be a pick-em.
09:29The Pacers, heck, might even be a road favorite.
09:32Of course, that's not how it works
09:33based on the power ratings, the algorithms,
09:35and the models that substantiate these numbers
09:38based on the overall sample size,
09:40not just what we have seen here
09:41in the Eastern Conference Finals,
09:43but 62% of the money backing Indiana on the spread
09:47as the road underdog tonight.
09:4872% of the overall volume of bets backing Indiana
09:52as the road underdog tonight inside the Garden.
09:55More than 50% of our fade to public poll
09:58thinking the Pacers are the right side.
10:01That is a little bit surprising to me.
10:03Is it justified?
10:05Of course, Indiana is 6-1 outright on the road
10:08in this playoff run.
10:10They have been an underdog in all seven of those games.
10:13They have won each of the first two
10:15in the Eastern Conference Finals on the road in New York
10:17inside Madison Square Garden.
10:19And DRS, Pacers, as we have detailed
10:21a numerous amount of times,
10:24are a sensational underdog all throughout this NBA campaign.
10:28In this playoff run,
10:29they have been booked as a dog nine times.
10:31They are 7-2 outright throughout the regular season
10:35and the postseason included.
10:3722-18 outright as an underdog.
10:40One of two teams around the NBA
10:42with a winning record above .500 as an underdog straight up.
10:45And the other is the team already in the NBA Finals,
10:48the Oklahoma City Thunder.
10:50And they've only been a dog three total times this year.
10:532-1, the straight up record for OKC.
10:5522-18 is that mark for Indiana.
10:59So, no, it's not surprising if the Pacers went outright
11:02as a four-point road dog tonight.
11:04But it doesn't necessarily feel like there should be
11:06this large of a betting edge favoring the Pacers
11:09in this moment as the underdog.
11:10And maybe the Knicks being a little bit of a defeatist strategy,
11:13saying like, look, we're going to try to put on
11:14the best we can on home court,
11:16but we've still got to win three straight games here
11:18to knock off the Pacers before we even get to the NBA Finals.
11:21Sometimes just looking psychologically,
11:22that's just such a tough mountain to climb.
11:24And starting off the show,
11:25talking about Tom Thibodeau post-game press conference
11:27after the last game,
11:28saying, I have to try to convince these guys,
11:30like, we can still win this series.
11:31You just can't win it all at once at this point.
11:33You've got to take your time.
11:34It's play-by-play.
11:35I think he said quarter-by-quarter,
11:36half-by-half, game-by-game,
11:38and then you find yourself in a game number seven,
11:40and hopefully you can win that.
11:41But also, take a look at the New York Knicks
11:43coming into tonight.
11:44Full gas expected,
11:45but Carl Anthony Towns is a game-time decision.
11:48Expectations are Carl Anthony Towns is going to play,
11:50but if we've got one of their better players
11:51that's dinged up and injured
11:52before you even start the game,
11:54that's going to feed into it as well
11:55because you don't have flukes here.
11:57It's not a fluke that the Pacers are up
11:58three to one in this series right now.
12:00They're the better team,
12:01and there's no fluke that's saying,
12:03hey, the Knicks can easily win the next three games.
12:05No, they can't.
12:05Otherwise, they would have done that already
12:07at this point.
12:08And then again,
12:08to have Carl Anthony Towns a little bit banged up
12:10to start this game,
12:11if he's not full gas,
12:12then it does just have to be on Brunson
12:13and Mikkel Bridges
12:14and the rest of the crew there.
12:16So surprising to me
12:17that the New York Knicks
12:19are the favorites in this game,
12:20no, surprising to me is the poll
12:22that says that everybody it feels like
12:24is just backing the Pacers
12:25as an easy victor tonight
12:27on the road in the garden.
12:28Two games over,
12:29two games under in this series.
12:31Games one and four
12:32skying over their pregame total.
12:34219 in a hook.
12:36That closing number for game four in Indy
12:38are lowest so far
12:39the Eastern Conference Finals.
