Xam’s Daily Gems:
Bucks/Pacers Over 212.5 Points -112 FanDuel
In the two home games this series, the Pacers have scored 121 and 126 points, respectively. They also scored 125 points in Game 2. The offense no-showed in Game 5, but Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and the rest of the Pacers will be ready to go in another attempt to close out the series. Before Game 5, the Total went Over this number. The key will likely be what the Bucks can do offensively. On the road, in a tough environment, and without their top two offensive options, they’ll need key contributions from role players. Bobby Portis, Khris Middleton, and Malik Beasley led the way for the Bucks in Game 5. They’ll need these guys to bring a similar effort tomorrow. The Pacers AVERAGED 125.5 PPG at home this year, and they’ll DEFINITELY bring the energy tomorrow. If the Bucks can score some points and keep this interesting, the Pacers SHOULD be able to do the rest!
Knicks/76ers Over 199 Points -108 FanDuel
4 of the first 5 games of this series went Over this number, and went over by a significant margin. The highest scoring game came in Game 3 in Philadelphia, when the 76ers won 125-114. Of course, the lowest total came in Game 4, when neither team reached 100 points. It goes without saying that we will need the two best scorers in this game, Jalen Brunson and Joel Embiid, to show up. Both of them have been monsters in this series, doing whatever they can to score and make things happen. However, we will need role players to contribute as well. Guys like Tyrese Maxey, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart need to continue being solid contributors like they have been for much of the series. Brunson and Embiid are sure to log as many minutes as possible, and everyone on the 76ers is surely going to get more minutes in what is another elimination game. The raucous Philadelphia crowd will SURELY be ready to go! If the Knicks can match the early intensity, we just may be in store for another high scoring affair! The 76ers averaged 115 PPG at home this year, and if they get ANYWHERE near that total tomorrow, this game SHOULD FLY OVER!
Tobias Harris Over 11.5 Points -130 FanDuel
Tobias Harris is coming off his best game of this series by far in Game 5. He scored 19 points on 63% shooting from the floor and drained 3 shots from beyond-the-arc as well! In 36 games this year at the Wells Fargo Center, Harris averaged 16.7 PPG! The Knicks will rightly be focused on trying to shut down Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. They’ll live with Harris taking more shots and being more involved if that’s what it takes. It’s another elimination game for the 76ers, so Harris will get all the minutes he can handle after playing 49 minutes in Game 5. The 76ers NEED him to step up tomorrow, and he knows what it takes to put the ball in the hoop!
Isaiah Hartenstein Over 17.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists -128 FanDuel
Inexplicably, Hartenstein played nearly the same amount of minutes as Mitchell Robinson in Game 5. Even with OT, he only logged 25 minutes and 17 PRAs. The Knicks will NEED the offensive production Hartenstein provides that Robinson simply doesn’t. He scored 14 points in Game 3 in Philadelphia, showing he can still score and impact the game on the road in a hostile environment. The last thing in the world the Knicks will want is a do-or-die Game 7, so they SHOULD roll with their best players for as many minutes as they can possibly handle. The key for Hartenstein will be avoiding foul trouble, as that has been an issue for him as he’s battled Joel Embiid this series. As long as Hartenstein can stay on the court, he SHOULD impact the game in a VARIETY of ways!