Thunder vs. Pacers Game 5 prediction: NBA Finals odds, picks
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The NBA Finals shift back to Oklahoma City, tied at two games apiece, and fresh off a memorable fourth-quarter comeback by the Thunder.
For Game 4, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault changed his starting lineup, reverting to the one he used throughout the playoffs before the Finals.
That means Isaiah Hartenstein is back in his usual spot.
However, Hartenstein's minutes have remained consistent through the first four games, ranging between 17 and 22. More importantly, his role on offense is unchanged, and he still primarily operates as a rebounder, screener, and passer.
His scoring proposition bet for Game 5 is 6.5 points, and I do not think he surpasses that.
He somehow scored nine points in the series opener, but managed nine points combined over the next three games.
Isaiah Hartenstein of the Oklahoma City Thunder dunking during Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Abbie Parr-Pool Photo via Imagn Images
Hartenstein's production does randomly spike, so there is always a chance he has an outlier game and surpasses this amount.
But his natural approach within OKC's offense is to facilitate scoring rather than to actually put the ball in the basket.
He is a gifted passer for a big man and also sets valuable screens around the 3-point line, freeing teammates for shots or drives to the basket. That's his role, and he has accepted it.
Betting on the NBA?
That also means he can cut to the hoop for an uncontested dunk or generate offense with putbacks on a rebound.
As with any bet, there is always going to be a path to a loss, but I truly believe there are many more ways to win this under than over.
I have a 50-41-1 ATS record in this Post sports section. My next play is Hartenstein Under 6.5 points in Game 5.
THE PLAY: Isaiah Hartenstein Under 6.5 points (-135, Caesars Sportsbook)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Doug Kezirian is a New York Post contributor who has over two decades of experience in the betting space, including spending 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He's also the rare personality who has documented success – 14th place in 2023 Circa Million and Las Vegas SuperContest ($37K), two top-10 finishes in 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58K) and also grabbed headlines with a $297K win on the 2021 NFL Draft.
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