The New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers face off once again in the NBA playoffs, with the Eastern Conference final spot on the line. On Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks survived by winning Game 5, fueled by a stellar 32-point performance from Jalen Brunson and a strong defensive effort.
The Pacers earned their place here by eliminating both the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers in five-game series each. Last season, Indiana defeated the Knicks in the second round before falling to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. If the Pacers fail to clinch Game 6, there’s curiosity around the odds of a Game 7 showdown back in New York.
The Knicks are advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000 after defeating the reigning champion Boston Celtics in six games during the second round. They also beat the Detroit Pistons in six games in the first round, with Brunson impressing throughout the playoffs.
Historically, the Pacers have never reached the NBA Finals, although they made it to the East Finals in 2000 by beating the Knicks. Conversely, the Knicks haven’t been to the NBA Finals since 1999, when they famously defeated the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Here is the full schedule for the Eastern Conference Finals:
– Game 1: Pacers 138, Knicks 135 (OT)
– Game 2: Pacers 114, Knicks 109
– Game 3: Pacers 106, Knicks 100
– Game 4: Pacers 130, Knicks 121
– Game 5: Knicks 111, Pacers 94 (Indiana leads 3-2)
– Game 6: Saturday, May 31 | Knicks vs Pacers | 8 PM, TNT/MAX
– Game 7 (if needed): Monday, June 2 | Pacers vs Knicks | 8 PM, TNT/MAX
Current odds from FanDuel show the Pacers favored to win the series (-370) with the Knicks as underdogs (+295). For Game 6, the Pacers are favored by 3.5 points, with an over/under of 220 points.
As the playoffs progress, offenses become tougher to execute due to increased familiarity with opponents’ strategies. This places greater emphasis on star players’ scoring abilities, particularly Knicks’ Jalen Brunson. Interestingly, Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin has become more impactful as the series advances, scoring 43 points across Games 4 and 5 after limited output in earlier games. His ability to create scoring opportunities independently will be crucial in Game 6, where he played 24 minutes last time. The recommended pick is for Mathurin to score over 9.5 points in the next game.
—
Fan Take: This Eastern Conference Finals series is a high-stakes, intense battle showcasing emerging stars and seasoned talents alike. For basketball enthusiasts, it highlights the evolving dynamics of playoff basketball and could signal a shift in Eastern Conference power balance, making the journey to the NBA Finals all the more thrilling to watch.
