NBA Playoffs Best Bets, Picks, Predictions for Saturday, May 31

The conference round of the NBA Playoffs resumes with one standalone matchup on Saturday night, as Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Knicks and Pacers takes center stage at 8:00 p.m. ET on TNT.

Our staff of basketball betting experts dug into the latest odds and identified 5 NBA picks for tonight’s contest. Continue below for our NBA best bets and predictions for Saturday, May 31.

NBA Playoffs Best Bets, Picks, Predictions: Saturday, May 31

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Game	Time (ET)	Pick
[teammatchup link=”#1″ firstfullname=”New York Knicks” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/07/new-york-knicks-updated-logo-2023.png” secondfullname=”Indiana Pacers” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/ind.png”][/teammatchup]	8 p.m.	Tyrese Haliburton Under 10.5 Assists
[teammatchup link=”#2″ firstfullname=”New York Knicks” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/07/new-york-knicks-updated-logo-2023.png” secondfullname=”Indiana Pacers” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/ind.png”][/teammatchup]	8 p.m.	Josh Hart Over 9.5 Rebounds
[teammatchup link=”#3″ firstfullname=”New York Knicks” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/07/new-york-knicks-updated-logo-2023.png” secondfullname=”Indiana Pacers” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/ind.png”][/teammatchup]	8 p.m.	Pacers 1H -1.5
[teammatchup link=”#4″ firstfullname=”New York Knicks” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/07/new-york-knicks-updated-logo-2023.png” secondfullname=”Indiana Pacers” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/ind.png”][/teammatchup]	8 p.m.	Pacers -3.5
[teammatchup link=”#5″ firstfullname=”New York Knicks” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/07/new-york-knicks-updated-logo-2023.png” secondfullname=”Indiana Pacers” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/ind.png”][/teammatchup]	8 p.m.	Myles Turner Under 6.5 RA
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game.

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[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Knicks vs. Pacers”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Tyrese Haliburton Under 10.5 Assists (-135)” league=”nba” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/07/new-york-knicks-updated-logo-2023.png” awayname=”New York Knicks” awayslug=”new-york-knicks” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/ind.png” homename=”Indiana Pacers” homeslug=”indiana-pacers” date=”Saturday, May 31″ time=”8 p.m. ET” network=”TNT” bookname=”DraftKings ” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/477013_DraftKings@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”draftkings”][/gameheader]

By Joe Dellera

One of the biggest adjustments the Knicks made last game was where they started picking up Haliburton defensively.

He was getting picked up on average around halfcourt, which makes it harder to effectively pass to someone who is in a scoring position.

Additionally, the Knicks were face-guarding him with Mikal Bridges. They were denying him the ball and playing extremely physical defense.

This was done in an effort to just prevent the ball from even getting into his hands.

Between the general ball-denial and the strategy to pick him up earlier, he can still make effective passes, but they may lead to more hockey assists than actual assists here.

His potentials dropped tremendously in Game 5 with only 10 leading to 6 assists.

The Pacers playing more Mathurin is worse for Hali’s assists as well because he is someone that can score on his own in isolation.

I’ll bet under 10.5 assists, and while this could go wrong fast with someone of Haliburton’s passing chops, the defensive change is there to see a bit of a dip.

Pick: Tyrese Haliburton Under 10.5 Assists (-135)

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[teammatchup link=”#1″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”New York Knicks” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/07/new-york-knicks-updated-logo-2023.png” secondfullname=”Indiana Pacers” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/ind.png”][/teammatchup]

[teammatchup link=”#2″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”New York Knicks” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/07/new-york-knicks-updated-logo-2023.png” secondfullname=”Indiana Pacers” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/ind.png”][/teammatchup]

[teammatchup link=”#3″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”New York Knicks” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/07/new-york-knicks-updated-logo-2023.png” secondfullname=”Indiana Pacers” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/ind.png”][/teammatchup]

[teammatchup link=”#4″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”New York Knicks” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/07/new-york-knicks-updated-logo-2023.png” secondfullname=”Indiana Pacers” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/ind.png”][/teammatchup]

[teammatchup link=”#5″ shadow=”true” firstfullname=”New York Knicks” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/07/new-york-knicks-updated-logo-2023.png” secondfullname=”Indiana Pacers” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/ind.png”][/teammatchup]

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[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Knicks vs. Pacers”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Josh Hart Over 9.5 Rebounds (+105)” league=”nba” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/07/new-york-knicks-updated-logo-2023.png” awayname=”New York Knicks” awayslug=”new-york-knicks” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/ind.png” homename=”Indiana Pacers” homeslug=”indiana-pacers” date=”Saturday, May 31″ time=”8 p.m. ET” network=”TNT” bookname=”BetMGM” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/779359_BetMGM800x200@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”betmgm”][/gameheader]

By Alex Hinton

Josh Hart averaged 9.6 rebounds per game in the regular season, essentially matching this line.

He has had no problems getting to 10 against the Pacers. Hart had 10 rebounds in all three regular season meetings against Indiana, as well as four of the first five games in this series.

