We weren't even sure the New York Knicks had enough players left to play a full Game 5, but then they went out and beat the Indiana Pacers by 30 points to reclaim control of this Eastern Conference semifinal.
Tuesday night was a complete shellacking, highlighted by Isaiah Hartenstein’s work on the offensive glass and Jalen Brunson’s 44 points, and lowlighted by Tyrese Haliburton taking only nine shots as part of his plus/minus of -22.
Haliburton has not looked the part of a blossoming star in this series, and with elimination on the line, his passive approach should doom the Pacers. Specifically, our Knicks vs. Pacers predictions will doubt Haliburton’s playmaking as we dig into our NBA picks for Friday, May 17.
Make sure to also check out our favorite Knicks vs Pacers prop picks and Jalen Brunson props!
Knicks vs Pacers prediction
My best bet
Tyrese Haliburton Under 8.5 assists (+105 at bet365)
Best odds available in your region
My analysis
Coming into this series, the doubt was in Tyrese Haliburton’s willingness to get into the lane. During the regular season, only 51% of his field-goal attempts came from beyond the arc. In the first round, a six-game series win against the Bucks, Haliburton took 63.5% of his shots from deep.
The Indiana Pacers superstar is making more of those shots — 43.5% in this series compared to 29.6% against the Bucks — but he is still taking too many of them. More than 61% of Haliburton’s field-goal attempts against the New York Knicks have been 3-pointers.
Making more of them has kept Indiana afloat in this series and foiled any attempts in Games 2 and 3 at fading Haliburton’s points prop, but Haliburton’s reluctance to drive — be it because of defensive designs or because of some reason on his end that he is a bit more timid these days — has cost the rest of the Pacers’ offense. Haliburton’s drive-and-dishes helped him to 10.9 assists per game this regular season.
Without getting into the lane and thus without defenses worrying about Haliburton’s rim pressure, he has averaged just 8.2 assists through 11 postseason games, including only 6.8 assists through five games in this series.
He has exceeded this prop in just one game of this series, and then he did so with a mere nine assists. Haliburton’s shift in shot selection has cost his teammates their own looks.
Knicks vs Pacers same-game parlay (SGP)
Tyrese Haliburton Under 8.5 assists
Tyrese Haliburton Over 3.5 threes
Tyrese Haliburton Over 20.5 points
While Haliburton is failing to play the version of his game that propelled the Pacers to the postseason, I expect him to let it fly with Indiana facing elimination.
The present form of Haliburton shows aggressive play by chucking from deep. In Games 2-4, he averaged 12 threes per game. In each of them, he hit at least four shots from deep, and in two of them, he eclipsed 20 points.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Knicks vs Pacers odds
Knicks vs Pacers live odds
Get the latest Knicks vs Pacers NBA playoff odds for Game 6.
Knicks vs Pacers opening odds
- Spread: New York +5 (-110) | Indiana -5 (-110)
- Moneyline: New York +165 | Indiana -200
- Over/Under: Over 217.5 (-110) | Under 217.5 (-110)
Knicks vs Pacers spread and Over/Under analysis
- After getting blown out in Game 5 on Tuesday night, the Pacers opened as 5-point favorites at home for Game 6, a number that ticked up to -5.5 on Thursday morning.
- Despite New York’s furthered injuries, this spread is lower than it was in Indiana’s previous two home games. The added day of rest since Tuesday’s blowout may be the reason why.
- The total opened at 217.5 before it was knocked down to 216 at most books on Thursday morning, some falling to 215.5 even before Thursday’s sunrise.
Knicks vs Pacers trend
The Pacers are 28-18 to the Over at home this season, including 3-2 in the postseason. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Pacers.
Knicks vs Pacers game info
| Location: | Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN |
| Date: | Friday, 5-17-2024 |
| Tip-off: | 8:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN |
Knicks vs Pacers latest injuries
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