Knicks vs Pacers NBA Game 1 Pick: Can New York Continue Its Improbable Postseason Run? (May 21)

• The New York Knicks punched their ticket to the conference finals via a 4-2 series win over the Boston Celtics.
• Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers are in the ECF for the second straight year after knocking off the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games.
• These squads last played on Feb. 11, with the Knicks claiming a 128-115 victory.

The lone game on Wednesday’s NBA slate features the New York Knicks hosting the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Who emerges victorious in our Knicks vs Pacers Game 1 pick?

Knicks vs Pacers Preview

The Knicks are in the conference finals round for the first time in 25 years after dethroning the defending champions with a 119-81 victory in Game 6 of the semifinal round.

Jalen Brunson tied for team-high scoring honors with 23 points, six rebounds, and six assists.

OG Anunoby had 23 points as well and collected nine rebounds. New York led 26-20 after the opening quarter, but broke the game open with a 38-17 scoring advantage in the second quarter.

The lead ballooned to 41 points in the third quarter, which prompted Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla to pull his starters.

Meanwhile, the Pacers wrapped up their second straight postseason series in five games, knocking off the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-115. All five of Indiana’s starters reached double figures.

Tyrese Haliburton led the way with 31 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, knocking down six of his 10 attempts from beyond the arc.

Pascal Siakam had a solid, all-around performance, finishing with 21 points, eight boards, and five dimes. Andrew Nembhard chipped in with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field.

Indiana trailed by as many as 19 points in the first half, but trimmed the deficit to four points at the break. Then, they outscored Cleveland by a 62-49 margin in the second half en route to earning their second straight trip to the conference finals.

Knicks vs Pacers Game 1 Pick: Who Lands The First Punch In The Opener?

Following their dominant win over Boston, the Knicks enter this matchup as a 4.5-point favorite, according to BetOnline. Here are a few betting trends for both sides looking ahead to Game 1.

• The Knicks are 5-2 straight-up (SU) in their last seven games.
• New York has covered the spread nine times in its previous 13 outings against Eastern Conference opponents.
• The Pacers are 6-1 overall in their last seven contests.
• Indiana is 6-1 against the spread in its previous seven road matchups.

Offensivley, the Pacers hold the edge. They are ranked second in scoring (117.7 PPG), first in overall shooting (50.1 percent), and first in 3-point efficiency (40.6 percent).

On the flip side of the narrative, the Knicks are ranked fifth in points allowed (105.9 PPG). They have held the opposition to 43.6 percent shooting overall (5th) and 34 percent from beyond the arc (6th).

In a game and series that could go either way, New York wins the opener in a close one.