Despite being short handed, the 2-seed New York Knicks will look to take a commanding 3-0 lead when they battle the 6-seed Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup on Friday. New York will be without forward OG Anunoby (hamstring), while leading scorer Jalen Brunson (foot) is questionable. The Knicks (50-32), who are 2-1 on the road in the 2024 NBA playoffs, opened the postseason by disposing of the 76ers in six games. The Pacers (47-35), who are 3-0 at home in the playoffs, were able to take out the Bucks in six games. Tyrese Haliburton (back) is questionable for Indiana.
The game will tip off at 7 p.m. ET from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Indiana is averaging a league-high 114.5 points per game this postseason, while New York is third at 112.6. The Pacers are 7-point favorites in the latest Knicks vs. Pacers odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 222.5. Before making any Pacers vs. Knicks picks, be sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model entered the conference semifinals in the 2024 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 94-61 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,800. Anyone following the model has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Knicks vs. Pacers and just locked in its picks and NBA playoff predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Pacers vs. Knicks:
- Knicks vs. Pacers spread: Indiana -7
- Knicks vs. Pacers over/under: 222.5 points
- Knicks vs. Pacers money line: Indiana -308, New York +245
- NYK: The Knicks have won 54 of their last 84 games (+20.40 units on ML)
- IND: The Pacers have hit the fourth quarter Under in 43 of their last 64 games (+18.80 units)
- Knicks vs. Pacers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Pacers can cover
Point guard Haliburton, who is dealing with a back issue, just missed posting a double-double in Game 2 of the series. In that game, he scored 34 points, while adding nine assists, six rebounds and three steals in 35 minutes. He had a double-double in the 120-98 Game 6 win over Milwaukee in the first round. In that game, he poured in 17 points, dished out 10 assists and grabbed six rebounds. In eight postseason starts, he is averaging 17 points, 9.1 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals.
Point guard Andrew Nembhard is also off to a solid postseason. In eight playoff starts, he is averaging 13.6 points, 4.5 assists and 2.8 rebounds, all slightly better than his regular-season numbers. In Wednesday's loss at New York, Nembhard scored 15 points, while adding four assists. He had a 20-point, four-rebound and three-assist effort in a 125-108 Game 2 first-round win at Milwaukee on April 23. See which team to pick here.
Why the Knicks can cover
Although a bit shorthanded for Game 3, New York remains formidable. Even with Brunson slowed a bit by injury, he has been on fire. He had a four-game streak of 40 points or more snapped in Game 2, but he still managed 29 points, five assists, three steals and two rebounds in 32 minutes. In Game 1, he poured in 43 points, while adding six assists, six rebounds and one block. In eight postseason starts, Brunson is averaging 35.6 points, 8.1 assists and 4.4 rebounds in 42.4 minutes.
Forward Josh Hart has doubled his productivity from the regular season to that in the postseason. In 81 regular-season games, he averaged 9.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists. In eight postseason starts, he is averaging 18 points, 12.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, one block and one steal. He registered his third consecutive double-double of the playoffs in Game 2 on Wednesday, scoring 19 points, grabbing 15 rebounds and adding seven assists in 48 minutes. See which team to pick here.
How to make Knicks vs. Pacers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 229 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits over 50% of the time. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Knicks vs. Pacers, and which side of the spread hits in over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Knicks vs. Pacers spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned more than $2,800 on its NBA picks this season, and find out.
