NBA Pacers vs Knicks Prediction & Same Game Parlay picks: Knicks rely on Brunson again at +509 odds

If you’re an old school 1990s NBA fan, then we have the perfect series for you. The Knicks and Pacers faced each other six times in the NBA Playoffs in a span of just 7 years during the 1990s, they’ll renew their rivalry on Monday night in the East semi-finals at MSG. Tip-off is at 7.30 pm ET on TNT, I’ve prepared a Same Game Parlay to spice things up a bit.

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Let’s dive into my SGP bet now!

IND Pacers +6 Point Spread (-110)

Josh Hart Over 4.5 Assists (-164)

Jalen Brunson to Score 30+ Points (-340)

Myles Turner Over 1.5 Made Threes (-188)

Same Game Parlay odds: +509

IND Pacers +6 Point Spread (-110)

Both the Knicks and Pacers advanced from the 1st Round after 6 games, setting up only their 3rd postseason match-up since the turn of the century. Game 1 will be a feel out game for both sides, and really it could go either way depending on how the two teams settle in after the initial jitters go away. Experience wise the Knicks have a slight edge having been in this situation last year and ultimately lost to Miami in 6 games. This is uncharted territory for Indiana, but I do expect them to put up a fight and push the series to at least 6 or even 7 games.

As we saw in the Minnesota vs Denver series, Game 1 is usually the best chance the road underdog has of surprising the home team and I think that’ll be the case here as well. The Knicks have already lost once at home in the postseason, plus all but one of their games against Philadelphia were decided by 7 or less points. I don’t think a blowout is on the cards in the series opener, so a close game would favor the road team from a betting standpoint. I’ll take Indiana to cover.

Josh Hart Over 4.5 Assists (-164)

Hart played a vital role for the Knicks against Philadelphia in the 1st Round averaging a staggering 46.3 mins per game and filling up the box scores in every single game. Whenever you have a player logging to many minutes, his numbers will be good just on a playing time basis alone. He averaged 4.5 assists in those 6 games, but he did clear this line in the last 3 games, including 7 dimes in the series clinching Game 6 victory. The Knicks were able to rely on Brunson to do most of the heavy lifting both in the scoring and assists departments, but long term I’m not sure if that’s sustainable. Look for Hart to assert himself, his energy levels are always through the roof, especially when he plays at Madison Square Garden.

Jalen Brunson to Score 30+ Points (-340)

The current run that Jalen Brunson is on reminds me the most of Allen Iverson’s 2001 run when he single handedly led the Philadelphia 76ers to an NBA Finals berth. Coincidentally, Brunson just eliminated Iverson’s old team in the 1st Round, averaging 35.5 points per game as a volume shooter with not so impressive efficiency, just like Iverson did. He finished the series with 3 straight 40+ point performances, becoming the first Knick to do so since Bernard King 40 years ago and the first NBA player since Michael Jordan in 1989 vs Cleveland. Playing a fast paced Indiana team should allow Brunson to put up big numbers in this series as well, he dominated the Pacers during the regular season averaging 35.7 points per game on almost 50% shooting from the field. After a grueling 6 game series vs Philly we’re not sure what his energy levels will look like in Game 1, so let’s go with a slightly safer approach and back him to drop 30 in the series opener.

Myles Turner Over 1.5 Made Threes (-188)

Myles Turner could be the x-factor in this series for Indiana. He is a match-up nightmare for most NBA teams, especially those who have not-so-agile big men defenders like the Knicks do. Both Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein are 7-footers and they’re not capable of going from the paint to the perimeter and vice-versa very fast, Turner will look to exploit that on a regular basis here. He enjoyed a very productive regular season series vs New York averaging 18.7 points per game in just 28.7 mins per game, while shooting an insane 80% from three. Against Milwaukee in the 1st Round he averaged 19.2 points as his mins increased to 33.3 per game, his three-point efficiency remained the same at around 44%. Let’s hope he can open the series with a solid performance from the perimeter here.

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