Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA
Indiana Pacers vs New York Knicks Game 2: Eastern Conference Playoffs – Second round
The New York Knicks will try to go up 2-0 against the Indiana Pacers in the second playoff round tonight at Madison Square Garden.
Can the Pacers win at MSG?
The Indiana Pacers made it to the second playoff round for the first time in a decade. They were the best shooting team in the regular season in the NBA and were at 52.3% in Game 1, but that still wasn’t good enough to win. The Pacers took a five-point lead in the final quarter but failed to hold on to it. Myles Turner was the leading scorer with 23 points, followed by Pascal Siakam with 19, and TJ McConnell added 18 from the bench.
This may be the season for the Knicks
The New York Knicks made a statement in the opening game of the series with a 121-117 win. They had their best shooting game of the postseason with 53.7% shooting from the field and made 11 three-pointers on 23 attempts. Jalen Brunson had another fantastic performance with 43 points, while Donte DiVincenzo added 25 and Josh hart 23.
Betting Trends
New York is 10-2 SU in the last 12 games overall and 6-3 SU in the last 9 games against Indiana. They are 9-2 SU in the last 10 games against teams from the Eastern Conference and 7-1 SU in the last 7 games against teams from the Central Division. The Knicks have played over the total point line in 5 of the last 7 games against Indiana, in 8 of the last 9 home games and 10 of the last 12 games against teams from the Eastern Conference. The Pacers are 4-2 SU in their last six games overall and 5-3 SU in the last 8 games against teams from the Atlantic Division.
Prediction and Conclusion
We saw a great battle in the opening game of the series, and we can expect the same in the next one. Both teams shot over 50% in the opener, which is something that neither of them managed to do in the first playoff round. The Knicks were the better team in clutch time, and Donte DiVincenzo made a crucial three late in the game. Once again, the Knicks showed their confidence, and they are a tough team to beat, especially at home. Tyrese Haliburton took only six shots in Game 1 and will need to step up to give the Pacers a chance. Anyway, this is a historic opportunity for the Knicks to get to the Eastern Conference finals, and they will make a huge step toward that tonight with another win over the Pacers.
