The Eastern Conference semifinal series between the second-seeded New York Knicks and No. 6 Indiana Pacers starts Monday from Madison Square Garden with the Knicks as 6-point favorites for Game 1 and also favored to win the series – which we think happens in six.
Indiana won the 2023-24 season series, 2-1, and outscored the Knicks by an average of 123.3-115.3. But the last meeting was way back on Feb. 10 also at Madison Square Garden, a 125-111 Pacers victory behind 23 points from Myles Turner and 22 from Tyrese Haliburton. Indiana shot 61% (50 for 82) in the game, including 48.3% (14 for 29) from 3-point distance. Jalen Brunson had 39 points in a losing effort for the Knicks. They were very short-handed, missing OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein.
The Pacers and Knicks have an extensive history in the playoffs, having faced off seven times in the postseason, including six times in an eight-year span. They last met in the 2013 postseason, with Indiana advancing.
The Pacers led the NBA in pace for almost the entire regular season, while the Knicks finished last. Additionally, the Pacers had the No. 1 scoring offense (123.3 points per game), while the Knicks gave up the second-fewest points nightly (108.2). A key area of concern for the Pacers will be on the glass, as the Knicks ranked No. 1 in offensive rebounding, while the Pacers finished 28th overall on the boards.
Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks 2024 NBA Playoffs Game 1 Info
When: Monday, May 6th, 2024, 6:30 PM ET
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
TV: TNT
Radio: 107.5 FM The Fan (Pacers) // WFAN Sports Radio 101.9 FM (Knicks)
Stream: NBA League Pass
NBA Odds: Pacers (+6) // Knicks (-6)
Why bet on the Indiana Pacers?
The Pacers got here by taking out Milwaukee in Game 6 on Thursday, 120-98. Haliburton finished with 17 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. Haliburton recorded a double-double in three of the six games in the first round against Milwaukee, finishing with at least 15 points in four straight outings to round out the series. Indiana is headed to the second round for the first time in 10 years, and its bench is a significant reason why. TJ McConnell and Obi Toppin combined to score 41 points in Game 6 vs. the Bucks, with McConnell also racking up nine assists and four steals. They became the first duo in Pacers playoff history to each post 20 or more points off the bench in one game.
Indiana has reached 120 or more points only nine times in its playoff history. Three of those games came during their first round series against Milwaukee. Indiana’s 126 points in Game 4 marked its second-highest scoring total in a playoff game in NBA franchise history.
The Pacers posted their best marks for any series in postseason franchise history in scoring average (111.1 points per game), field goals (259), field goal percentage (.479), 3-pointers made (84), 3-point attempts (244) and assists (181). Indiana finished with 59 turnovers over its six-game series, the fewest in any six-game series in playoff franchise history, and led the NBA in the first round with a 3.07 assists-per-turnover ratio.
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