12:41We saw 251 points combined
12:44in that game.
12:45Should be noted,
12:46yesterday the least amount selected
12:48by the public and considerably so
12:50as we are seeing here.
12:51Fewer than 8%
12:52on the under last night
12:54of 220 in a hook
12:55in the closeout game
12:56for OKC
12:57did stay under
12:58by about a bucket.
13:00223 the total tonight.
13:01The under 7.8%
13:03of the vote
13:04at this moment.
13:06We'll get to the props later
13:07with Tom Vecchio.
13:08He will provide that prop perspective
13:10in full.
13:11I want to hit on something
13:12you mentioned here.
13:13If the Knicks are closed out
13:14tonight in five,
13:15does it change the job status
13:17of Tom Thibodeau
13:18at the end of this series?
13:20100%.
13:20And again,
13:21you are hired to be fired,
13:23but also understand this.
13:24The expectations of the Knicks
13:25winning a championship
13:26would have been much different.
13:27Hey, man,
13:28made it to the Eastern Conference Finals,
13:29couldn't beat the Celtics,
13:30lost in six games
13:31in the Garden.
13:32We'll try to get it next year.
13:33Like, no,
13:34after you beat the Celtics,
13:35this is your year.
13:36Maybe not to win it all,
13:37but to get to the NBA Finals.
13:38I don't think the Knicks
13:39can look at this season
13:40as a success,
13:41even though they finally made
13:42the Eastern Conference Finals,
13:44if it's a loss to the Pacers
13:45and embarrassing in game five
13:46in your own building.
13:47Would it change if they lost
13:48in game six in Indiana?
13:49It might, yes.
13:50I do think it changes.
13:51I also would agree with you
13:53the idea of maybe questioning
13:54Thibs leading this organization
13:56if you can't get past
13:57this Eastern Conference Finals
13:59already getting through
14:01the Celtics.
14:01I really feel DRS.
14:03We're just keeping the seats warm
14:04for our next guest
14:05coming on the show.
14:06That's TV Tom Vecchio,
14:07a man that sits right here
14:09each and every weekend
14:10on the Sports Grid Network
14:12throughout the NBA postseason,
14:14but, of course, providing us
14:15that proper perspective
14:16on this Thursday
14:17on the Early Line TV.
14:20Tom, we appreciate the time
14:21as always.
14:22Thank you for being here.
14:24Yeah, thanks for having me.
14:25I will be, of course,
14:26in studio on Saturday
14:28with Kevin and Coach JY
14:30going over all things NBA,
14:32getting ready for the NBA draft.
14:35We have a potential
14:35closeout game tonight
14:37in both the NBA and the NHL.
14:39I'm ready to go.
14:40We had a closeout game
14:41in each spot last night as well.
14:43Tom Vecchio,
14:44the Oklahoma City Thunder,
14:46victorious in only five games
14:47in the Western Conference Finals
14:49in the Association.
14:50The Florida Panthers
14:51continue their title defense
14:53of Lord Stanley's Cup,
14:55winning in only five games
14:56in the Eastern Conference Final
14:57to advance to the Cup Final
14:59for a third straight season.
15:01We'll talk about all of that
15:02here on this Thursday on TEL.
15:05Let's start in the NBA.
15:07Game five last night
15:08in Oklahoma City.
15:09The Thunder for a second
15:10consecutive series-clinching victory
15:13win it by at least 30 points.
15:15124-94.
15:18The 30-point win last night
15:20for OKC in game five
15:21against Minnesota,
15:23pulling off the Gentleman Sweep.
15:24There was a lot to like
15:25last night, Vecchio,
15:26about OKC's closeout performance.
15:29What impressed you most?
15:31What impressed me most
15:32is that they were able
15:33to continue that from game four.
15:36You know, going into last night's game,
15:38my takeaways essentially
15:39were from game four
15:40is like, listen,
15:41Minnesota tried to hit him
15:43with the haymaker
15:43and they threw that punch
15:45and OKC took it on the chin
15:47and just kept walking right at him.
