New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers Preview
The Knicks and Pacers are set to kick off their Eastern Conference first-round series at 7:30 PM ET at Madison Square Garden. New York is the 6 seed in the East, and the Knicks are the 2 seed. The over/under line is at 217.5 points, and the Knicks are favored by six points. The money line odds for the Pacers are +191, while the Knicks are at -234. TNT is carrying this game on TV.
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New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers Head-to-Head and Key Stats
The Pacers and Knicks did not have any head-to-head matchups last season. But over the last three times playing each other, the Pacers have a record of 2-1. The Pacers also had the edge vs. the spread in these games, at 2-1. These games averaged a combined total of 238 points per game leading to an over/under record of 1-2.
- Through their last three road games, Indiana has an ATS record of just 1-2. However, their overall record was 1-2 while averaging 103 points per game.
- The Knicks are 4-1 ATS in their last home games and 4-1 straight-up.
- In their last three games as the betting underdog, the Pacers have a strong straight up record of 2-1. In addition, their ATS record was 2-1 in these scenarios.
- The last ten games that New York was favored, they have an ATS mark of 4-6 while going 7-3 straight up.
New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers Prediction
Indiana picked up a 120-98 win over the Bucks in their last game, closing out the series in six games. With the win, the Pacers took the series 4-2. Indiana was able to close out the series on their home floor. The 218 points scored in the game was just above the over/under line of 216.5 points.
Offensively, the Pacers were led by Obi Toppin, who finished with 21 points and eight rebounds. T.J. McConnell also had a big game for Indiana, finishing with 20 points and nine assists. As a team, Indiana hit 54.1% of their shots and 13 threes.
Jalen Brunson had a huge game for the Knicks, scoring 41 points and adding 12 assists. His 41 points were a game-high, and he also knocked down three threes. Donte DiVincenzo added 23 points for New York, while OG Anunoby chipped in 19 points and nine rebounds. The Knicks hit 14 threes as a team, and shot 45.2% from beyond the arc.
With their 118-115 win over the 76ers, the Knicks closed out their series in six games. New York won the series 4-2, and they closed it out on Philadelphia’s home floor. The combined total of 233 points in the game was 30.5 points above the over/under line of 202.5 points.
In their most recent game, the Pacers defeated the Bucks by a score of 120-98. Indiana easily covered the spread as 5.5-point favorites, improving their ATS record to 47-39 for the season.
Indiana’s O/U record for the season is 47-41, and today’s O/U line of 217.5 is lower than 85 of their previous games. This year, their games have averaged 242.1 points per game compared to today’s line of 239.9.
Looking at the Eastern Conference standings, the Pacers are currently in 6th place with a record of 47-35. Against other teams in the East, they are 32-20 and 11-6 in their division.
As the underdog this season, Indiana has gone 22-18 and 24-14 ATS. On the road, their ATS record is 23-20 compared to 24-19 at home.
For the season, the Pacers are 22-22 on the road, and their average scoring differential is -1.2 points per game. At home, they are 29-15 with an average scoring margin of +7.2 points per game.
Indiana’s offense is averaging 123.3 points per game this season, which is the best mark in the league. They have been even better on the road, at 119.9 points per contest. This has come while playing at the 4th-highest pace in the NBA.
Looking at Pascal Siakam’s last five games, he is averaging 19.6 points per game on 52% shooting from the field. Over this same stretch, Myles Turner is averaging 19.6 points per game and has hit 46.9% of his threes. Tyrese Haliburton is averaging 20.1 points and 10.9 assists for the season but is questionable with a back injury.
As the Pacers head into tonight’s game against the Knicks, they are giving up an average of 119.6 points per game which is 27th in the league. On the road, their defense has been even worse, allowing 121.0 points per contest.
Indiana is 28th in rebounds per game and 28th in defensive rebounds per game. They are 14th in steals and 8th in blocked shots. The Pacers have been one of the most disciplined teams in the league, ranking 1st in personal fouls.
One area where Indiana has excelled defensively is against the three-point shot. They are 1st in three-point shooting percentage allowed and 1st in three-pointers made allowed per game. Overall, opponents have made just 10.7 threes per contest against the Pacers.
In Knicks games this season, the average combined scoring total is 220.7 points, which is higher than today’s O/U line of 217.5. New York has seen 56 of their games with higher O/U lines than this one (31 lower).
On the season, the Knicks have an O/U record of 40-47-1. The team has gone over the O/U line in their last two games, with today’s line being 202.5 points.
New York’s last game was a 118-115 win over the 76ers. The Knicks were 3-point underdogs in that game, giving them an ATS win. The O/U line for that game was 202.5 points.
As the favorite, the Knicks have a record of 38-12 this season, and they are 29-20 ATS as the favorite (48-39 overall). Their average scoring margin as the favorite is +9.3 PPG.
Against other Eastern Conference teams, the Knicks are 35-17 this season, which is 2nd in the East. Overall, they are also 2nd in the East at 50-32.
The Knicks have an ATS record of 23-21 at home this season, and they are 29-20 as the favorite. At home, they are 29-15 straight-up with an average scoring margin of +5.6 PPG.
Jalen Brunson is averaging 38.2 points per game over his last five games and 28.7 points per game for the season. In these games, he has hit 45% of his shots from the field. For the season, he has connected on 40.1% of his threes. Over his last five games, Josh Hart has averaged 15.8 points and 12.2 rebounds, and OG Anunoby has averaged 15.8 points and 7.4 rebounds.
At home this season, the Knicks are averaging 110.9 points per game, which is 25th in the league. Overall, they are 19th in scoring at 112.8 points per game. New York is the slowest-paced team in the league, averaging 94.8 possessions. The team’s three-point shooting percentage of 36% is 12th in the NBA.
Coming into this game, the Knicks have been one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, allowing just 108.2 points per game which is 4th in the league. At home, they have been even better, giving up just 105.3 points per game which is 3rd in the NBA.
Over their last five games, they have been solid defensively, allowing 109 points per game which is 14th in the NBA. During that stretch, opposing teams have shot 44.6% from the field and 38.6% from three-point range.
So far this season, opponents have scored less than their season average in 74.4% of games against the Knicks. In terms of three-point shooting, opposing teams have made fewer threes than their season average in 63.4% of games vs. New York.
Even though they are 6 point underdogs, we see the Pacers winning this game by a score of 113-112.
New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers Betting Tips
- We like the Pacers on the moneyline (+191)
- The Pacers are also our pick on the spread at +6
- Projecting a combined 225 points, we like the over
New York Knicks Injury Report
- Bojan Bogdanovic – Ankle – Out
- Julius Randle – Shoulder – Out
Indiana Pacers Injury Report
- Tyrese Haliburton – Back – Questionable
- Bennedict Mathurin – Shoulder – Out
