Pacers vs. Knicks Game Two Prediction: Can Indy Tie the Series?

The Indiana Pacers are back in Madison Square Garden for Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks on Wednesday evening.

The Pacers were only one game above .500 on the road during the regular season but found themselves with a two-point lead with less than 90 seconds left in Game One. They ultimately failed to close the game out and were mired by a controversial offensive foul call with just 12 seconds left.

The Knicks continue to find ways to win close games, whether they fall behind early or go up big. Their starters are playing huge minutes and they lost two key bench contributors, Mitchell Robinson and Bojan Bogdanovic, to injury, yet they’re still favored to win tonight.

Here, we will go over the betting odds and share our favorite pick for Mavericks vs. Thunder Game Two.

Pacers vs. Knicks Game Two Betting Odds for Wednesday, May 8

The Pacers are 48-39-3 (55.2 percent) against the spread and 15-11-1 (57.7 percent) ATS as a road underdog. They covered in three of four matchups with the Knicks, including a six-point line in their four-point loss in Game One.

The Knicks are 46-40-3 (53.5 percent) ATS and 18-16 (52.9 percent) ATS as a home favorite. They’re only 3-4 ATS in the postseason despite being 5-2 straight-up.

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Pacers vs. Knicks Game Two Prediction

Indiana Pacers Preview

The Pacers are all gas, no breaks - usually.

Indiana’s historic offense emblemized their regular season but has not yet come to define them in the postseason. Instead, their most impressive performances have come with better efforts on the glass and on the defensive end. 

That sentiment is not necessarily supported by the advanced metrics. The team ranks third in offensive efficiency and third-worst in defensive efficiency, but a closer review of Game One will show they gave multiple efforts on defense, hustled to the ball, and rarely had communication breakdowns.

The biggest issue that Indiana is facing is a lack of game plan certainty. They allowed the fewest three-point attempts and makes but were only 24th in rebound rate during the regular season. They hung tight with the Knicks on the boards (particularly on the offensive glass) in Game One but allowed them to shoot 47.8 percent from downtown, with many of those threes catalyzing NY’s fourth-quarter comeback.

Another problem for the Pacers is their best player, Tyrese Haliburton, isn’t playing anywhere near an All-Star level. He scored just six points on six shots and only registered one field goal attempt in the second half of Game One, which is flat-out unacceptable for an upcoming member of Team USA.

All that said, the Pacers were up by two points approaching the final minute of the game. Their speed and intensity presented problems to a thin New York squad, and they’ll enter Game Two knowing they can win.

Bet on Indiana Pacers at BetMGM

New York Knicks Preview

The Knicks’ formula does not look as if it should be conducive to long-term success. Three players (Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and OG Anunoby) averaged more than 41 minutes per night during the playoffs, and they played their bench for only 27 of 240 available minutes on Monday.

The Villanova trio of Brunson, Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo combined for 92 points, 22 rebounds, and 15 assists. Brunson led the way with 43 points in what was his fourth straight game scoring at least 40 points.

As a small aside, Brunson’s projected points total at major sportsbooks is a whopping 37.5 for Game Two—nearly unprecedented for anyone, especially a player who could barely get on the court in a Game Seven a couple of years ago.

The Knicks rank third in postseason rebound rate and offensive rating. Their trademark defense has not been great, but they also played two elite offenses in the form of the Philadelphia 76ers and the Pacers.

Robinson’s recent injury means that Isaiah Hartenstein will see even more minutes on the court, while Previous Achiuwa will serve as the backup big man. Achiuwa is limited offensively but is a versatile defender who could actually become a blessing in disguise against Indy’s pace and movement.

Bet on New York Knicks at BetMGM

Pacers vs. Knicks Game Two Betting Pick

Game One showed how even this series is, which is ironic because of how different the teams are. The Pacers want to keep the pedal to the metal and run up the score, while the Knicks want to grind games to a halt and win within the margins.

The Knicks would be 4-0 at home in the playoffs if Tyrese Maxey hadn’t scored seven points in less than 30 seconds to help steal a win in Game Five of the first round. Indy has been solid on the road in the playoffs but was poor for the season as a whole, and they won’t catch New York by surprise this time.

We can’t bet on the Pacers until we see Haliburton play better, especially while Brunson is good for 40-plus per night. Take the Knicks to go up 2-0 in the series by covering on Wednesday.

• Pacers vs. Knicks Game Two pick: Knicks -4.5 (-110) at BetMGM

How to Watch Pacers vs. Knicks Game Two

• When: Wednesday, May 8 @ 8:00 p.m. ET

• Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

• TV: TNT

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