The Indiana Pacers host the New York Knicks on Tuesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tipoff is set for 7:30 PM ET. Both teams are coming off losses and looking to get back on track. The Knicks lost to the Boston Celtics 131-104, while the Pacers fell to the Los Angeles Lakers 124-117.
New York sits third in the Eastern Conference with a 34-18 record. Indiana is right behind at 29-22, currently fourth in the standings. The teams have split their two meetings this season, with Indiana winning the last matchup 132-121 on November 10. The Pacers have gone 19-7 since mid-December and will look to continue their strong play at home.
Pacers Preview – Can They Start Fast?
Indiana has struggled with slow starts in recent games. They trailed 44-22 after the first quarter against the Lakers, making it difficult to recover. In all four games of their recent road trip, they were behind after the first quarter.
Pascal Siakam led the team with 23 points in the loss to the Lakers. Tyrese Haliburton scored 19 points with nine assists, but Indiana’s shooting struggles early in games have been a problem. Myles Turner missed the last game with a cervical strain and is listed as day-to-day.
The Pacers have been strong at home and will look to capitalize on that advantage. They have won 19 of their last 26 games outright. The team’s ability to improve their early-game play will be key to their chances against New York.
Knicks Preview – Can They Bounce Back?
New York was outmatched by Boston in their last game, with the Celtics shooting over 54% from the field. Jalen Brunson was the lone bright spot, scoring 36 points. Karl-Anthony Towns struggled, finishing with just nine points on 3-for-8 shooting.
OG Anunoby is expected to miss his fourth straight game with a sprained foot. The Knicks have gone 7-2 in their last nine games but have struggled against top teams in the league. They will need a better defensive effort to slow down Indiana’s fast-paced offense.
The Knicks have hit the game total over in 51 of their last 80 games. They also tend to struggle in the first quarter, covering the spread in just 32 of their last 91 first quarters. Their ability to start strong will be important in this game.
Betting Prediction
Indiana has been playing well since December, but their slow starts are a concern. The Knicks have been inconsistent, with big wins and tough losses. The game total has trended toward the over for both teams, making it an interesting betting angle.
Indiana is a strong home team, but New York has the defense to keep this game close. If Myles Turner is out, the Knicks could have an edge inside. Expect a tight game with the Knicks keeping it close enough to cover.
Pick: Knicks +3
The Knicks as the underdog find a way to get this one done. This should be a great Eastern Conference matchup between two potential playoff contenders.
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