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Fox Sports
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Knicks vs. Pacers odds, predictions: Back Tyrese Haliburton to cook Knicks
The Eastern Conference finals continue Saturday after the New York Knicks secured a 111-94 Game 5 win over the Indiana Pacers, forcing the series to be extended. The Pacers will have another chance to reach the NBA Finals, and this time at home. With that in mind, I see two wagers that have value right now. Let's dive into it. Knicks @ Pacers The Knicks head to Indiana fresh off a Game 5 win at home, where they controlled the game from start to finish. The Pacers, still leading the series 3-2, are looking to close out the Knicks in Game 6. While it's not a must-win game for Indiana, I expect it to come out with its best effort to end the series at home. In Game 5, the Pacers' starters struggled to get going, with all players finishing well below their averages. Tyrese Haliburton managed only eight points, Andrew Nembhard scored six, Myles Turner had six and Aaron Nesmith, who played just 16 minutes, totaled just three points. Pascal Siakam was the only starter to score over 10 points, finishing with 15 in over 34 minutes. On defense, the Knicks played like they had to win, knowing their season was on the line, but I'm wagering on this game as if the Pacers will play with that "win or go home" mentally. The Pacers are 6-1 in covering the first quarter at home during the postseason and are 3-0 off a loss. The only close first quarter came in Game 3 against Cleveland when the Cavs, facing a 2-0 series deficit, desperately needed to win Game 3. Given the poor stats from the Indiana starters, teams that are coming off of a poor performance often start fast in the next game. We can go back to Game 4 to make that point. The Pacers lost 106-100 in the previous game and beat the Knicks by eight points in the following first quarter. The Knicks have also been a poor starting team in the postseason. Out of 22 playoff games, they've only covered the first-quarter spread seven times—four of those after a loss. PICK: Pacers (-1) to lead by more than one point after the first quarter Tyrese Haliburton Over 14.5 rebounds/assists combined Haliburton did not play well in Game 5, finishing with just eight points, six assists and two rebounds. His combined total for those stats was the second-lowest since the Pacers lost Game 3 to the Cavs in the conference semifinals. He was not aggressive in moving around the court or creating shots for his teammates. When he's not as active shooting the ball, with only seven field goal attempts in Game 5, he's often less active on the glass. When his teammates don't make shots, Haliburton is less inclined to take part in distributing the ball. Since I believe the Pacers will shoot better — as teams often do at home — Haliburton will have more chances for assists. I did not play the Over on points, rebounds and assists combined because, as we saw in Games 2 and 3, he can still be impactful without scoring. His impact is here. I expect him to bounce back on Saturday night. PICK: Haliburton (-110) Over 14.5 rebounds and assists Geoff Schwartz is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. He played eight seasons in the NFL for five different teams. He started at right tackle for the University of Oregon for three seasons and was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection his senior year. Follow him on Twitter @ GeoffSchwartz . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Darius Garland And Jarrett Allen Are No Longer Considered Untouchable By Cavaliers
Darius Garland And Jarrett Allen Are No Longer Considered Untouchable By Cavaliers originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The Cleveland Cavaliers are entering a pivotal offseason with serious questions surrounding two of their key players. According to Cavs insider Chris Fedor, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen are no longer considered untouchable, a clear signal that Cleveland may be ready to shake things up after a disappointing postseason exit. Advertisement This is a stark departure from the franchise's previous stance. Garland and Allen were once viewed as integral building blocks. But after another early playoff flameout, the Cavaliers are acknowledging what's become obvious: the current core has hit its ceiling. Cleveland's regular season told a different story. They finished first in the Eastern Conference with a stellar 64–18 record, the second-best mark in franchise history behind only the 2016 championship team. However, injuries and underwhelming performances doomed their playoff run. Garland missed the first two games of their second-round series against the Indiana Pacers and looked out of rhythm upon returning. He averaged just 14 points on abysmal shooting splits and struggled to generate any offensive momentum. Jarrett Allen, meanwhile, was healthy but ineffective. Across Games 4 and 5, he totaled just 11 points and six rebounds, staggering numbers for a player expected to anchor the paint. Advertisement The Pacers outplayed the Cavaliers in every facet, handing Cleveland a humiliating 44-point deficit at one point in Game 4 and ultimately eliminating them in just five games. The playoff letdown has prompted Cleveland's front office to reconsider its trajectory. The Cavaliers are severely limited in flexibility due to salary cap constraints. They are currently operating above the second apron, which restricts their ability to sign free agents, aggregate salaries in trades, and even use their full mid-level exception. In short, the only way to truly retool the roster is to part with significant pieces, and that likely means moving either Garland, Allen, or both. Garland's playoff