New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 05/05/2024, 11:40  by Kennedy Kechula in NBA Predictions

The New York Knicks will host the Indiana Pacers for game one of their Eastern Conference semi-final playoff matchup. They eliminated the Sixers in six games in the first round while the Pacers got the better of the Bucks also in six. The Knicks are through to the second round of the playoffs for the second successive season. Tom Thibodeau’s men were in good form against the Sixers in round one and won twice both home and away. They will hope to build on this momentum as they seek their first conference final appearance in more than 20 years. New York defeated the Sixers 118-115 on the road in game six to close out the series. They could have ended the Sixers’ season in game five at home but were undone 112-106 in OT. Jalen Brunson averaged 35.5 points against Philly and is the leading scorer in the playoffs. The Knicks are averaging 108.3 points a game in the postseason and are shooting 44.1% from the field. Julius Randle and Bogdan Bogdanovic have been ruled out for this game and the rest of the playoffs due to injury.

The Pacers defeated the Knicks twice in three matchups in the regular season. One of their wins came on the road in February and was the last time they matched up. Indiana won both matches emphatically with the most recent ending 125-111. Rick Carlisle’s men lost game one against the Bucks but responded with three straight victories. They could have ended things off in game five but were defeated 115-92. This gave them the chance to wrap things out in front of home support. They did exactly that and won by 22 points after tallying 120 points. It is also worth noting that Indy faced an injury-plagued Bucks team that missed Giannis Antentokounmpo for the entirety of the series. Damian Lillard was also absent for two of the six matches. Pascal Siakam averaged 22.3 points in the first round and was the Pacers’ leading scorer. Myles Turner put up 19.2 points while Tyrese Haliburton managed 16 points. Indiana as a team averaged 113.0 points against the Bucks and shot 47.9% from the field. Bennedict Mathurin injured his shoulder in the regular season and remains sidelined. The Pacers are in the semi-finals for the first time in 10 years.