Hoops fans and bettors alike should be in for a treat on Friday, when the Knicks host the Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden (8:00 p.m. ET).
The Sporting News will dive into the NBA betting odds for this conference title tilt, and also hand-pick the best bets and top props for the evening. We'll make our final score prediction, as well as the optimal spread and over/under plays.
Indiana delivered the first punch on Wednesday, mounting an improbable 14-point comeback in the waning minutes of regulation and then winning in overtime to stun the MSG crowd. Aaron Nesmith scored a whopping 20 points in the fourth quarter, and Tyrese Haliburton forced OT with a buzzer-beater.
MORE: Haliburton's choke gesture and its Reggie Miller inspiration
Let's get to our betting preview for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Knicks and Pacers, including the odds, our game pick and the top player props.
Knicks vs. Pacers Game 2: Spread, moneyline, over/under
All odds and props are from BetMGM, an authorized gaming operator of the NBA.
- ATS: Knicks -5.5 (-110) | Pacers +5.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Knicks -235 | Pacers +195
- Over/under: O 227.5 (-110) | U 227.5 (-110)
BetMGM likes the Knicks to bounce back, making them a -235 favorite. That translates to an implied win probability of over 70 percent, not surprising considering New York has gone 26-9 following a loss since the start of the 2024-25 NBA season.
As of Thursday evening, 65 percent of Knicks-Pacers moneyline bettors were on New York, while 58 percent of spread bettors liked Indy. The majority like the OVER, with 73 percent of bets on the game finishing north of 227 points.
MORE KNICKS-PACERS: Comparing Game 1 of 2025 to Game 5 in 1994
Knicks vs. Pacers Game 2 best bets and final score prediction
Game 1 was a humdinger. Many of us still can't wrap our heads around what happened. The Knicks had a 14-point lead with less than three minutes left in the game, and a nine-point lead with under a minute remaining. Aaron Nesmith went absolutely bananas, and Tyrese "Playoff Hali" Haliburton hit another clutch shot to force OT, where Indy prevailed 138-135.
The most perplexing part of this game was New York breaking down late. The Knicks were rushed, they were sloppy with the ball, they didn't execute defensively and they failed to bring down defensive rebounds. Back-cuts killed them. They looked dog-tired. They tried to run with the speedy Pacers for four quarters, and their lack of depth caught up to them.
That said, everything had to go right at the end of that game for Indy — and almost everyone had to bog down for the Knicks. If O.G. Anunoby hits both of his free throws, New York wins. If Tom Thibodeau doesn't have his guys intentionally foul up three, New York probably wins. If anyone defends the hoop on Obi Toppin's overtime dunk, maybe it finishes differently.
The Knicks have gone 26-9 following a loss since the start of the season, a true testament to Thibs' ability to make adjustments. They also won two of three meetings with Indy this season, including a 25-point thrashing at MSG, so it sure seems like New York has a good chance to rebound this evening.
Haliburton recreated Reggie Miller's infamous choke gesture after he nailed his clutch game-tying buzzer-beater. This is personal. The Knicks are winning this game, and they're winning it handily. And the defense and late-game execution should be a lot better, so we're also leaning toward the UNDER.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Knicks 117, Pacers 107 — New York wins and covers (-5.5), while the score finishes UNDER the projected total of 227.5.
Knicks vs. Pacers Game 2 top player prop bet
Josh Hart, F, Knicks: Double-double (+100)
Hart was one of the Knicks to speak out about their collapse on Wednesday, mentioning that their intensity decreased and they were playing "not to lose" instead of playing to win. Look for him to be one of the more aggressive players on the home squad on Friday, as he continues to be the Hart — er, heart — of the franchise.
Hart ripped down 13 rebounds to go with eight points and seven assists in Game 1. He logged a triple-double in the second-round clincher against the Celtics, putting up 10 points, 11 boards and 11 dimes. He has four double-doubles in the postseason, after having logged 34 in the regular season.
The veteran NovaKnick should be taking more than the three shots he attempted on Wednesday, so 10 points feels like an easy target. And the way he attacks the glass, 10 boards in a must-win game also feels like a lock. Enjoy the plus odds on this "All Hart" double-double special.