Germantas Kneita
The Indiana Pacers are up against it tonight, with tonight’s game being a win or go home type of situation already. With Tyrese Haliburton dealing with a calf issue, the odds will be against them. But they have overcome the more than enough times during this playoff run that they should not be written off here, especially with their home crowd behind them. You can watch if they are able to take down the Oklahoma City Thunder live on ABC tonight.
You can find our NBA Finals previews here. But for now check out my favorite first basket scorer prop below.
Pacers vs Thunder first basket best bet: Chet Holmgren (+500)
Odds available at Bet365 Sportsbook at time of publishing
For the first time in 5 games, Myles Turner was able to win the opening tip between him and Chet Holmgren in the last meeting between the sides. Considering how dominant the young Thunder star has been at gaining the opening possession for his team to this point against the Pacers, doing it in 5 of 7 games overall this season against them, makes him the favorite to do so once more here. The Thunder have had early success scoring against the Pacers in games, having made the first basket in each of the 5 games in the NBA Finals so far. One of their players should be favorites to open the scoring once more tonight.
In Game 5, the Thunder attacked the paint early, with their first 3 field goals coming from this area, while Shai-Gilgeous Alexander also got to the free throw line. That should make one of their bigs favorite to open the scoring. With Isaiah Hartenstein is the more established passer of him and Holmgren. He has also consistently during these playoffs thrown lobs for Holmgren when in the high post. Holmgren has the better scoring numbers of the 2 bigs and also leads his team in first field goal attempts, doing it in 17.3% of the games he plays. He looks the best value selection to open the scoring in Game 6.
