Picks for 5/19/24
NBA
3:30 PM EST
Rotation #541
Pacers +3.5 over Knicks (win)
The Knicks dogged a bullet, getting Indiana as their draw for this series because any other team would have capitalized on the Knick’s injuries. Indiana has an awful defense, so bench players can still score on them. The Knicks are out of gas, as Game 6 proved. The question for today’s game is, can the Pacers have one more offensive gem to offset how bad their defense and rebounding are? Anything can happen in game seven, and I lean more toward the outstanding offense in modern basketball. Indiana has the best bench in the NBA by a mile, which has to account for something at the end of a long season. The NBA would love the Knicks to advance as they are the bigger market, but I expect the game to go to the wire like last night’s Thunder/Mavericks game. Take the Pacers.
MLB
1:40 PM EST
Rotation #903
Mets -1.5 runs over Marlins +115 (win)
Manaea/Sanchez
Marlins starter Sixto Sanchez has struggled on the mound, particularly after two seasons marred by injuries. This could provide an opportunity for the Mets to score a few runs. It’s noteworthy that Miami is the worst team in the National League at hitting left-handed pitchers for power. In fact, they rank among the lowest-performing teams in baseball overall. Given these factors, the money line seems too high, so I suggest using the run line. Take the Mets -1.5 runs +115.