Knicks and Pacers Set the Stage for a Throwback Eastern Conference Finals
Not every year do you get a matchup packed with as much tension as Knicks-Pacers in the NBA playoffs. Yet, here we are again: Madison Square Garden buzzing, New York craving its shot at history, and Indiana rolling in hot after dethroning the conference’s best. Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Finals is already shaping up to be a drama-filled showdown.
The Knicks vs Pacers rivalry goes deep. We’re talking about decades of battles, elbows, and wild, emotional crowd energy. Heading into Wednesday’s game, everyone’s talking about New York as 4.5-point favorites, but history doesn’t care much for odds. The Pacers have had the upper hand lately. Last postseason, they swept the Knicks out, and Indiana holds a 5-3 record in previous playoff series, winning the last three straight. The Pacers haven’t played for a title since 2000, and New York hasn’t made the Finals since 1973. It’s been more than half a century for the Knicks. The weight of that drought is everywhere you look in Manhattan this week.
But there’s a shift in the air. This Knicks team isn’t limping into May like last year's battered squad. They’re healthy, riding the momentum of a strong postseason run. It’s the opposite story for Indiana—who just pulled off a massive upset by taking down the top-seeded Cavaliers. For fans and oddsmakers alike, these storylines have created a mix of anticipation and nerves. Even though New York is the favorite on paper, plenty of sharp bettors remember Indiana’s recent dominance and their fearless play against Cleveland.
Key Bets, Players to Watch, and What to Expect
If you’re digging into betting trends, there are a few angles getting a lot of buzz. Jalen Brunson has emerged as the Knicks’ steadying force all season. His prop line for Game 1 is OVER 28.5 points at -115 odds, reflecting his red-hot performance lately. It almost feels automatic for those who’ve watched him torch defenses, especially when the spotlight gets brighter.
But here’s a wrinkle: New York has been starting games slowly, burning bettors on first-quarter bets for weeks. Analysts point to this as a weakness that can’t be ignored—especially against a Pacers squad full of confidence and speed. If you’re thinking about quarter-by-quarter wagers, there’s a growing trend to fade the Knicks early and back them to surge later in the game.
The total sits at 224 points, and with the pace both teams play at, an over bet could get tempting. That said, playoff basketball often turns into a grind—it’s not always the run-and-gun game you see in the regular season. Expect both teams to tighten up defensively, at least in the early minutes as nerves settle.
Stats folks have also been looking at Bruce Marshall’s picks—he’s on a monster 56-27 run with Pacers-related bets, piling up profits for anyone willing to follow his insight. He’s keeping a close eye on how Indiana’s backcourt matches up with Brunson and whether the Knicks can flip their first-quarter narrative.
Tipoff is at 8 PM ET, with Madison Square Garden promising the kind of electric, not-sitting-down-for-a-second energy you simply can’t manufacture elsewhere. Experts, fans, and players all sense that something seismic could go down. Whether it’ll be a New York statement or Indiana furthering their giant-slaying run is anyone’s guess—at least until the first whistle blows.
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