Pacers vs. Knicks Game 5 Betting Odds, Best Bets: Can NYK Keep ECF Alive?
As of Thursday afternoon, the Knicks are 4.5-point favorites at home vs. the Pacers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
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Despite Karl-Anthony Towns being listed as questionable and the Indiana Pacers' 3-1 series lead, the New York Knicks are the clear favorites in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals tonight at Madison Square Garden.
Towns' status is a major concern for the Knicks, who list their All-Star center as questionable.
For the Pacers, SF Aaron Nesmith is also listed as a game-time decision tonight, though both players are expected to be in action. Nesmith logged 32-plus minutes in Game 4 and finished with 16 points on 5-for-9 FG shooting after spraining his ankle in Game 3.
Pacers vs. Knicks Game 5 Betting Odds
DK FD bet365 IND spread +4.5 (-108) +4.5 (-114) +4.5 (-115) NYK spread -4.5 (-112) -4.5 (-106) -4.5 (-105) IND ML +142 +152 +150 NYK ML -170 -180 -180 Total 222.5 (o-108; u-112) 223 (o-110; u-110) 222 (o-110; u-110)
How to Watch Pacers vs. Knicks Game 5
Tipoff: 8 p.m. ET
Channel: TNT/truTV/Max
Pacers vs. Knicks Eastern Conference Finals Winner Odds
DraftKings : IND -600; NYK +450
: IND -600; NYK +450 FanDuel : IND -650; NYK +480
: IND -650; NYK +480 bet365: OKC -700; NYK +500
Pacers vs. Knicks Analysis, Betting Picks
Can New York Slow Down Haliburton, Pacers?
The Knicks were torched by Tyrese Haliburton (32 points, 12 rebounds, 15 assists, 0 turnovers) and Indiana in Game 4 on Tuesday. The Pacers hung 130 points on Jalen Brunson and Co., with an offensive rating of 126.8 and an effective field goal percentage of 58.5 to go with their 45-of-88 night from the field.
The Pacers bogged down offensively in the second half of Game 3, but they have otherwise been outstanding throughout this series, by both counting stats and efficiency metrics.
They finished Game 1 with 138 points and an offensive rating of 128.7, then scored 114 points (offensive rating: 123.4) in Game 2. After starting Game 3 strong, they went cold after halftime in that one en route to a 106-100 loss.
Indiana posted by far its worst numbers of the series in that game due to its 42-point second half. In fact, it finished that contest with series lows in not only points (100), but also offensive rating (104.9), field goal percentage (44.2) and effective FG percentage (47.4).
If we ignore, for a second, the eye test -- which has screamed that the Pacers' fast-paced attack is too much for the Knicks -- the numbers alone make it hard not to believe that Game 3 was an outlier, and that the Pacers will once again be able to light up the scoreboard tonight.
Can Brunson, Towns Carry New York To Shootout Victory?
If the Knicks indeed need a massive offensive performance to keep this series alive, the good news is that Brunson (who is averaging 33.3 ppg in this series) and Towns (25.8 ppg in this series) have both been able to score on the Pacers at will.
Tonight, though, with Towns battling a knee contusion and Brunson on the verge of wearing down amid the pressure he's under as a defender, I don't think that duo will have enough to pull out a victory. And remember, Towns (35 points) and Brunson (43) combined to score 78 in Game 1 at home, and New York still lost that contest.
Pacers vs. Knicks Game 5 Best Bets
Obviously, New York could stay alive if it gets big scoring games from OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and the rest of the Knicks' supporting cast. But based on how this matchup has played out to date, that doesn't feel like the most likely outcome tonight.
While writing off the desperate Knicks at home is a bold way to go, taking the Pacers to (at least) cover feels like the right play tonight.
I also like the Pacers to go over their team total of 109.5. That number feels well within reach, to say the least, for a team that has A) scored at least 114 points in 11 of its 14 playoff games and B) is averaging 120.5 points per game in the ECF.
Pacers +4.5 (-108 at DraftKings) -- 1 unit
Pacers Team Total Over 109.5 (-110 at DK) -- 1 unit
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