New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers Picks and Predictions October 25th 2024

Knicks vs Pacers October 25th 2024

At 7:30 ET, the New York Knicks (-224) will host the Indiana Pacers (+187) in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Knicks are favored by 5.5 points, and the over/under line is set at 227.

This game will be played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. ESPN will have the TV coverage for this game.

Pacers vs. Knicks Key Information

The Pacers opened their season with a 115-109 win over the Pistons on Wednesday, moving to 1-0. Indiana, favored by 5.5 points, covered the spread with the win. The total points for the game were 224, falling short of the 235.5 O/U line.

Indiana turned the game around with a strong 4th quarter, outscoring Detroit 33-19. An 11-0 run helped them pull away, extending their lead from 75-69 to 86-69.

The Pacers shot 50.6% from the field in their win over the Pistons, despite hitting just 29% from three-point range, making 9 threes overall. Myles Turner led the way with 20 points, 16 of which came in the 3rd quarter, and he also added 9 rebounds and 4 assists.

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Pascal Siakam and Bennedict Mathurin each contributed 19 points, with Mathurin scoring 14 in the 4th quarter. T.J. McConnell also had a strong finish, scoring 8 of his 14 points in the final period.

Despite giving up 31 points in the 1st quarter and 32 in the 3rd, the Pacers tightened up defensively in the 4th, allowing just 19 points to secure the win. Overall, they held the Pistons to 43% shooting from the field.

Indiana did a great job defending the three, with Detroit hitting just 9 threes on 27% shooting. The Pacers also recorded 10 steals and 8 blocks in the game.

The Knicks dropped their season opener on Tuesday, falling 132-109 to the Celtics on the road. New York, who entered the game as +6 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points of 241 exceeded the O/U line of 221.5 by 19.5 points.

New York fell behind early, trailing 43-24 after the 1st quarter. They played Boston evenly in the 2nd quarter, both teams scoring 31 points. The Celtics extended their lead in the 3rd, outscoring the Knicks 39-32. New York went on a 12-0 run in the 4th, but it was too late, as they entered the quarter down 113-87.

The Pacers shot 50.6% from the field in their win over the Pistons, despite hitting just 9 threes at a 29% clip. Myles Turner led the way with 20 points, 16 of which came in the 3rd quarter.

Pascal Siakam and Bennedict Mathurin each added 19 points, with Mathurin scoring 14 in the 4th. T.J. McConnell also contributed 8 of his 14 points in the final period.

The Knicks struggled defensively against the Celtics, allowing 132 points on 50% shooting. Boston scored 43 points in the 1st quarter and 39 in the 3rd, though New York held them to 19 in the 4th.

New York had a tough time defending the three, as the Celtics hit 29 threes at a 47% clip. The Knicks gave up 11 offensive rebounds and recorded just 2 steals and 3 blocks.

Coming in as the underdogs at +5.5, we have the Pacers as the way to go on the point spread. Not only do we have them covering, but our projections show they have a good one of winning this one straight-up, if you’re looking for a higher payout on the moneyline.

As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 227, and our model projects the Pacers and Knicks to reach a combined total of 246 points. Our bet is on taking the over.

Knicks and Pacers Gear Up for Intense Rematch After Last Season’s Semifinals

The New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers face off on Friday in a highly anticipated rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference semifinals, where Indiana clinched the series in seven games. Now, both teams aim to assert their postseason ambitions in this second game of the season, especially as the Knicks strive for a championship after a more-than-50-year drought.

Knicks’ Struggles in Season Opener Against the Celtics

After a whirlwind offseason, the Knicks debuted their new roster against the reigning champions, the Boston Celtics, but the game ended in a disappointing 132-109 loss. The Knicks were unable to keep up with Boston’s high-paced offense, especially from beyond the arc. The Celtics shot 47.5% from 3-point range, setting an NBA record with 29 3-pointers — despite missing their last 13 attempts.

For New York, the disappointing defensive performance underscores the adjustments needed to strengthen their identity on that end. New Knicks additions Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns struggled offensively and defensively in their first outing. Bridges, acquired from the Nets in June, missed his first five shots and went just 2-for-7 from deep, finishing with 16 points. Towns, who joined from Minnesota in an October trade, managed only 12 points in 24 minutes.

“Our defensive identity is what’s going to give us a chance to do something great,” Towns said after the game. “Offensively, I think we can score. We’ve just got to play defense.”

Pacers Show Grit in Comeback Against the Pistons

The Pacers’ season opener saw a promising comeback as they rallied from an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Detroit Pistons 115-109. Franchise centerpiece Tyrese Haliburton, who struggled with his shot (1-of-9 from 3-point range), came up big when it counted, hitting a clutch 3-pointer with 20 seconds left that widened the lead and effectively sealed the win.

Despite shooting 9-of-31 from 3-point range, Indiana compensated with efficient overall shooting and solid fourth-quarter defense. They held the Pistons to 25% shooting in the final quarter, where Detroit missed crucial attempts from deep, allowing Indiana to capitalize on their defensive stops.

“It ain’t my first bad shooting night, it won’t be my last,” Haliburton said. “I just have to figure out how to win the game in other ways. I felt like I turned it up defensively in the second half to help us win.”

Key Factors to Watch in Friday’s Game

1. Knicks’ Defense and New Additions’ Impact: The Knicks’ success will hinge on defensive adjustments. For the newly added Bridges and Towns, this matchup offers an opportunity to demonstrate their potential to reshape New York’s defense and add more depth on both ends of the floor.
2. Tyrese Haliburton’s Leadership: Haliburton’s clutch play late against the Pistons is emblematic of his importance to Indiana’s offense. Despite a rough shooting night, he found ways to impact the game, proving his value as a two-way leader.
3. Adjustments in the Pacers’ Rotation Without James Wiseman: The Pacers suffered a setback with James Wiseman’s Achilles tear in the season opener. Indiana’s coaching staff will need to reshuffle rotations to cover for the center’s absence. Expect a mix of creative lineups to fill the gap in the frontcourt against a physical Knicks squad.

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Historical Context and Rivalry Energy

This matchup holds deeper significance, stemming from Indiana’s narrow playoff victory over New York last season. Both teams view this game as an early test for postseason viability, and the budding rivalry brings an intensity that fans on both sides are eager to witness again.

As the Knicks and Pacers prepare to face off, each team has areas to fine-tune. For New York, it’s about building synergy among new acquisitions and tightening up defensively, while Indiana aims to see a steady rhythm from its star players. This Friday night clash promises plenty of action and the early storylines of a potential playoff rivalry.