The New York Knicks will visit Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday, November 10, to battle the Indiana Pacers in a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference semifinals. The Pacers set an all-time playoff record by shooting 67.1% from the field while dealing the Knicks a 130-109 setback in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks are led by a pair of All-Stars, point guard Jalen Brunson and center Karl-Anthony Towns. Brunson is the leading scorer with 25.4 points per game, while Towns is averaging 22.2 points an outing.
Pascal Siakam is the top scorer for the Pacers with 19.8 points nightly. The Cameroonian forward also paces the team with 7.2 rebounds to go along with 5.3 assists.
Although the defending league titleholder Boston Celtics (+160) have the best odds to capture their third Eastern Conference banner in four years, the Knicks and Pacers are both legitimate contenders to reach the NBA Finals. New York, which opened with +750 odds, currently has the second-best odds to win the East Crown with odds of +425, per BetMGM.
The Philadelphia 76ers have the third-best odds at +450 and are followed by Milwaukee (+625), Cleveland (+1500), Orlando (+1600), Miami (+2000), and Indiana (+2500). You can back your side by using legal New York sportsbooks such as Fanatics, DraftKings and FanDuel ahead of the upcoming game.
Brunson continues to be one of the league's elite playmakers and poured in a season-high 36 points in a lopsided road win over the Detroit Pistons. The 28-year-old tallied 26 points in the first half and finished 14-of-22 from the field, including a 6-for-8 clip from downtown.
"When we work together," Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said, "our offense is going to be really good." The fiery coach was also impressed with the play of Towns.
"KAT and his skill set, you have to be up on him," Thibodeau said. "And then what it does is it opens up the cutting, and the harder we cut, the more we're going to get easy buckets, we're going to get open 3s.
"And then his willingness to share the ball and make plays for his teammates. And with Jalen, they're developing really good chemistry off it."
Towns was 8-of-18 shooting against Detroit while grabbing 11 rebounds. The four-time All-Star posted his fourth straight double-double and dished out seven assists in 27 minutes. The 28-year-old, who leads the Knicks with 11.2 boards a game and is shooting 54.9% from the field, has also been lauded for being more vocal on defense.
"I would say KAT
Shooting guard Mikal Bridges is also off to a productive start this season. The former Villanova standout is averaging 17.6 points, 3.8 assists, and a team-high 1.6 steals. Other players averaging double-digit points include Josh Hart (14.2), OG Anunoby (13.0), and Miles McBride (12.8).
Hart had to leave the game against the Miami Heat with four minutes left on the clock due to pain in his leg. He was accidentally kicked in the leg two nights earlier against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"It started swelling up then," Hart said. "It was just one of those things where I didn't want to be too prideful and be like, 'No I'm good, I can play,' and then not be able to be myself or defend or rebound at the level I do, especially at the end of the game.
"I made that decision to ask out and have (sub Miles McBride) stay in the game and finish that game and trust them."
C Karl-Anthony Towns
F Josh Hart
F OG Anunoby
G Jalen Brunson
G Mikal Bridges
Shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin is the second-leading scorer with 16.3 points and also tallies 4.8 rebounds. Myles Turner is averaging 14.4 points, 5.8 boards, and a team-best 1.8 blocks, while All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton is posting 14 points with team-highs in assists (7.3) and steals (1.2).
Shooting guard Ben Sheppard erupted for 20 points off the bench in a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. T.J. McConnell added 10 points as the Pacers' bench outscored the Pelicans' reserves, 48 to 26. Sheppard's impressive play has caught the eye of head coach Rick Carlisle.
"He's just been very consistent," Carlisle told reporters. "You just look at the plus-minus every night, he's usually a plus.
Forward Obi Toppin is averaging 10.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. Other players earning significant minutes include Sheppard (7.5 points), McConnell (8.5 points), Aaron Nesmith (9.3 points), Isaiah Jackson (7.0 points), and Andrew Nembhard (7.0 points). However, Jackson suffered a season-ending torn right Achilles tendon against New Orleans on Nov. 1.
"TJ (McConnel is) always says it's next man up mentality, and injuries are gonna happen throughout the course of the season, but just staying together, being confident in the player that you are, and just being ready whenever your name's called," said Sheppard. "It's gonna be super important these next couple weeks and just the whole season."
C Myles Turner
F Pascal Siakam
F Aaron Nesmith
G Bennedict Mathurin
G Tyrese Haliburton
The Knicks lead the all-time series 101-95 but have lost three of the past five meetings:
• 10/25/2024: Knicks won 123-98 in New York
• 02/10/2024: Pacers won 125-111 in New York
• 02/01/2024: Knicks won 109-105 in New York
• 12/30/2023: Pacers won 140-126 in Indiana
• 04/09/2023: Pacers won 141-136 in New York
• Date & Time: Sunday, Nov. 10, 4:00 PM ET
• Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
• Where to watch in the UK: TNT Sports (TV) or other live streams
Prediction: Knicks 112, Pacers 108
With two competitive teams in the Knicks and Pacers facing off, fans can expect a thrilling contest between rising Eastern Conference rivals. As both sides seek early-season momentum, fans can enhance the excitement by betting on various game outcomes with top NBA betting platforms.
Sites like FanDuel, Fanatics, and BetMGM offer extensive options, from point spreads to individual player props. Whether you’re backing the Knicks' star duo of Brunson and Towns or placing faith in the Pacers’ balanced roster led by Siakam, Haliburton, and Turner, this game promises plenty of action and wagering opportunities.
