Knicks vs. Pacers Game 3 Prediction, NBA Playoff Odds
The Knicks rolled to a 130-121 victory in Game 2 on Wednesday night and now hit the road sporting a 2-0 series lead. For the Pacers, Wednesday’s defeat leaves them riding their first two-game losing streak in over two months and facing a must-win scenario on Friday night. However, Indiana has been a reliable bet on home hardwood, where they have won eight straight including each of their three home playoff dates so far this spring.
The Knicks arrive in Indiana perched as 6.5-point favourites on the Friday NBA odds, and heavy -400 chalk on the NBA series prices. The Pacers look to Game 3 as +310 longshots to bounce back and win this series, while the total for Friday’s contest is pegged at 222.5.
Knicks vs. Pacers NBA Playoff Betting Odds
The Knicks leveraged a huge second-half effort on their way to victory on Wednesday night, overcoming a 10-point deficit at the break. However, the win may have come at great cost. Both Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby were forced to leave the contest with a lower-body injuries, but while Brunson was able to return and play a key role in the club’s resurgence after the half, both players are questionable for Friday night’s contest. For the Pacers, Wednesday’s defeat extended their recent struggles on the road, where they have lost four of five so far in these playoffs, and eight of 11 overall. However, the club has feasted on home cooking, winning nine of their past 10 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse while going 7-3 against the spread. The Pacers have also enjoyed plenty of success this season as home underdogs, going 8-4 SU and 8-3-1 ATS.
New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson was forced to leave Game 2 in the second quarter with what is officially described as a foot injury, although video evidence suggests that he may have suffered a groin injury. However, Brunson managed to return in the second half and scored 14 of his 29 points on the night in the final frame to seal the victory. Any lingering effects of that injury could be a big concern for the Knicks, who have seen their star point guard enter the NBA Finals MVP conversation while piling up 35.6 points and 8.1 assists per game in these playoffs. OG Anunoby stepped up while Brunson received treatment, racking up 28 points in 28 minutes before leaving the game after recess due to injury. That abbreviated outing proved to be his most productive since being dealt to the Knicks by the Toronto Raptors earlier this season. While Brunson, Anunoby, and Donte DiVincenzo took care of business on offence, the duo of Josh Hart and Isaiah Hartenstein dominated in the paint, recording a combined 27 rebounds including 21 total defensive boards.
Indiana Pacers
Tyrese Haliburton looked to have put his recent injury woes behind him with a sterling performance in Game 2. The Pacers point guard went 7-for-11 from beyond the arc to finish the night with a game-high 34 points to go along with nine assists. Haliburton’s return to home comes after he averaged just 13 points in his three previous outings including a dismal 6-point outing in Game 1. Pascal Siakam continued to lead the way under the bucket with a team-high nine rebounds and is now averaging 8.5 boards per game in the postseason. However, both Siakam and Myles Turner continue to struggle to score with consistency, with “Spicy P” dropping just 14 points on Wednesday to extend his current run of games with less than 20 points to six, while Turner took a big step back in Game 2, dropping just six points after recording a team-high 23 points in Game 1.
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