Indiana Pacers vs New York Knicks Odds, Predictions, Player Props & Injuries for Game 2 (May 8)

May 6, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) controls the ball against New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the fourth quarter of game one of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

• The Indiana Pacers face the New York Knicks in Game 2 of their best-of-seven series on Wednesday, May 8
• New York eked out a Game 1 victory (121-117) with the benefit of some controversial officiating late in the game
• Below, see the Indiana Pacers vs New York Knicks Game 2 odds, predictions, player props and injury reports

While the New York Knicks (55-34, 26-19 home, 48-38-3 ATS) ultimately emerged with a 121-117 Game 1 victory over the Indiana Pacers (51-38, 22-23 away, 48-38-3 ATS) on Monday, it may be the Pacers who come into Game 2 on Wednesday as the more confident group.Indiana held a six-point lead at halftime and led by as many as nine in the fourth quarter before letting Game 1 slip away (with some help from the officials).

As the teams get set for Game 2, the Pacers vs Knicks point spread has come down from six points in Game 1 to just 4.5 points in Game 2, which tips off at 8:10 pm ET at Madison Square Garden in New York tonight.

Pacers vs Knicks Game 2 Odds

The Knicks, who were north of -200 in Game 1, have also seen their moneyline price fade to -175 ahead of Game 2, while the game total has increased three full points from 217.5 to 220.5. Indiana is a +145 underdog to even the series at one game apiece on Wednesday.

Odds as of May 8 at BetMGM.  Check out the available BetMGM promos before betting on Pacers vs Knicks today. 

The Knicks, who opened as -245 favorites to advance in the series, improved to -360 after winning Game 1. The Pacers faded to +290. New York still trails Boston by a massive margin in the NBA conference odds, though. The Celtics are -310 to win the East while the Knicks are +320 second-favorites.

Brunson Goes Off (Again) in Game 1

Jalen Brunson continued his assault on the playoffs in Game 1 of the series, dropping a game-high 43 points – his fourth straight 40-point game – on 14-of-26 from the field and a perfect 14-of-14 night from the free-throw line. ‘

As a team, the Knicks were phenomenal from beyond the arc, hitting 11-of-23 triples (47.8%) while connecting at over 50% from the field (44-of-82, 52.7%).

The Knicks also won the battle on the glass (40 to 32) led by another monstrous 13-rebound night from Josh Hart. No Indiana player finished with more than six rebounds.

Center Myles Turner had a team-high 23 for the Pacers, who finished with six players in double-figures and shot a solid 52.3% from the field themselves (and 10-of-26 from three, 38.5%).

All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton continued to struggle. Haliburton, who is suffering from a back injury, scored just six points on 2-of-6 shooting from the field with eight assists, two rebounds, and four steals.

IND vs NYK Player Props (Game 2)

NBA player props from DraftKings on May 8.

Oddsmakers just can’t seem to set Jalen Brunson’s point total high enough. The Knicks superstar has scored at least 39 points in five straight games and his over/under has increased from 35.5 in Game 1 to 36.5 ahead of Game 2. No Pacers player is over 19.5 (Siakam).

Unfortunately for the Knicks, center Mitchell Robinson (5.6 PPG, 8.5 RPG) is out six-to-eight weeks with an ankle injury he suffered on Monday. Robinson played 12 minutes in Game 1, scoring two points with two rebounds.

There are no new injuries to report for the Pacers ahead of Game 2. Haliburton is once again listed as questionable for the Pacers due to his back injury.

Indiana Pacers vs New York Knicks Game 2 Prediction

The gap between these teams is infinitesimal, and on a neutral-court, I see Indiana as the better team. While the officiating certainly was questionable in Game 1, the Pacers can’t pin the loss entirely on the refs. They showed their youth/inexperience down the stretch while letting their nine-point fourth-quarter slip away.

But the Knicks shot an unsustainable 47.8% from three in Game 1. New York has connected at a solid 38.1% clip from three in the postseason but shot just 36.9% from deep in the regular season.

The Pacers moneyline is as long as +162 at FanDuel, and I love the value on Indiana straight-up in what should be another hyper-tight game.

IND vs NYK Game 2 pick: Pacers moneyline (+162) at FanDuel

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