What did we learn from the Pacers’ stunning comeback in Game 1 of the NBA Finals?
“Don’t count out the Pacers when they are down 15.” OK, besides that.
VSiN.com senior editor Zach Cohen previews Game 2 (8 ET, ABC) by looking back:
For starters, the Thunder got out-rebounded 56-39 in the game. That probably wasn’t what Mark Daigneault was hoping for after making the decision to bring Isaiah Hartenstein off the bench. He surely knew he was giving up some tenacity on the glass, but the Pacers aren’t a good rebounding team. So Oklahoma City willingly let Indiana hide one of its major weaknesses. Daigneault probably will go to the same look in Game 2. The Thunder were up 12 points at halftime, so a good argument can be made that it worked. But it is interesting to monitor moving forward.
>>More analysis from Zach, plus a prediction.
Dan Karpuc is expecting a big game from Tyrese Haliburton, who hit the dramatic Game 1 winner.
Haliburton Over 29.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-125, DraftKings): The volume was there in Game 1, even if the stat line didn’t fully reflect it. Haliburton still got over this number when he posted 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting, pulled down 10 rebounds on 13 chances, and dished out six assists on 15 potential dimes. He was active in every phase of the game, and just a few made shots from teammates away from flirting with a triple-double, which is priced at +2500 for Game 2, by the way.
Do your own research with VSiN’s prop analyzer.
ICYMI: Steve Makinen’s betting trends for the Finals by game number and line range.
Don’t forget to check for contest picks from the KillerSports NBA Playoff Challenge here after 7 p.m. ET.
Makinen’s NASCAR simulation
Steve Makinen has posted his final simulation for today’s race at Michigan:
The projections find Denny Hamlin at the top after a pretty strong practice/qualifying run. However, the top 3/4 drivers are all pretty tight and include William Byron, Chase Briscoe, and Chris Beuscher.
Michigan is a huge track with a wide racing surface than can sometimes see 4-wide or even 5-wide racing. When the cars get separated there is a ton of space on the track, leading to long green runs. There hasn’t been a race at Michigan with double-digit cautions since 2006. Often the finishes here are decided by fuel strategy at the end. As such, there can be underdogs that do well and even win. Tyler Reddick is the most recent winner back in August and had a nice Saturday of P&Q as well.
Here are my predictions for the race:
Top 5: Hamlin, Byron, Reddick, Briscoe, Gibbs
Top underdogs to consider: Briscoe, Gibbs, Beuscher, Cindric, Berry, Busch
Favorites to struggle: Elliott, Blaney, Logano
Quick Hits
MLB: Greg Peterson has posted his plays for today. Josh Appelbaum and Steve Makinen will post later this morning.
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz has beaten Jannik Sinner the last four times they have met. Can Alcaraz do it again in the final at Roland Garros? Zach Cohen shares his prediction.
NCAA Baseball: Coastal Carolina is the first team to advance to the College World Series. Check out VSiN’s CWS hub for all of our coverage on the road to Omaha. >>Betting splits for today’s seven games.
Horse Racing: Ed Sehon is back with picks for the day after the Belmont Stakes card at Saratoga. The Belmont mirrored the Derby with Sovereignty, Journalism and Baeza 1-2-3. >>Watch the replay, although it was more fun watching Mike Somich and Patrick Meagher coment on the race in real time on VSiN At The Track.
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