Even coming off the bench has not prevented Hart from clearing this line, and it actually it may help him.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau moved Mitchell Robinson into the starting lineup because of his impact on the glass and the defensive end. However, he has still only played 39 minutes in the last two games.

Hart is still seeing his usual allotment of minutes (35 per game in the series), but now some of them have come with only one of Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns on the floor opposed to both.

That has still given him a lot of rebound opportunities and he has averaged 17.6 rebound chances in this series. If Hart has 17 or 18 rebound chances tonight, I like his chances to grab 10 of them.

Pick: Josh Hart Over 9.5 Rebounds (+105)

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[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Knicks vs. Pacers”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Pacers First Half Spread -1.5 (-115)” league=”nba” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/07/new-york-knicks-updated-logo-2023.png” awayname=”New York Knicks” awayslug=”new-york-knicks” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/ind.png” homename=”Indiana Pacers” homeslug=”indiana-pacers” date=”Saturday, May 31″ time=”8 p.m. ET” network=”TNT” bookname=”Fanatics Sportsbook” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/542724_Fanatics-banner-logo.png” bookreviewslug=”fanatics-sportsbook”][/gameheader]

By Bryan Fonseca

The Pacers got 37 points from their starters and scored under 100 points last game. The Knicks played their best 48 minutes in this series in a desperation home spot.

I’m not sure either of those happen again, but at a minimum, I do think Indy starts better than they did on the road in Game 5.

The Knicks finally controlled the tempo of an entire game, but the Pacers haven’t started a game like that twice in a row yet.

I’m consistent with this in the playoffs: The bounce-back spot is often in the first half. It isn’t to say the Knicks will come back and win late, but with these two teams in particular you just don’t know.

The Pacers didn’t generate their typical offense, shot poorly from three despite some open looks, and turned the ball over an abnormal amount.

The Knicks were better from start to finish, but haven’t been that consistent since Game 6 against the Celtics.

Their defense looked outstanding, which we’ve only otherwise seen this series in the second half of Game 3.

The Pacers have covered in the first half after all three of their playoff losses prior to tonight. I’m backing the trend to continue for a fourth time tonight.

Pick: Pacers First Half Spread -1.5 (-115)

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[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Knicks vs. Pacers”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Pacers -3.5 (-115)” league=”nba” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/07/new-york-knicks-updated-logo-2023.png” awayname=”New York Knicks” awayslug=”new-york-knicks” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/ind.png” homename=”Indiana Pacers” homeslug=”indiana-pacers” date=”Saturday, May 31″ time=”8 p.m. ET” network=”TNT” bookname=”BetMGM” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/779359_BetMGM800x200@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”betmgm”][/gameheader]

By Michael Fiddle

This is a prime Pacers spot.

We get to back the home team here in a critical spot, coming off of a loss for the zig-zag angle, and it aligns with what the market has told us so far.

The late market for the last few games has tilted toward the Pacers.

In Game 5, there was a move towards the Knicks when Towns was finally determined to be playing, and then a wave of Pacers money kicked that back.

Without news hinging for the Knicks, I can only imagine this is a Pacers spot.

Pick: Pacers -3.5 (-115)

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[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Knicks vs. Pacers”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Myles Turner Under 6.5 Rebounds + Assists (-130)” league=”nba” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/07/new-york-knicks-updated-logo-2023.png” awayname=”New York Knicks” awayslug=”new-york-knicks” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/ind.png” homename=”Indiana Pacers” homeslug=”indiana-pacers” date=”Saturday, May 31″ time=”8 p.m. ET” network=”TNT” bookname=”BetMGM” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/779359_BetMGM800x200@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”betmgm”][/gameheader]

By Charlie Wright

Turner has averaged 3.4 rebounds on 9.6 rebound chances in the series. He’s down to 3 rebounds on 8.3 rebound chances since Mitchell Robinson entered the starting lineup for New York in Game 3. Turner has been stuck battling Robinson for much of the series.

When he’s not on Robinson, he’s getting pulled away from the basket by having to guard Karl-Anthony Towns on the perimeter.

Indiana’s guards have led the way on the glass, with Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith, and Bennedict Mathurin all averaging 4+ rebounds per game. TJ McConnell, Andrew Nembhard, and Ben Sheppard have chipped in 3+ rebounds per game.

Turner played a series-low 24 minutes in Game 5. After he played a little over 11 minutes in the 1st half, the door opened for big minutes in the 2nd half. Backup center Tony Bradley subbed in for Turner about 4 minutes into the 3rd quarter but immediately hurt his hip.

Instead of going back to Turner, head coach Rick Carlisle opted to unearth Thomas Bryant for a 5-minute stretch. Bryant had been booted from the rotation by Bradley earlier in the series. Turner played about 8 minutes in the 4th quarter but barely effected the box score (1 assist).

I’m tacking on assists for some extra breathing room. Turner has averaged 1.8 assists this round, but they’ve come on 1.8 potential assists per game. His total assists are up compared to previous rounds, despite his potential assists and passing volume dropping.

Regression should be coming in the assist department. I also don’t mind under 4.5 rebounds at plus-money if you want to go that route.

Pick: Myles Turner Under 6.5 Rebounds + Assists (-130)

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