The Eastern Conference Finals are set to kick off tonight as the Indiana Pacers head to Madison Square Garden to face off against the New York Knicks. This marks the fourth meeting between these two historic rivals in the playoffs, with the Knicks previously winning in both 1994 and 1999, while the Pacers clinched victory in 2000.
Key players for both teams include Jalen Brunson of the Knicks and Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers. The Pacers earned their spot in the conference finals by overcoming the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the previous round, while the Knicks took down the defending champion Boston Celtics.
As the game approaches, several highlights stand out for the betting audience:
– With the Pacers projected to score over 110.5 points (-105), this classic rivalry promises an exciting match. Indiana’s offense has shown power this postseason, averaging 117.7 PPG, placing them second overall, and they rank third in pacing. The extra time to prepare since May 13 should give the Pacers a quick start against New York’s more methodical defense, especially with Tyrese Haliburton’s ability to create plays.
– On the Knicks’ side, Karl-Anthony Towns is expected to shine with an over/under of 22.5 points (-105). Towns has demonstrated a consistent ability to perform against the Pacers, recently averaging 30.2 PPG over his last 11 games against them, notably scoring 30 and 40 points in their last two meetings this season.
– However, in a more nuanced betting angle, Haliburton’s assists are projected to be under 8.5 (+105). Despite being one of the league’s top distributors, his historical performance against the Knicks shows a challenge in generating high assist counts, averaging only 7.6 assists per game in his last 10 outings against them.
The game kicks off at 8 p.m. ET, with the Pacers entering as 4.5-point underdogs. Current odds indicate Pacers at +155 and Knicks at -185, with the total set at 223.5 points.
The matchup looks promising for basketball fans, blending the thrill of a storied rivalry with the stakes of the NBA Finals at hand. As both teams prepare to battle, the excitement for what lies ahead is palpable, making this an event not to be missed for sports enthusiasts.