Pacers vs. Knicks Eastern Conference Finals Preview and Best Bets
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Spread Astaire
- May 19, 2025
Top NBA Pick: New York Knicks to Win the Series (-156) at Bookmaker (visit our Bookmaker Review)
Last season, the Indiana Pacers eliminated the New York Knicks in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Now the teams have another playoff matchup, although this time, a trip to the NBA Finals is on the line. When these two teams run it back this season, who will advance, and who should you target to make a winning NBA pick?
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Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers continue to be overlooked by NBA fans and the betting market. Many of us thought they might lose in the first round to Milwaukee. Then they were huge underdogs in the second round against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Pacers exceeded expectations, however, and are now in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight season. What do the Pacers have to do to finally earn our respect?
The Pacers running, up tempo style has them 7th in the league in points scored and 17th in the league at points against. Their average total is 232.5. The Pacers score 117.4 points per game and allow 115.1 points per game. However, the Pacers are still able to play solid defense. Their defensive rating in the playoffs is 111.7.
Contrast this to their opponent for the series, the Knicks, who come in at 110.6. So, while we have this idea in our heads that the Knicks are the much better defensive team, the statistics show that the Pacers are about equal to the Knicks on defense.
New York Knicks
Everybody assumed that the New York Knicks would exit in the second round of the playoffs this year. The Knicks were good enough to beat all the teams except for the top teams in the league.
The Knicks had not beaten the Boston Celtics at all this season, except for a game in which Boston sat all their players. So the Knicks huge upset over the Celtics in round two was a surprise. The Knicks were as high as +600 to win the series before they tipped off Game 1.
The Knicks have a battery of excellent individual defenders such as Mitchell Robinson, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges. These players will all be a huge factor in trying to slow down the Pacers elite offensive attack.
Knicks forward Karl Anthony-Towns could be the difference maker in this matchup. The Knicks are in a luxury spot where they don’t need Towns to be excellent in order to win, however, when he is hot, they are very tough to beat. If Towns can put together four good games, the Knicks most likely make the NBA Finals.
| SPORTSBOOK | TRUST SCORE | BONUS | ONLINE SINCE | Bet Now |
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$750 Cash Bonus
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1994
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$250 Free Bet
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2001
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55% Cash Bonus
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2001
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20% Cash Bonus
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2001
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$500 Cash Bonus
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1985
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$500 Cash Bonus
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1983
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Comparing the Teams
The two teams are equal in field goal percentage. The Pacers are third in the league at 48.8%, and the Knicks are fourth at 48.6%. Both teams have had struggles rebounding the basketball this season.
The Pacers are 27th in rebounds per game at 41.8, and the Knicks are 24th in the league at 42.6 rebounds per game. What is a weakness for both teams will be a key to this matchup. It is safe to say that whoever has a rebounding advantage will most likely win the series.
Where the Pacers have a huge advantage is their ability to move the ball on offense. The Pacers are third in the league in assists at 29.2 assists per game, and the Knicks are only 11th at 27.5. The Knicks are better at scoring in isolation basketball, where the Pacers employ a team-oriented offense.
However, the ability of the Knicks’ point guard Jalen Brunson to score in the half court on isolation possessions is one of the big factors that are leading many prognosticators and top sportsbooks to favor the Knicks in the series.
The Picks
I like the New York Knicks to advance here. Their win over Boston was much more impressive than the Pacers’ win over the Cavaliers. The Knicks have more versatility on defense and more variety when it comes to offensive options. The Knicks have the advantage in close games due to the clutch shot making of Jalen Brunson.
However, I do think this is going to be a close series. While the players and fans don’t think the regular season matters, this will be a case where the Knicks’ regular season success will catapult them to a playoff victory.
The home court advantage will be the difference. This series is going 7. I’m betting the New York Knicks to win the series and over 6.5 games.
NBA Pick: New York Knicks to Win the Series (-156) at Bookmaker
NBA Pick: Knicks-Pacers Over 6.5 Games (+211) at Bookmaker
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
