New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers Preview
The Knicks and Pacers will play game two of their Eastern Conference first-round series at 8:00 PM ET from Madison Square Garden in New York. The Knicks are the 4.5 point favorites at home and lead the series 1-0. The over/under line is at 222.5 points, and New York is -187 on the money line compared to +155 for the Pacers. TNT is carrying the game on TV.
Check out BetCoco for New York Knicks – Indiana Pacers odds
New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers Head-to-Head and Key Stats
Last season, the Pacers and Knicks did not face off head-to-head. When looking back over the last three times these two teams have played, the Knicks have the leg up at 2-1. However, against the spread the Pacers went 2-1. The over/under record in these matchups was 1-2 on an average of 228 points per game.
- Although Indiana has a straight up record of 1-4 in their last five road games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 2-3. The team averaged 109 points per game in these games.
- When looking at their past five home matchups, New York has an ATS record of 4-1 while averaging 115 per game. The team went 4-1 overall in these games.
- Spanning across their last five games as the betting underdog, the Pacers have gone 3-2 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 2-3.
- Over the team’s last five games as the favorite, the Knicks struggled vs the spread going just 1-4. However, they still had a straight up mark of 4-1.
New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers Prediction
After a 31-22 2nd quarter in favor of the Pacers, the Knicks bounced back in the 3rd quarter, outscoring the Pacers 33-32. Heading into the 4th quarter, the Pacers led 87-82. However, the Knicks closed the game strong, outscoring the Pacers 39-30 in the 4th. Jalen Brunson had a big game for the Knicks, scoring 43 points, and Donte DiVincenzo added 25 points.
Even though the Knicks won the game, the Pacers covered the spread, as the Knicks were favored by 6 points. The over/under line for the game was 217.5 points, and the teams combined for 238 points. The Pacers shot 52.3% from the field, and the Knicks shot 47.8% from three-point range.
In their games this season, the Pacers have averaged a combined scoring total of 242.1 points, which is significantly higher than today’s line of 222.5. Indiana has seen 83 of their games with higher O/U lines than this one.
Indiana’s O/U record for the season is 48-41, and their last two games have gone over the posted totals. Today, the Pacers are looking to make it three straight games going over the O/U line.
Indiana’s most recent game was also against the Knicks, and they lost by a score of 121-117. The O/U line for that game was 217.5, and the teams combined for 238 points.
The Pacers are 6th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 47-35. In games against other Eastern Conference teams, they are 32-20 compared to 15-15 against the West.
Against the spread, Indiana is 48-39 this season, including a 24-20 record vs. the spread on the road. They have covered the spread in their last two games and are 22-19 vs. the spread at home.
As underdogs this season, the Pacers have gone 22-19 straight-up and 25-14 vs. the spread. Today, they are getting 4.5 points on the spread.
Indiana 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, averaging 119.8 points per contest. The Pacers are also the top-ranked team in field goal percentage, as they have hit 50% of their shots this season.
Myles Turner has averaged 19.8 points per game over his last five games, hitting 50.7% of his shots from the field. In these games, he hit 2.8 threes per game. Tyrese Haliburton is averaging 2.8 made threes per game in his last five but has hit just 28.6% of his threes in that stretch. For the season, Haliburton is averaging 20.1 points and 10.9 assists.
On the season, the Pacers have been one of the worst defensive teams in the league, ranking 27th in points allowed per game at 119.6. Their three-point defense has been their best attribute, as they are the top-ranked unit in the NBA in three-point percentage allowed at 36.5%. They have also been excellent at defending the three-point line, allowing the fewest made threes per game at just 10.7.
Indiana has been able to force turnovers at a decent rate, ranking 14th in the NBA in steals per game at 7.7. They have also been a solid shot-blocking team, coming in 8th in the league in blocked shots per game.
One area where the Pacers have struggled mightily this season is in getting to the free-throw line, as they are last in the NBA in free throws made per game allowed at 25.7.
In terms of their O/U record for the season, the Knicks are 41-47-1 after hitting the over in three straight games. Today’s O/U line of 222.5 is higher than their season average of 220.7.
Looking at their ATS record, the Knicks are 48-40 overall and 23-22 at home. However, they have failed to cover the spread in three straight home games. As the favorite, they are 29-21 ATS.
New York’s last game was also against the Pacers, and they won 121-117. The Knicks were favored by 6 points in that game, and they are favored by 4.5 points today.
This season, the Knicks have gone 50-32, which is good for 2nd place in the Eastern Conference. Against other Eastern Conference teams, they are 35-17 and 12-5 in their division.
On average, the Knicks’ games have finished with 220.9 points, which is slightly lower than today’s O/U line of 222.5. This season, the team has gone 41-47-1 on the over/under.
Jalen Brunson has been carrying the Knicks offense of late, averaging 42 points per game over his last five games. In these games, he hit 34.2% of his threes and averaged 2.6 made threes per game. Overall, he is averaging 28.7 points per game this season, to go along with 6.7 assists. Over their last five games, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart have both averaged 16.4 points per game for the Knicks.
This season, the Knicks are 19th in scoring at 112.8 points per game. Their scoring average at home is 111.1 points per contest. New York is last in the league in pace but is averaging 13.2 made threes per game, which is 11th in the NBA. Overall, they are 10th in three-point shooting at 36%.
Coming into tonight’s game, the Knicks rank 5th in the NBA in points allowed per game at 108.3. Over their last five games, they have given up an average of 112.2 points per contest, which is 16th in the league during that span.
On the season, opponents have shot 47% from the field against New York. Over their last five games, opposing teams have shot 46.5% from the field and 39% from three-point range.
So far this season, the Knicks have done a good job of not fouling, ranking 5th in the league in free throws made allowed per game at 20.1.
Despite being 4.5 point underdogs, we predict the Pacers to come out on top with a final score of 114-110.
New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers Betting Tips
- We like the Pacers on the moneyline (+155)
- The Pacers are also our pick on the spread at +4.5
- Projecting a combined 224 points, we like the over
New York Knicks Injury Report
- Bojan Bogdanovic – Ankle – Out
- Julius Randle – Shoulder – Out
- Mitchell Robinson – Ankle – Out
Indiana Pacers Injury Report
- Tyrese Haliburton – Back – Questionable
- Bennedict Mathurin – Shoulder – Out
