An eventful Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 saw the Pacers mount a historic comeback over the Knicks. Now, these two rivals will take the court once again on Friday night. Can New York even things up, or will Indiana take a commanding 2-0 series lead?
The Knicks enter tonight as six-point favorites, with the over/under set at 224.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook. Let’s break down both teams going into Friday’s pivotal contest.
Pacers vs. Knicks preview, prediction
After 48 minutes in this series, one thing is abundantly clear: the Pacers are legit. After falling behind by 14 points with less than 3 minutes remaining, a flurry of Indiana three-pointers led to an eventual overtime victory. To do so on the road against a frenzied Madison Square Garden crowd? It’s not something to take lightly.
Still, for the Knicks there are still reasons for optimism. The level of physicality in this matchup is a clear downgrade compared to previous series vs. the Pistons and Celtics. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns combined for 78 points on 26-of-42 shooting from the field (61.9%). Unfortunately, New York’s defense collapsed late, allowing 38 points in the fourth quarter. That’s abnormal for a Tom Thibodeau-led squad, especially one that’s shown mental toughness all postseason.
As good as Brunson and Towns looked, it’s the rest of the Knicks starting lineup that raises questions. O.G. Anunoby was sloppy throughout Game 1, capped off by an errant pass in overtime. Mikal Bridges came out of the gates on a tear, but scored a total of eight points after the first quarter. Any scoring do-it-all wing Josh Hart provides is a bonus, not the expectation.
Indiana’s offense, while dangerous, was saved by a miraculous barrage of Aaron Nesmith three-pointers. The forward connected on eight-of-nine shots from beyond the arc, scoring 18 points over the final five minutes of regulation. Another hyper-efficient 30-point performance is unlikely at best. To counteract any regression, Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner might get more involved tonight. However, the pair had difficulty inside against the double-big combination of Towns and Mitchell Robinson. If those struggles continue, the Pacers will be heavily dependent on their perimeter shooting in Game 2.
Pacers vs. Knicks pick, best bet
As most fans are aware of, these two have plenty of postseason history. Last year, it took the Pacers seven games to secure an Eastern Conference Finals victory. While the Knicks are far healthier this season, Wednesday’s performance shows that Indiana is a much better team in its own right. In four of those seven contests, the two teams failed to reach a combined 220 points.
With that being said, this year’s Knicks aren’t as defensively oriented as last year’s squad. New York plays an adaptable brand of basketball, capable of pushing the pace or draining the clock. That’s the opposite of the Pacers, who have been a much stingier group in 2025. In four of the last five meetings between these two teams, at least 239 total points have been scored. Expect another shootout at MSG on Friday.
