Pacers vs. Knicks Prediction and Odds: After Game 1 Collapse, Brunson Aims to Tie the Series

The Eastern Conference Finals are off to a thrilling start! Game 1 saw the New York Knicks dominate for most of the game until a late collapse that saw the Indiana Pacers come back and win in overtime! Tyrese Haliburton stole headlines, but Jalen Brunson put up another 40-point performance. Expect another end-to-end matchup on Friday night! For new users at FanDuel Sportsbook, you can bet $5 and receive $200 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins!

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The Indiana Pacers came back to win again when they took on the Knicks in Game 1. Much of their success owed to the late brilliance of Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith! The New York Knicks will try to regroup after Jalen Brunson’s 40-point explosion in Game 1 was wasted in an overtime loss. This Pacers-Knicks rivalry fails to disappoint, and Game 2 tips off at 8:00 PM EST at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York!

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Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks Betting Odds

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Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks Betting Pick

• My Pick: Spread - Indiana Pacers +6.0 (-112) at FanDuel

By this point in the postseason, the Indiana Pacers have proven they’re a force in this competition. The Knicks might dominate much of the game, but the Pacers are never out of it. New York will be desperate to level the series after losing home-court advantage and maybe the winner as they dominated the paint for much of the game. But expect another gritty affair between these teams, where the Pacers have already stolen a game on the road, and the Knicks can’t afford to go down 0-2 before two games in Indiana. Expect another star performance from Jalen Brunson and the Indiana Pacers.

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Indiana Pacers Preview

The Indiana Pacers trailed by 17 in the fourth quarter of Game 1 against the New York Knicks before completing a near-impossible comeback. Fueled by the relentless shooting of Aaron Nesmith and a highlight buzzer-beating shot by Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers stole Game 1 in New York. They’ll now try to go up 2-0 in the series before returning home for two games on their home court.

The Pacers trailed for most of Game 1 before their stellar fourth-quarter comeback. They outscored New York 38-35 in the fourth quarter and shot 52.2% from the field and 58.2% from three-point range. They were also brilliant in caring for the ball, not committing a turnover in the final frame. They maintained their form in overtime, shooting 54.5% from the field and 50.0% from three while holding the Knicks to 37.5% in the extra period. Indiana will try to carry that form into a full 48 minutes in Game 2.

Tyrese Haliburton carried the Pacers in Game 1, putting up 31 points, 11 assists, four rebounds, and four made threes on 52.2% shooting and 33.3% from three. Aaron Nesmith was their hero in the fourth, scoring 30 points on the night while hitting 6-of-7 threes in the fourth quarter. If they want victory in Game 2, though, Indiana needs a more productive Pascal Siakam, who put up a productive but modest 17 points, six assists, five rebounds, and two steals.

The Indiana Pacers were inconsistent against the spread this season, putting up a 44-46-3 ATS Record, 15th in the NBA. They have a 48.9% cover percentage, a +2.6 margin of victory, and a +0.1 ATS +/- this season. In their upset Game 1 victory, Indiana covered the spread (+4.5), hit over the total (221.5), and won outright (+161).

Regarding the Indiana Pacers injury report, (C) Isaiah Jackson (Achilles) is out for the remainder of the season and will not play in the postseason.

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New York Knicks Preview

For all the fanfare and excitement around the New York Knicks’ place in the Eastern Conference Finals, they eventually disappointed fans and bettors with a late-game loss to the Pacers. They dominated most of the game but allowed Indiana to take over in the final period. The loss to Indiana was certainly jarring for New York, but there’s much to look forward to based on their performance through three-and-a-half quarters, particularly with Jalen Brunson’s impressive form.

The New York Knicks were on point with their offense in Game 1. They scored 135 points on 51.1% from the field and 32.4% from the three-point range. A team that leans on dominating their opponents in the paint and on the glass, the Knicks outrebounded the Pacers by seven and outscored them in the paint 62-50. For the Knicks to level the series, they can’t have prolonged defensive lapses against an offense as potent as Indiana’s.

As expected, star point guard Jalen Brunson led the way for the Knicks in Game 1. He posted 43 points and five assists on 15-of-25 shooting but shot just 1-of-6 from deep and committed seven turnovers. Karl-Anthony Towns supported him, who contributed 35 points, 12 rebounds, and four made threes. The enigmatic pairing of Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby combined for 32 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, five blocks, and four steals. New York has the production, and they just can’t let up in Game 2.

The New York Knicks continue to impress against the spread this season, putting up a 48-46-1 ATS Record, fifth-best in the NBA. They have produced a 51.1% cover percentage, a +3.6 margin of victory, and a -0.5 ATS +/- this season. In Game 1, the Knicks failed to cover the spread, hit over the total (221.5), and lost outright.

The New York Knicks have no current injuries to report.

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How to Watch Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks

• Teams: Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks

• Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

• Date: 8:00 PM, Friday, May 23, 2025

• TV:  TNT, Max