NBA DFS Picks for the Playoffs: Knicks @ Pacers – Game 6

The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks are on a collision course for a massive Game 6 in the Eastern Conference Finals, with the Pacers trying to hold on for the series. They’ll get a chance to close it out at home tonight and would much rather get that taken care of instead of prolonging the series to a Game 7 finale at Madison Square Garden.

Game 5 saw the Knicks trounce the Pacers 111-94 thanks to a subpar effort by the Pacers on offense and the strong back of the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, who is helping to carry the Knicks and keep them alive with Karl-Anthony Towns.

Let’s examine this Game 5 matchup, recap how both teams got here and make a Game 6 pick for tonight.

New York Knicks NBA Playoffs Recap

After getting down 0-2 in the series entering Game 3, the Knicks have taken two of the last three games to make this a series with Indiana. The Knicks are on the brink of elimination, but they’ll ride the tandem of Brunson and KAT as long as possible. In fact, with Brunson scoring a game-high 32 and Towns chipping in 24 in Game 5’s win, they became the first pair of teammates since Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal to score 20+ points in the first five games of a Conference Finals series.

New York carried their lead the entire way, as they never relinquished their lead during Game 5. Can the Knicks become the first team to win a Conference Finals series after losing the first two games on their home court? If they play like they did in Game 5, absolutely. It doesn’t mean they weren’t a bit spooked as head coach Tom Thibodeau put the New York starters back in once the Pacers cut the Knicks’ Game 5 lead to 12. If the Knicks can take care of business in Game 6, a home Game 7 awaits them in what might be the biggest Knicks’ playoff game since the Knicks and Pacers duked it out in the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals.

Indiana Pacers NBA Playoffs Recap

The Pacers didn’t light things up on the scoreboard in Game 5, as they shot just 40% as a team with 20 turnovers. They also scored less than 100 points for the first time in the playoffs. Despite a lackluster Game 5, they’re still in the driver’s seat as far as this series is concerned, with a home game in Game 6. 

Indiana will need a much more efficient outing at home to close out the series. With the way the Knicks’ stars have been playing, the momentum has shifted towards New York. Pascal Siakam was the only Pacers’ starter to score in double-digits, and bench player Bennedict Mathurin saw extended minutes and put forth his second-straight game of 20+ points with a team-high 23.

With the Pacers being more of a “whole is greater than the sum of its parts” team rather than a star-focused team, they will need a team effort at home to put away the Knicks. Easier said than done, for sure, with Brunson and Towns dominating during this series. The Pacers have allowed Brunson to average 33 points and 5.4 assists during this series, with Towns averaging 25 himself, plus 11 rebounds.

Knicks vs Pacers Game 6 DFS Picks

For Game 6, the Knicks will be carried by their dynamic duo of Brunson and KAT. Both players’ production can be relied upon like clockwork, and for DFS purposes, I love that. They’re up against the brink of elimination, so there are no off games left for the Knicks – it’s do or die in Indianapolis in Game 6 to get to the friendly confines of Madison Square Garden for a home Game 7.

While we can go with Brunson and his prodigious scoring for a must-win Game 6, we’re going to go with Towns and his all-around game, with his work on the glass in addition to his scoring. If the Knicks want to extend the series, KAT will be a massive reason why. These games are why the Knicks traded for him last October.

Our Pick: Karl-Anthony Towns to Record 36+ Pts+Reb+Ast