East Conference Finals Game 5 Predictions: Pacers vs. Knicks Best Wager, Preview, and Odds (Revised)
On Thursday, the 29th of May, the New York Knicks will host the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Here, you'll find odds, predictions, and best bets for this anticipated encounter. Remember to check out the VSiN NBA Playoffs Betting Hub for further analysis and expert insight. The hub boasts a team of knowledgeable analysts dissecting the postseason action, and they regularly discuss basketball matters on their live programming. Subscribing to VSiN is a great way to stay informed and engaged.
Game Details
The game will take place at 8:00 pm ET on the 29th of May at Madison Square Garden in New York. The match will be broadcast on TNT, truTV, or Max.
Game Odds(Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook and accurate as of Wednesday, May 28th at 5:30 pm ET)
- Moneyline: Knicks -175, Pacers +145
- Spread: Knicks -4.5 (-105), Pacers +4.5 (-115)
- Total: Over 222.5 (-112), Under 222.5 (-108)
Game Predictions
The Knicks' resilience is evident, as they demonstrated against Boston in the second round and during their 20-point comeback in Game 3 against the Pacers. Home-court advantage and the raucous energy of Madison Square Garden are likely to fuel the Knicks, but the question is: will it be enough?
The pacers have displayed a high-scoring offensive approach in this series, boasting an offensive rating of 121.1, which would have been the best in the league during the regular season. Tyrese Haliburton delivered an outstanding performance in Game 4, amassing 32 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds, four steals, and zero turnovers in 38 minutes. The Pacers seem capable of creating quality scoring opportunities with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns on the floor, and a lackluster Haliburton would be the only factor to change that.
Considering Haliburton's exceptional form and the Pacers' ability to exploit the Knicks' defense, it seems challenging to envision a convincing victory for the home team. The Pacers have a strategy to effectively defend Aaron Nesmith, consistently causing either easy offense or fouling Brunson. Additionally, they are wearing him down, which could be detrimental if Brunson's offensive production is not offsetting his defensive shortcomings.
With the Pacers appearing as the superior team in the past three games, even after their loss in Game 3, it is hard to resist the Points on offer with the better team, particularly as they seem to be improving as the series progresses.
It is noteworthy that the Knicks have a mixed record when trailing a series under Tom Thibodeau, with a 4-6 straight-up and against the spread record. They are also 1-3 straight-up and 2-2 against the spread when facing elimination in that span. Meanwhile, the Pacers boast a 3-1 straight-up record in closeout games under Rick Carlisle, and a 9-4 straight-up and 8-5 against the spread record when leading a playoff series under Carlisle.
Rick Carlisle's tactical acumen offers an edge against Tom Thibodeau, whom he consistently outmatches in terms of strategy. This could be particularly beneficial in attacks against the Knicks' double-big lineup of Towns and Mitchell Robinson. While the Knicks are in search of a cohesive approach, the Pacers' clear identity and robust approach make them formidable adversaries.
Bet Selection
Given the Pacers' superior performance in the series, their better strategy, and their improvement throughout the postseason, a bet on the Pacers at +5 (-117) presents a compelling option. Their recent record in non-Game 3s supports this choice.
The Moneyline odds at DraftKings Sportsbook show the Pacers providing an attractive underdog bet at +145 against the Knicks' -175 for Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on May 29th. Considering the Pacers' impressive form in the past three games and their strategic advantage under Rick Carlisle, a bet on the Pacers at +5 (-117) could prove to be a smart choice for discerning sports bettors looking at NBA playoffs odds.
){kind=link}