15:49Like, that was the best shot
15:50for Minnesota.
15:50And as soon as that happened,
15:52you knew that the series was over.
15:54Like, there was no shot
15:55Minnesota was going to be able
15:56to respond and do that again
15:58in an away environment
15:59where OKC has just been
16:01utterly dominant this year.
16:02Like, that's what it has been.
16:03And when you look at it,
16:04like, we should have seen
16:05this coming.
16:05Like, I thought about it
16:07for a second yesterday.
16:08I was like, man,
16:08I should have played OKC
16:09like, you know,
16:10minus 12 and a half
16:11or something like
16:12taking some type of all spread
16:13because when they were
16:1310-point favorites,
16:14they're winning by 15 or 20.
16:16When they're 18-point favorites,
16:17they're winning by 30.
16:18That's what we consistently saw
16:19from them throughout
16:20the regular season.
16:21Now, I don't expect that to happen
16:22going into the NBA Finals.
16:24They may win a game
16:24by 10 or 12 points
16:25here or there,
16:26but to win by 30
16:27multiple times
16:28throughout the playoffs
16:29is absolutely unbelievable.
16:30And I saw a stat this morning.
16:31They have the highest ATS record,
16:33the best ATS record
16:34for a team going to the Finals
16:36in NBA history.
16:37It's unbelievable
16:37what they've done this season.
16:39It has been.
16:39And also a 30-point win
16:40in a closeout situation at home.
16:42Home court advantage
16:43does mean something to OKC.
16:44They've been absolutely dominant
16:45at that point,
16:46but also extending
16:47into the NBA Finals.
16:48We don't know who
16:49they're actually going to play,
16:50but let's just do, like,
16:51a quick preview
16:52of either one of those teams.
16:53Like, OKC, more comfortable.
16:55Let's just say this goes
16:56seven games
16:56and the winner could be the Knicks
16:58or it could be the Pacers.
16:59If you are OKC
17:00based on the season
17:01that they've had,
17:02who would you rather play
17:03between those two teams?
17:05You know, I think
17:06you would rather play the Knicks,
17:08right?
17:08Because, frankly,
17:09the Knicks don't have
17:10the offensive firepower
17:11nor the depth
17:12to keep up with OKC.
17:14Like, the Pacers,
17:15the Pacers can score.
17:16That's what they've been doing.
17:17Like, listen, okay,
17:18you have games
17:18that end 128, 125.
17:20That's a coin flip, right?
17:21But if you know
17:21you could just out,
17:22listen, we're just
17:23going to outscore the Knicks.
17:23We're going to drop 130,
17:24try and keep up with us.
17:25You don't have the depth.
17:26You don't have the scoring.
17:27You don't have the shooting.
17:29It just won't be the Knicks.
17:30Like, if they get there,
17:31the Knicks will lose
17:31in four, maybe five games
17:33for the Pacers,
17:34the Pacers could give them trouble.
17:35So, if you have games
17:36that go, you know,
17:37again, 128, 125,
17:39that comes down
17:39to a last shot type of thing.
17:41The Pacers can hang with them.
17:42Now, I do think OKC
17:43are better than
17:44the Pacers overall,
17:45but that's still not a situation
17:46that you want to be in.
17:47You want to play the Knicks
17:48because you know
17:49you can beat them.
17:50So, let's talk about
17:52game number five
17:52of the Eastern Conference
17:54Finals tonight
17:54inside Madison Square Garden.
17:57The Indiana Pacers,
17:58despite being the road underdog,
18:00are the team up 3-1
18:02in this series
18:03with a potential
18:04to close out
18:05the New York Knicks
18:06in the Eastern Conference
18:07Finals tonight.
18:09Becky, when you look
18:09at game number five,
18:10New York is a four-point
18:12home favorite,
18:13a total of 223.
