2024/25 NBA East Finals - Pacers at Knicks (Game 2)
The Pacers stunned the Knicks in Game 1 with a 138-135 overtime victory. Game 2 is critical for the Knicks to regain momentum and avoid falling into a 0-2 deficit. Expect a high-intensity matchup as both teams play for a spot in the NBA Finals.
Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks (IND leads series 1-0)
The Pacers are proving to be legit road warriors this postseason, and their Game 1 win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden backs that up - pulling off a thrilling 138-135 OT victory. Tyrese Haliburton was the star of the show with 31 points and 11 assists, while Aaron Nesmith chipped in 30 points on a red-hot 69.2% shooting night.
Indiana’s up-tempo style, led by Haliburton, is tailor-made for playoff basketball, especially on the road where they thrive in transition and punish teams from deep.
Known for keeping games close, Indiana covered the +5.5 spread last time out, and their recent form speaks for itself. They’re 5-1 against the spread in their last six, and a perfect 5-0 ATS on the road. Straight-up, they’ve won 7 of their last 8 and have handled the Knicks well too, winning 6 of the last 9 matchups.
Punters should be keeping a close eye on Haliburton's props - points, assists, and three-pointers - given how crucial he is to Indiana’s attack. With sharp coaching and serious momentum, the Pacers are looking like a dangerous underdog with value written all over them.
The Knicks are back at the Garden for Game 2, looking to bounce back after a wild Game 1 loss to the Pacers in overtime, 138-135. Jalen Brunson did everything he could, dropping 43 points on 60% shooting, while Karl-Anthony Towns added a monster double-double with 35 points and 12 boards.
Despite those big performances, New York came up short and is now just 3-4 at home in the 2025 playoffs - something that’s making punters a bit uneasy.
The Knicks still come in as -5.5 favourites thanks to their gritty, physical style and typically strong home-court presence, but that inconsistency has been a storyline all postseason. Brunson remains the go-to guy for prop bets, especially for points and assists, and how he handles the pressure at MSG could be the difference.
Historically, New York has had the edge at home against Indiana, going 9-4 straight up in their last 13 meetings there, but they’ll need a tighter defensive showing to avoid falling into a 0-2 hole.
Stadium Record
New York are 3-4 at MSG in the NBA playoffs this year. Indiana has lost 3 of their last 5.
Head to Head Record
The Pacers now lead the head-to-head 6-4 in the last 10 meetings.
Best Bet
You have to like the Pacers to cover in Game 2. They're now 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games and Haliburton is showing up in the clutch. They also have the wood over the Knicks, covering in 4 of the last 6 meetings and 5-0 ATS on the road.
Same Game Multi
Despite the Game 1 defeat, Towns was massive for the Knicks. He finished with 35 pts and hit 4 threes. His 20 pt line should be a safe bet as he's hit this mark in 4 of his last 5 games. Siakam has been dishing out assists with 5 and 6 in his last 2 games. He offers massive value to get 4 or more in Game 2.