inconsistency is a growing concern. While the 24-year-old has shown flashes of brilliance in the regular season, his postseason track record leaves much to be desired. Advertisement His career playoff numbers pale in comparison to his regular season stats, particularly in scoring efficiency and decision-making under pressure. Despite his playmaking upside and youth, the Cavs may view him as a movable asset in pursuit of a better-fitting backcourt partner for Donovan Mitchell. Allen's durability and limitations have also drawn scrutiny. He missed most of the 2024 postseason due to a rib injury and was largely a non-factor this year against Indiana. While Allen remains one of the league's better rim protectors, his limited offensive game and struggles against physical playoff opponents have cast doubt on his long-term fit next to Mobley. The Cavaliers don't want to waste Mitchell's prime or Mobley's growth curve. With both stars viewed as foundational, it's clear the organization is ready to explore bold changes. Advertisement The Garland-Allen duo may have helped lift Cleveland out of its post-LeBron era, but if the Cavaliers want to be more than regular-season darlings, they might need to make some painful but necessary moves. Related: New Trade Idea Sends Four Players To The Lakers, Including Top Center From Eastern Powerhouse This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on May 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Indianapolis Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Goin' back to Indiana: Knicks find their groove in Game 5, beat Pacers to keep series alive
NEW YORK – Jalen Brunson scored 32 points to lead the Knicks to a 111-94 win over the Pacers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night, avoiding elimination and forcing a Game 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday night. The Pacers still hold a 3-2 series lead. Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points and 13 rebounds. Wings Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges added 12 points each. Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 23 points and eight rebounds. Pascal Siakam added 15 points and forward Obi Toppin added 11. Backs-to-the-wall games like these tend to bring out the best in a team's stars, who are often the ones most determined not to let their season's end. Such was the case Thursday as Knicks All-NBA picks Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns played some of their best basketball of the series. Brunson established in the first quarter that he didn't plan to go quietly, scoring 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting including 2-of-3 from 3-point range. Then Towns took over in the second quarter with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Neither had any trouble getting to their spots and forcing the ball into the paint and Brunson was spectacular from outside. Brunson finished with 32 points on 12-of-18 shooting including 4-of-7 from 3-point range. Towns scored 24 points on 10-of-20 shooting and also grabbed 13 rebounds. After a mostly seamless offensive performance on Tuesday in Game 4 that included one of the most efficient offensive statlines by a point guard in playoff history in Tyrese Haliburton's triple-double, the Pacers never seemed to be able to get out of their own way on Thursday. Their offensive flow was choppy from the very beginning, the defense was never able to keep the ball out of the paint and none of their desperate attempts at a jump start seemed to work. Bennedict Mathurin scored 23 points mostly by driving through hell and high water. He was 6-of-10 from the floor and 9-of-9 to the line. Pascal Siakam willed himself to 15 points on 5-of-13 shooting but the Pacers couldn't seem to get anything going otherwise. Haliburton followed his 32-point, 15-assist, 10-rebound, zero-turnover effort with just eight points on 2-of-7 shooting. Forward Aaron Nesmith seemed to be feeling some of his sprained right ankle and finished with just three points on 1-of-8 shooting. Center Myles Turner finished with just five points and two rebounds and struggled on both ends of the floor. The Pacers shot just 40.5% from the floor and 10-of-30 from beyond the 3-point arc and posted 0.96 points per possession. Meanwhile the Knicks shot 49.4% from the floor and posted a 1.08 efficiency figure. The Knicks outscored the Pacers 60-34 in the paint and 13-7 on second-chance points. After scoring a total of eight points in the Cavs series, Pacers second-year wing and 2023 No. 8 pick Jarace Walker didn't play at all in the first four games of the Eastern Conference finals. Things got messy enough in the early going on Thursday, though, that he got real meaningful minutes. Walker's first appearance came with 2:56 to go in the second quarter thanks to Myles Turner foul trouble and Aaron Nesmith apparently working his way through the ankle sprain that had him listed as questionable for Game 4. Walker stepped in and made a small but noticeable impact, helping the Pacers get a stop on his first defensive possession with two contests on one play. A few possessions later he drilled a 3-pointer off a kickout from Tyrese Haliburton.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Lakers reportedly once offered Kobe Bryant to Cavs for LeBron James