18:15Let's start with the numbers
18:16to paint the picture
18:17for what we can expect
18:19with the Knicks' season
18:20on the brink.
18:22How do you expect
18:23the flow to look like
18:24tonight in game number five?
18:25I expect the Pacers
18:27continue doing their thing
18:28and it's going to be
18:29to push the pace
18:29and score.
18:30Like, their team total
18:31is sitting at 109,
18:32I think I saw earlier
18:33with minus 120 juice
18:35to the over.
18:35Again, they're going to score.
18:36They have been consistently
18:37scoring the entire series.
18:39They have the one game
18:39where they're held
18:40to just 100 points.
18:41But again,
18:42the Knicks don't have the depth.
18:43The Knicks don't want to turn
18:44this into a barn burner
18:45back and forth
18:46and that's what the Pacers
18:47want to do.
18:48The Pacers want to make
18:49them uncomfortable
18:50and force them to play fast.
18:51The Knicks want to drag them down
18:53and make this an ugly game
18:54but they're just,
18:55they can't.
18:56They can't do that.
18:56That's what they want to do
18:57but they haven't been
18:58successful at it.
18:59So, I see points.
19:00I see the over.
19:01I don't want to see the over.
19:03I want to see the under.
19:04That's how I prefer
19:05to see games.
19:05But ultimately,
19:06I think the over will hit
19:07and I think the Pacers team total
19:08over 109
19:09is a really great option tonight.
19:10Yeah, take a look
19:11at the superstar players
19:12in this game
19:13and quite frankly,
19:13this series.
19:14We expect Jalen Brunson
19:15to be a big part
19:16of that game tonight.
19:16His points prop
19:17at the FanDuel Sportsbook.
19:18Tom, 30 and a half points.
19:20You take a look
19:20at Tyrese Halliburton
19:21who's been nothing
19:22short of sensational.
19:23Big shot after big shot
19:24and also an unbelievable
19:25performance in the last game.
19:27Didn't even turn
19:27the basketball over.
19:28He's listed at 20 and a half points.
19:30When you take a look
19:31at the top level guys,
19:32Halliburton and Brunson,
19:33how do you play
19:33these two guys tonight?
19:35You can easily just go
19:36to Brunson because you think
19:37the volume is going to go there
19:38and if Cat's not healthy
19:40or he's listed as questionable
19:41with the knee, leg injury,
19:43whatever it is after that fall
19:44at the end of the game,
19:45you know, the ball's
19:46going to be in Brunson's hands.
19:46Surprise, surprise.
19:47He's going to take
19:48a ton of shots.
19:48But frankly, I think the best bet
19:50on that would be
19:51Halliburton assists.
19:52Like he's going to get
19:53everyone else involved.
19:54They're going to look
19:55to stop him
19:55and look to shut him down.
19:56He had nearly a triple-double
19:57at halftime the other day.
19:58So they look to shut him down.
19:59It's like, hey, Neesmith,
20:00you don't have to be
20:01as amazing as you were
20:02the other game one,
20:03making, you know, six threes
20:04or whatever it was
20:05to end the game.
20:05Just make a couple.
20:06Be open.
20:07Siakam hit some more shots.
20:09Miles Turner step out
20:09and hit some threes.
20:10So the assist from Halliburton
20:11is probably the most interesting.
20:13Yeah, it really is.
20:14And then when you look
20:15at the volume for Jalen Brunson,
20:16of course, as well, Vecchio,
20:18he has taken at least
20:1920 field goal attempts
20:20in 10 of 16 games for the Knicks,
20:22but neither of the two
20:23on the road in this series
20:25in Indianapolis,
20:26despite scoring 31 points
20:28in game number four,
20:30only 19 field goal tries.
20:32Of course, Tyrese Halliburton
20:33coming off the historic performance
20:35in game number four,
20:3632 points, 15 dimes,
20:3812 boards, and zero turnovers.
20:41That being the first 35-15
20:43or 30-15-10 in zero turnover game
20:47in NBA playoff history.
