New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers Prediction Game 2, Expert Picks, Odds, H2H Stats, News, Injury Report - 5/8/24

After a close 121:117 victory for the New York Knicks at MSG, we are back for Game 2. Tom Thibodeau’s squad hopes to secure a 2-0 home lead tonight, but seeing the Pacers’ performance last time out, this might be easier said than done. Our Knicks vs Pacers prediction and expert betting picks are available below.

The bookmakers expect the Knicks to secure the W tonight at 1.53 odds, an implied win probability of 65.4% while the Pacers are priced at around 2.60 odds. The total points line is 222.5 points, and the handicap is 4.5 points.

Our basketball Senior Editor Milan Stanojic has a 2.61 odds betting pick for this game, but if you want more predictions from our experts, visit Expert Insights.

Knicks vs Pacers Prediction Game 2: Carlisle gets even

• Selection:  Pacers to Win
• Best Odds: 2.61
• Bookmaker: 1xBet
• Stake: 2/10

Odds are available as of May 8th, 2024. Odds may now differ.  

Well, Game 1 was definitely interesting. Those who watched know what I’m talking about. But, let’s talk about what we have learned. The Knicks did not demolish the Pacers on the glass as many expected and only had 1 more offensive rebound. They also didn’t completely shut down Indiana’s offense, despite Haliburton’s terrible performance due to back spasms.

That said, the Knicks went off from beyond the arc and finished the game with 48% from beyond the arc. This isn’t something we have seen very often from this team, and topped with Jalen Brunson’s 43-point outing, I don’t think they will repeat this type of performance.

The Pacers have been effective in pushing the tempo and outscored the Knicks in the paint 64-58. If Haliburton is even at half capacity, the Pacers should have no problems keeping the game to a one-possession difference. My Knicks vs Pacers prediction for Game 2 is for the Pacers to win!

New York Knicks Form, Injury Report, News: Tibbs’ Squad Fit for Game 2?

Bojan Bogdanovic, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson are the top 3 players with season-ending injuries for coach Tom Thibodeau, but Duane Washington and Charlie Brown are also on the list. Tibbs is known for playing his guys for far too long every game, and last time out Josh Hart played all 48 minutes, while Brunson and DiVincenzo were at 44 apiece.

The Knicks only received 27 bench minutes in Game 1 and 3 points. Now, with Mithcell Robinson out, they will need to allocate his 12 minutes somewhere. We might see the whole starting 5 play 45+ minutes. This type of coaching is bound to catch up with the Knicks at some point soon, and against a high-paced offense like the Pacers have, this will be costly.

Brunson went insane last game, they shot almost 50% from deep, Haliburton was horrible and the Knicks still only won by 4 points.

Indiana Pacers Form, Injury Report, News: Haliburton Questionable

Tyrese Haliburton has been battling lower back spasms since the Milwaukee series and is listed as Questionable for tonight’s Game 2. Bennedict Mathurin is also out for the season with a shoulder injury, but Rick Carlisle’s team has still managed to keep it a close contest in Game 1.

The biggest reason behind this is their dynamic offense. The Pacers had 32 assists last game, as well as 22 points, scored directly off of turnovers. They enjoyed a balanced scoring effort despite Haliburton’s struggles, with Turned scoring 23, McConnell 19, and Siakam 18 respectively.

The Pacers also got 46 points from their bench, and Siakam spent the most time on the court with 37 minutes played.

Knicks vs Pacers H2H: Knicks Have a Slight Edge

The New York Knicks lead the historical series by 100-95 in the regular season, but his year the Pacers won the series by 2-1. Both wins came by a 14-point margin, while the Knicks took the 109-105 W in early February.

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