Lakers reportedly once offered Kobe Bryant to Cavs for LeBron James Kobe Bryant's legacy is so impressive and gaudy that it is sometimes easy to forget that he went through a very turbulent stretch in the middle of his career. After the Los Angeles Lakers traded his co-superstar Shaquille O'Neal in 2004, he was doomed to go to war with a very anemic cast over the next three seasons. They missed the playoffs in 2005 and got ushered out of the first round of the playoffs by the Phoenix Suns in 2006 and 2007, and by the 2007 offseason, Bryant was fed up. He infamously demanded a trade, and although the Lakers were very reluctant to entertain his trade demand, they did eventually start having discussions with a few teams. One of those teams was the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had a 22-year-old future Hall of Famer by the name of LeBron James. Reportedly, the Lakers actually tried to see if they could swap Bryant for James. Via ESPN: "According to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the event, the Lakers once contacted the Cavs to investigate whether Cleveland would make James available in a possible Bryant trade," wrote Brian Windhorst. "In the summer of 2007, Bryant was 28 years old and coming off a season in which he averaged 32 points per game and shot 46 percent from the field. He had three rings and would win his first Most Valuable Player award the following season. "Bryant was under contract for two more seasons, but he was frustrated with the Lakers after three consecutive subpar seasons following the Shaquille O'Neal trade." Of course, the Cavs said no. Who in their right mind would trade a player such as James, who had just led them to the NBA Finals and seemed content in Cleveland at the time? "The Cavs said that James, indeed, was untouchable, sources said. Then they attempted to make the Lakers a different offer for Bryant, offering anyone else on their team in a package for him. The Lakers had no interest." Later, Los Angeles reportedly reached an agreement on a trade involving Bryant with the Detroit Pistons. However, Bryant had a rare no-trade clause, and he vetoed the deal because he had a short list of teams on his list of destinations, and Detroit wasn't on that list. Against all odds, it all worked out. At the time, the Lakers looked like they were doomed to continued mediocrity, since they had almost no viable trade assets they could use to improve Bryant's supporting cast and transform themselves into a contender. But the heavens dropped a huge gold boulder into their laps on Feb. 1, 2008. That was the day they acquired Hall of Fame big man Pau Gasol without giving up Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum or any other members of their young core. In a jiffy, the fortunes of both Bryant and the Lakers turned around faster than one could say "blockbuster trade." They immediately started a string of three straight NBA Finals appearances and won back-to-back world championships in 2009 and 2010, including one over the hated Boston Celtics. As the old saying goes, sometimes the best trades are the ones that aren't made.
Calgary Herald
6 days ago
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Cavalry FC's offence electric in six-game unbeaten soccer run
Article content Cavalry FC is pushing through the 2025 soccer season with both feet forward these days. Article content Article content The proof of that is in the stats. Article content After Sunday's 4-0 shut down of visiting Valour FC, Cavalry is running hot on a six-game undefeated streak and outscoring its opposition 20-2 in those matches. Article content Electric stuff. Article content 'It's about energy,' agreed Cavalry gaffer Tommy Wheeldon Jr. of the productivity surging through his charges. 'I think that's how we play as a team. We've just got that amount of energy. Article content Article content 'You've got to share it, you know? Energy is transferable.' Article content Article content The run began April 29 with a 6-0 knock-out of Edmonton Scottish United SC in the first round of the Canadian Championship. Article content Then it was domination in three straight Canadian Premier League matches — a 2-1 win over host York United FC on May 2, a 3-0 blitz of host HFX Wanderers FC on May 10 and a 4-0 skunk of visiting Pacific FC on May 17. Article content On May 21, the Cavs drew 1-1 with Vancouver FC — for their only blemish in the unbeaten string — to open the second round of the Canadian Championship. Article content And then it was a return to their winning — and scoring ways — in Sunday's matinee at ATCO Field. Article content 'Different scorers, too,' Wheeldon said. 'I think against Scottish — six goals, six different scorers. Pacific — four goals, four different scorers. Today — four goals, four different scorers.' Article content Levi Laing scored the Cavs' first goal 14 minutes into Sunday's affair. Article content Article content Sergio Camargo extended the lead by two in the 50th minute. Article content Just 10 minutes later, it was Toby Warschewski with another Cavs goal — a highlight-reel one. Article content And teammate Ali Musse rounded out scoring with a strike in the 72nd minute. Article content 'We're sharing the spoils,' said Cavalry GM/head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. 'I think we've got to look at the back to the front … The guys are giving us the strength at the back. Article content 'We're making blocks and interceptions, forcing the other team to shoot from range and weren't allowing them into our box. Then that allows our front line now to have a go at them with the gaps they were leaving — and we could exploit them.' Article content Warschewski has converted in every game during the run, while Musse has five goals in the six such matches. Article content Even more impressive is it's 15 goals in the last 16 games for Warschewski. Article content 'He's enjoying his football,' said Wheeldon, of last year's CPL Golden Boot award winner as the league's leading scorer. 'I think we often complicate things as coaches — we can give them principles about how we want to play with and without the ball. At the end of day, there's still a kid inside that just wants to play football, and we've brought that player out in him.