20:49Let's talk about some of
20:50the other guys we expect
20:52to have a big night tonight.
20:54Vecchio, if you had to highlight
20:55one prop that you like
20:57above all else in game five
20:58tonight in the Garden,
20:59what would it be?
21:00Yeah, let's go to Mitchell Robinson
21:02over seven and a half rebounds.
21:04This was sitting at minus 138.
21:06Fandle does have a boost.
21:07You can get it up to,
21:08I think it's minus 106
21:09with the boost somewhere around there.
21:10That's where I'm playing it.
21:11Listen, if Cat isn't fully healthy,
21:13again, list this question
21:14on the leg injury,
21:15and we've seen Mitchell Robinson
21:16in the starting lineup,
21:17this is what he has to do.
21:18Like, okay, get Cat out there.
21:20He can provide a little bit
21:21of offense.
21:21Maybe he's not going to be
21:22crashing the boards
21:23in every single play,
21:23but Mitch Robb has to be out there
21:25picking up the extra boards.
21:26He also has to stay
21:27out of foul trouble, right?
21:28Four fouls, three fouls
21:29in the past few games.
21:30He's obviously in the starting line
21:31with the most recent game,
21:32but this is the role
21:32that he has to play.
21:34Boards, get the rebound
21:35and give it to other players
21:36to do the scoring.
21:37Yeah, chip in five, six,
21:38seven points, whatever it might be,
21:39but if Cat can't rebound,
21:41they need someone consistently
21:42down there against Turner
21:43and Siakam and Mitchell Robinson
21:44and then Hart coming off the bench
21:46have to be those two options.
21:47You need to have energy
21:48off the bench,
21:49no doubt about it,
21:50for them to survive tonight.
21:51If they do survive,
21:52let's take a look here
21:53at the series betting price
21:54and coming into tonight,
21:55no surprise,
21:56that's a heavy favor
21:56for the road team
21:57looking to close out
21:58the New York Knicks at home.
21:59That's a minus 650 price
22:01on the favorites,
22:02the Indiana Pacers.
22:03The New York Knicks
22:03coming in with a plus 480 price.
22:05The chances that possibly
22:06the Knicks win tonight,
22:08but can win game six
22:09and also game seven.
22:10Is there any buy-in point
22:11for the Knicks for you
22:12or doesn't matter
22:13what the price point is
22:14on Indiana,
22:14you're buying it.
22:16I think if you were
22:17just looking at this
22:18and you have no action on it,
22:19if you,
22:20I mean,
22:21to win in six games
22:22or to go six total games
22:25would be plus 164,
22:26I don't mind that.
22:27Like,
22:27if you were like,
22:28hey,
22:28I just want to see
22:29the series get extended,
22:30ultimately Indiana win,
22:31but I'm not going to lay,
22:32you know,
22:33the massive use
22:34on Indiana at this point.
22:35You can just,
22:36they win in six games,
22:37they lose tonight,
22:37then they close things out
22:38at home.
22:39I think that's fine.
22:40And when you look
22:40at the odds right there,
22:42one number I find fascinating
22:43is despite being
22:44a four-point underdog
22:45tonight on the road
22:46inside Madison Square Garden,
22:48the most likely outcome
22:49as the odds makers see it
22:50is Indiana in five
22:52at plus 148,
22:54even shorter
22:55than the price
22:55of the Pacers back home
22:57in Indianapolis,
22:58clinching this series
22:59in a spot
22:59in the NBA Finals
23:01for the first time
23:01in two and a half decades
23:02in six games.
23:04That's plus 164.
23:07Closing out
23:08this special edition
23:09on a Thursday
23:10on the early line
23:11on SportsGrid
23:12in person,
23:13in studio.
23:14Our final segment,
23:16one final look
23:16at game number five
23:17of the Eastern Conference
23:19Finals tonight
23:19inside Madison Square Garden
23:21between the Knicks
23:22and the Pacers.
