The New York Knicks find themselves in dangerous territory, down 0-2 to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals as the series shifts to Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Despite dropping both home games in heartbreaking fashion, history offers a glimmer of hope for the Knicks—Indiana has lost Game 3 in both previous playoff rounds after going up 2-0.
Our analysis points to a desperate New York squad covering the +1.5 spread, as no team in NBA history has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit in the postseason.
NBA best bets
Game | Time | Pick |
---|---|---|
![]() ![]() | 8:00 PM | New York Knicks +1.5 (+1.5)|New York Knicks Moneyline (+105)|Over 223.5 Total Points (223.5) |
Pacers vs. Knicks

Sunday, May 25
8:00 PM
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

The Knicks have proven to be road warriors this postseason with 6 wins in 7 away games, suggesting they perform better outside Madison Square Garden's pressure cooker.
Despite being down 0-2, New York has kept both games competitive, with Game 2 coming down to the final minute where they trailed by just one point with 14 seconds remaining.
History favors the Knicks in this specific situation, as Indiana has lost Game 3 in both previous rounds after going up 2-0, establishing a concerning pattern for the Pacers.
The underdogs have covered the spread in eight of the Pacers' last nine games, while Indiana has failed to cover in each of their last five home games after winning as underdogs.
With their season essentially on the line, expect Jalen Brunson (who's averaging 26.0 PPG and posted 36 points in Game 2) to lead a desperate Knicks squad that simply can't afford to fall into a 3-0 hole.
The Knicks face a must-win situation as no team in NBA history has overcome a 3-0 playoff deficit, creating the perfect storm for their best performance of the series.
While the Pacers have dominated at home this season (33-13 SU), the Knicks have excelled on the road this postseason with a remarkable 6-1 record away from Madison Square Garden.
Indiana has shown vulnerability in Game 3 situations, having dropped Game 3 in both previous playoff rounds after taking 2-0 leads, suggesting a pattern the Knicks can exploit.
New York has the scoring firepower to match Indiana with Brunson's consistent production (36 points in Game 2) complemented by Towns and Bridges (20 points each last game).
The underdog has won each of the Pacers' last four playoff games, indicating the Knicks are primed to snatch a victory in what has been a closer series than the 0-2 deficit suggests.
Both teams have shown they can generate offense in this series, with the Pacers scoring 114 points in Game 2 while shooting an efficient 51% from the field and 43.3% from three-point range.
The Knicks offense has kept pace, scoring 109 points in Game 2 while shooting 47% from the field despite struggling from beyond the arc (34%).
Indiana's home court advantage typically boosts their offensive output, as they've averaged 123.5 points per game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse this season.
Key offensive weapons have hit their stride with Pascal Siakam coming off a playoff career-high 39 points, while Brunson continues his hot streak with 36 points in Game 2.
With the Knicks' season essentially on the line, expect an aggressive, uptempo approach from both teams, leading to more transition opportunities and a higher-scoring affair than oddsmakers anticipate.
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