Preview: Knicks vs. Pacers – A Clash of Styles in Round Two
Get ready for an electric Eastern Conference battle as the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers collide in the second round of the NBA playoffs, starting May 6th, 2024. Fireworks are expected in this series, a rematch of a tightly contested regular-season battle won by Indiana 2-1.
Tale of the Tape
- Regular Season Series: Pacers 2-1
- Average Scores: Pacers 123.3, Knicks 115.3
- Key Stat: Their previous matchups occurred before the All-Star break.
Top Storylines
- Clash of the Point Guards: Former teammates turned rivals, Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton headline this series. Brunson torched the Pacers this season (35.7 PPG), while Haliburton fueled Indiana’s attack (19.7 PPG, 13.3 APG).
- New York’s Grit vs. Indiana’s Firepower: Coach Tom Thibodeau’s defensive Knicks (18th in PPG allowed) seek to slow down the league’s most explosive offense, the Indiana Pacers (1st in PPG).
- Numbers Game: Pacers held advantages in PPG, FG%, and assists, while the Knicks led in rebounding and blocked shots.
X-Factors
- Knicks’ Supporting Cast: Can Julius Randle and RJ Barrett provide consistent scoring support for Brunson, easing the pressure against a stout Pacers defense?
- Pacers’ Bench: Indiana’s depth might be the difference-maker. If contributors like Bennedict Mathurin and Chris Duarte step up, they could overwhelm the Knicks.
History Lesson
These teams have recent playoff history, giving this series an added edge. Both teams are hungry to advance, with the Knicks getting past the 76ers and the Pacers knocking out the Bucks in the first round.
Prediction
While the Knicks are favorites at -275, this series is a toss-up. The Pacers’ offensive firepower could cause significant problems for the Knicks’ defense. At the very least the Pacers are a “live dog” here in this series at a price of +225 at Betonline.
Our Pick – Pacers in 6