23:23Will Indiana
23:24clinch a spot
23:25in the NBA Finals
23:26for the first time
23:27since 2000
23:28when they also beat
23:29the New York Knicks
23:30in the Eastern Conference
23:31Finals?
23:32That in six games,
23:33this could be
23:33in the old gentleman's sweep
23:35or will the Knicks
23:36extend this series
23:37saving their season
23:38and forcing that sixth game
23:40back in Indianapolis
23:41on Saturday night?
23:43DRS,
23:44one final breakdown
23:45of this
23:45before we get
23:45to a best bet
23:46of all the bets
23:47on this Thursday.
23:49The Knicks
23:49a four-point home favorite.
23:51The total stands
23:51at 223.
23:54What do you think
23:55happens tonight?
23:56Are the Knicks
23:57as a home favorite
23:58going to keep
23:59their season afloat?
23:59Get ready for Saturday night.
24:01Game number six
24:01back in Indiana
24:03and then Indiana
24:03will close out
24:04the New York Knicks
24:04in that game.
24:05I expect a great effort
24:06from the Knicks tonight
24:07and if it's not
24:08a great effort,
24:09changes will be made.
24:10So just looking
24:10at the point spread,
24:11it's minus four.
24:12If I think the Knicks
24:13are going to win this game,
24:13of course,
24:14I'm going to bet
24:14the minus four.
24:15Oh,
24:15I think the Knicks win,
24:15but just not by four.
24:16Ridiculous.
24:17Then you might as well
24:17just take money line
24:18on the Indiana Pacers
24:19at this point.
24:20For me,
24:20I think the Knicks
24:21win this game
24:22in the garden
24:22at home
24:23and start this game
24:24off with.
24:24Look,
24:25you can't be down
24:25five or ten points
24:26at the break
24:26for the Knicks
24:27and expect a huge
24:28comeback in the second half.
24:29Take hold of this game
24:30and it's Jalen Brunson's
24:31job to do that.
24:32Knicks win tonight.
24:33That's my expectation.
24:34I'm not so sure.
24:35I kind of lean
24:36with the money line
24:37for the Indiana Pacers.
24:38Here's just my thought.
24:39I think the balance
24:40and depth for Indiana
24:41is a little bit
24:42underestimated here
24:44at least in terms
24:45of this overall
24:45postseason run
24:46and maybe even
24:47in to the NBA Finals.
24:50I will say,
24:51if you agree with DRS though,
24:52and this is how you think
24:53the series plays out,
24:54the Knicks win at home
24:55tonight,
24:55they lay four and a half,
24:56they cover that number,
24:58plus 164.
25:00For Indiana to win
25:01this series
25:01in six games
25:02back on their own
25:03home floor
25:04would be a way
25:05I would look as well
25:06in the series
25:06correct score odds
25:07because the Pacers,
25:09even if it's not
25:09by five or six points,
25:11will be at least
25:12a slight home favorite
25:13in a potential game six
25:14in Indy on Saturday night.
25:17We've talked Tyrese Halliburton
25:18after his masterful
25:19and historic performance
25:20in game four.
25:22Jalen Brunson scored 31.
25:23His points prop tonight,
25:2530 and a half.
25:26If they are going
25:26to survive DRS
25:27in this elimination format,
25:29Brunson a big key.
25:30But let's talk
25:31the secondary options.
25:32Carl Anthony Towns
25:33listed as questionable.
25:35I think we all expect
25:36him to play tonight.
25:37His points prop,
25:3820 and a half.
25:40On the other side,
25:40Pascal Siakam
25:41also had 30 in game
25:43four for Indiana.
25:44His points prop tonight,
25:4620 and a half.
25:46Of those secondary figures
25:48tonight, DRS,
25:49in this crucial game five,
25:51who gets your attention
25:51first and foremost?
25:52It's actually,
25:53it's really hard for me
25:54to gauge the Pacers
25:55because they're so complete
25:56that on any given night,
25:57somebody can drop 30 points.
