The Cleveland Cavaliers’ 64-win season hangs in the balance heading into Game 3 tonight, with the Indiana Pacers just two victories away from a second straight trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Injury woes have struck at the worst possible time for the Cavs, who were without Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De’Andre Hunter in Game 2, and that adds an extra layer of mystery to the NBA player props market.
While it’s a must-win contest for Cleveland, my top NBA picks for Friday, May 9, target two of Indiana’s big guns.
Best Cavaliers vs Pacers props
Siakam o21.5 points + assists (-115)- Turner o5.5 made field goals (+105)
Jerome u17.5 points + assists (-115)
Cavaliers vs Pacers player props for May 9
Pascal Siakam Over 21.5 points + assists (-115 at bet365)
Tyrese Haliburton’s stunning game-winner on Tuesday saved the Indiana Pacers from some major regret, and Pascal Siakam was one of the culprits in a lackluster performance against the depleted Cleveland Cavaliers.
He finished with just eight field goal attempts, the fewest among the Indiana starting five, and the Pacers will need a more assertive version of Spicy P if they’re going to hold off a desperate Cleveland team in Game 3. Siakam knows his way around the postseason, and I expect a bounce-back effort tonight, both as a scorer and as a secondary creator.
He averaged 20.2 points per game during the regular season, so I’ll gladly take the Over on this 21.5 combo prop line, which factors in his assists too. Siakam has showcased playmaking ability down the stretch, racking up four dimes in three of his last four games.
Rick Carlisle’s insistence on using an 11-man rotation hurts a little, but Siakam is still the No. 2 scorer for Indiana, and this line undersells his ability to take over.
Myles Turner Over 5.5 made field goals (+105 at bet365)
The Pacers are a tough team to stop when Myles Turner is knocking down shots, and he did his part in Game 2 with 23 points on 8-for-17 shooting.
As the series shifts back to Indiana, that’s good news for Turner. In the regular season, his shot volume jumped to 12.1 attempts per game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and there should be scoring opportunities tonight as a pick-and-pop threat.
I like the Over on 5.5 made field goals for the Pacers' big man — and he’s gone past that number in four of Indiana’s seven playoff games so far, including the first two home games against Milwaukee in Round 1.
Turner made his 3-pointers at a career-best 40% this year, and that’s likely to be the key to this prop. With Jarrett Allen happier in the paint, look for Turner to feed off kickouts from Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard at the top of the key.
Ty Jerome Under 17.5 points + assists (-115 at bet365)
This series took a rough turn on Tuesday for Ty Jerome, who missed 13 of his 14 shots in Game 2, and that’s added to the sense that he’s a nice option off the bench for a 20-minute cameo, but less reliable with a larger workload.
With the benefit of two rest days, the Cavs should have better news on the injury front tonight, and it would be a big surprise if Garland isn’t out there with the Cleveland starters.
If the visitors’ rotation slots back into place, that makes this Under an attractive play. Jerome averaged 12.5 ppg and 3.4 assists per game during the regular season, and his scoring dipped slightly on the road. He’s also in a mini-slump from downtown, sporting a 6-for-20 mark across his last five outings.
Jerome has struggled to shake off the Indiana backcourt in this series, and I see Kenny Atkinson riding with Donovan Mitchell and Garland for as long as possible in Game 3.
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