Indiana Pacers (47-35) vs. New York Knicks (50-32)
Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks Game 2 5/8/24 – As the NBA East Semifinals heat up, the Indiana Pacers are set to face off against the New York Knicks on May 8, 2024. The Pacers, holding a solid 47-35 record, are looking to even the series in Game 2 after a thrilling start. On the other hand, the Knicks, with an impressive 50-32 season record, aim to leverage their home-court advantage at Madison Square Garden to take a commanding lead. Both teams are in top form, and fans are in for an exhilarating clash, making this a critical matchup for multi-handicapper tips and picks.
The Pacers have been on a scoring run, scoring 123.3 points per game and maintaining a good 50.7% accuracy in their field shooting. The offensive skill of this team is brought up by their capability to hit 13.2 three-pointers per game with 37.4% accuracy. Their average of 12.3 turnovers per game notwithstanding, they have strong offensive stats. The Knicks could counter this with their defensive skills, which is an area of concern. Nevertheless, their inclination to rebound strongly, 41.5 per game on average, and their ability to have 30.8 assists per game make their adversaries difficult to defeat.
The Knicks with 112.8 point per game scored not as heavily as the Pacers do, but they defend well and are nearly 78% of free throws made successfully. While their field goal percentage slightly goes down to 46.5%, their more productive defensive rebounding stats show 32.5 defensive rebounds per game. This would be crucial in not allowing the Pacers to obtain their second chances. Moreover, their sharp shoot from beyond the arc at 36.9% will supplement the Pacers’ tempo offense tremendously.
Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks Game 2 5/8/24 Game Info
| When: | Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Madison Square Garden |
| TV: | TNT |
| Stream: | NBA League Pass |
Pascal Siakam (PF) vs. Jalen Brunson (PG)
Pascal Siakam has been an important factor for the Pacers, logging an average of 31.8 min whilst producing 21.3 ppg. Having more rebounds of 7.8 and average assists of 3.7 per game, he becomes a multi-featured offensive and defensive player. But, Siakam needs to manage his 1.4 turnovers per game and play extra carefully in critical situations, to prevent him from committing costly mistakes.
Jalen Brunson opposite, utterly superb, putting up 28.7 points and 6.7 assists per game in 35.4 minutes. His scoring and his playmaking are vitally important for the Knicks’ victories, but because of his lower rebounding figures (3.6 per game), this means less engagement in the paint than with him.
The head-to-head contest between Siakam and Brunson will decide a lot. As far as Brunson is concerned, he is bound to have some problems with Siakam’s height and rebounding skills but he can help his side disrupt the Pacers’ defensive system with his agility and high consistency in score. The battle of these styles has got to have an effect on the game flow and probably its result as well.
NBA Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
With betting odds still to be determined, it’s essential to keep an eye on the updates as they can offer deeper insights into how oddsmakers view the matchup’s dynamics. Given both teams’ recent forms and high-scoring tendencies, the totals might lean towards the OVER.
Indiana Pacers Betting Trends
The Pacers have won their last 4 games and performed at their best during this period. It has to be noted that against the spread they are 22-19 on road games and this might be why they cover the spread in this away game. In recent games, more points were scored than before. Therefore, the possibility of an OVER bet in total points is also higher.
New York Knicks Betting Trends
The Knicks enjoy a 5-0 streak in their last five matches, and their 23-17 record against the spread suggests their capability to withstand the pressure in away locations. The Pacers’ recent games just as much as the Pistons’ have been characterized by high scores, which would bode well for a high-scoring matchup.
Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks 5/8/24 Betting Picks
Given the analysis and recent trends, this game promises to be tightly contested. Both teams have shown a propensity to score heavily, and with key players like Siakam and Brunson in form, expect an exciting matchup. However, considering the Knicks’ home advantage and their slightly better defensive metrics, they might edge out the Pacers in a high-scoring game.
For those looking into prop bets, consider betting on over points for Brunson given his scoring run. The game’s high-stakes nature and the offensive capabilities of both teams suggest the OVER on total points is a safe bet. NBA East Semifinals game day insights suggest that the crowd at Madison Square Garden could play a crucial role, potentially tilting the scales in favor of the Knicks.
Free Pick and Prediction: New York Knicks 118, Indiana Pacers 114.