NBA ECF: Pacers vs Knicks Predictions

**franz555** · 2025-05-20T15:58:04+00:00

Not to diminish the Knicks upset of the Champs , just think it was a bit tainted. They were down double digits in every game prior to Tatum's injury. Indiana cruised through Cleveland with relative ease. They are rested and playing great ball.

Indiana @ plus money sounds good to me

**SBR Andy** · 2025-05-21T12:30:58+00:00

NBA Eastern Conference Finals predictions from SBR's Gabe Henderson:

Pacers to win the series (+135 Caesars)

"These teams met in a playoff thriller last year, a series Indiana eventually won in seven games. However, these are two different squads, which only adds to the intrigue in an even more high-stakes series.

The Knicks reloaded in the offseason, notably adding Karl-Anthony Towns, whose five double-doubles helped lift New York over Boston. The best way to describe the way Tom Thibodeau's team plays basketball is gritty and chaotic.

Nobody embodies these adjectives more than NBA Clutch Player of the Year odds winner Jalen Brunson. He's been the Knicks' emotional and physical leader and has helped bring them back from a few huge, late deficits this postseason.

The difference is, New York isn't playing a team in this series that can get cold from 3-point range and completely shut down - like the Celtics did on numerous occasions. The Pacers dictate play, often opting to play quickly, using the third-fastest tempo of any playoff team (trailing only Memphis and Oklahoma City).

Indiana has perhaps the most versatile offensive onslaught of any team remaining. The Pacers play excellent team basketball, as evidenced by six players averaging 10-plus in the series win over Cleveland and the team ranking third in assists per game during the regular season.

Rick Carlisle's bunch also averages more points per possession than Minnesota, New York, or Oklahoma City. There's a consistency and efficiency about this Indiana team that oozes maturity. The Pacers are 4-1 on the road this postseason, so does the Knicks' homecourt advantage truly matter as much as pundits believe?

This series could be decided by the razor's edge, but history, statistics, and pure value point toward Indiana. We'll take a flyer on the Pacers to win the Eastern Conference Finals as plus-money underdogs at our best sportsbooks."

Pacers vs Knicks series best bets:

Pacers to win the series (+122 FanDuel)
Series total: 7 games (+186 FanDuel)
ECF MVP: Tyrese Haliburton (+175 FanDuel)

**Optional** · 2025-05-21T17:40:59+00:00

Pacers vs. Knicks updated betting insights

Updated betting info via BetMGM

The total opened at 222.5, which has since increased to 224.5
The Pacers moved from +150 to +155 underdogs
The Knicks have remained the 4.5-point betting favorites, and their odds have shortened from -105 to -110

**SBR Andy** · 2025-05-21T19:24:14+00:00

Pacers vs Knicks Game 1 player prop picks from SBR's Rob Paul:

Jalen Brunson Over 28.5 points (-106 FanDuel)

"Brunson averaged 26.2 points per game behind a team-high 29.6% usage rate against the Boston Celtics and their stout defense during the second round of the NBA playoffs. He twice crossed 28.5 points while facing a unit that allowed the second-fewest regular-season points per outing (107.2) and the fourth-fewest to point guards (23.42).

He also put up 31.5 points per game during the Knicks' first-round series against the Detroit Pistons with a 34.1% usage rate, going Over 28.5 in five of six contests. Against a Pacers defense that was 17th in points allowed per game (115.1) and 23rd in field-goal percentage allowed (47.4%), Brunson should produce an opening-game performance reminiscent of what he did against Detroit. "

Tyrese Haliburton Over 2.5 made 3-pointers (+104 FanDuel)

"Although Haliburton was slightly sporadic from behind the arc in the Pacers' second-round series against the No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers, the plus-money odds from our best sports betting sites are hard to pass up. The two-time All-Star averaged a career-high three made 3-pointers per game during the regular season on 38.8% shooting, and he's coming off a 6-for-10 performance from deep against Cleveland.

The Knicks allowed the NBA's fifth-highest 3-point percentage during the campaign (36.7%), with point guards accounting for 3.11 made threes per game. With Haliburton coming off a series against the top team in the East in which he shot 45.8% from behind the arc, expect Rick Carlisle to want his lead guard shooting plenty of long balls in Game 1 against the Knicks."

Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds (-110 DraftKings)

"Only one player remains in the NBA playoffs who's averaging more than 10 boards per game in the postseason. Karl-Anthony Towns' 11.3 rebounds per game in the playoffs are the most of any player on the remaining four teams, and he should enjoy a field day cleaning the glass against the Pacers.

Indiana allowed the ninth-most regular-season rebounds per game (45), with centers bringing down the eighth-most boards in the league against the Pacers (15.34). KAT just averaged 12.7 rebounds per matchup in the series against Boston, a team that ranked in the top half of the league in rebounds allowed per game (43.7).

He should cruise to his sixth game with Over 11.5 boards in his last eight outings."