25:58You say, well, okay,
25:58you'll always be in it.
25:59I understand that.
26:00But if Carl Anthony Towns
26:01is in this game tonight
26:02and he's banged up a little bit,
26:03he's 21 and a half.
26:04You know, Neesmith,
26:05and again,
26:06you have to wait
26:06until later in the day.
26:07If you show up tonight
26:08and you watch the pregame,
26:09like Carl Anthony Towns
26:10is moving fine,
26:11then wipe it off the board.
26:12But if he's somewhat injured here
26:13and you're going to get
26:14a price point of 21 and a half,
26:15I do lean towards the under.
26:16But also,
26:17if another guy that loves
26:18to shoot the basketball,
26:19he's going to shoot it
26:20no matter what,
26:20you know where I'm going.
26:21It's Mikel Bridges.
26:22You take a look at him.
26:23If he gets hot,
26:24and he can,
26:2416 and a half points
26:25because it just,
26:26I love Brunson tonight.
26:27I'll tell you about that
26:28in a second.
26:28But if I'm just looking
26:29for a secondary option
26:30for the Knicks,
26:31if Towns is a little bit
26:32banged up,
26:32that's 20 possible
26:34shot attempts
26:34that you might get
26:35out of Mikel Bridges.
26:36Some late threes
26:37for Mikel Bridges
26:38pushed him to 17 points
26:39in game four
26:40despite not a great game
26:42early on.
26:42OG Ananobi,
26:43exactly 16 points
26:44in the first three games
26:45of the Eastern Conference Finals.
26:4722,
26:48albeit in a loss
26:49in game number four.
26:51I look at Pascal Siakam
26:52for those guys.
26:53His points prop on the rise.
26:55But he has scored
26:55at least 17
26:56in all four games
26:57in this series.
26:5830 plus now
26:59in two of the four.
27:01Cat has been
27:01his primary defender.
27:02If he's a little bit
27:03banged up,
27:03maybe not moving
27:04all that well
27:05on the perimeter
27:05where Siakam
27:06has taken advantage
27:07throughout this set
27:08to begin.
27:09But before we go,
27:10it's a best bet
27:11of them all.
27:12Time now for Bye Bye Bye.
27:19DRS for all of these games,
27:21for everything in action
27:22on this Thursday,
27:23what is the best bet?
27:24How about a three pack tonight?
27:25Let's give the people
27:26something for the ride
27:27home today.
27:27Number one,
27:28it's going to be
27:28the Philadelphia Phillies
27:29in game number two
27:30under seven and a half runs.
27:32Number two,
27:32I told you already,
27:33the Tampa Bay Rays
27:34getting over three
27:35and a half runs scored
27:36against the Houston Astros
27:37with my guy Gusto
27:38on the mound.
27:39And number three,
27:39I've been saying it all,
27:40I've got to put my money
27:41where my mouth is.
27:42Over 30 and a half points,
27:43Jalen Brunson tonight.
27:44He shoots 25 plus times
27:46tonight.
27:46We're getting that.
27:47I think the Pacers
27:48clinched this in five games
27:49inside Madison Square Garden.
27:51As DRS mentioned,
27:52if I believe Indiana
27:53is the right side
27:54in what could be
27:55a series clinching game,
27:56I don't really need
27:57the plus four.
27:58I'll just take them
27:58at plus 148
28:00on the money line.
28:01And really just from
28:02a handicapping perspective
28:04of seeing what we saw
28:05yesterday,
28:05not a lot of public love
28:07on the under
28:08for game five
28:09in Oklahoma City
28:10that stayed under.
28:11Maybe looking at the
28:12under of 223
28:13now on the rise
28:14by more than three points
28:15from 219
28:16in a hook
28:17that sailed well over
28:18in game number four.
28:20We'll round out
28:20this week
28:21on a Friday
28:22on the early line
28:23starting tomorrow
28:248 a.m. Eastern
28:25here on Sportsbook.