After the Indiana Pacers failed to close out the New York Knicks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday, talk of Game 6 back in Indiana on Saturday being a “must-win” began. It’s not a must-win, obviously, with the Pacers holding a 3-2 advantage in the series, but you know how one game can shift the perception of any playoff series, let alone one that has been those close (a total of six points have separated the Pacers and Knicks through five games).
If the Knicks win Game 6 and stave off elimination for a second straight time, the general perception will be that Indiana has no chance of winning Game 7 in Madison Square Garden.
Knicks vs. Pacers: Where to watch Game 6, stream series, schedule, odds, game times, NBA playoff updates Sam Quinn Knicks vs. Pacers: Where to watch Game 6, stream series, schedule, odds, game times, NBA playoff updates But is that true? Historically speaking, teams that have failed to close out a series in Game 6 at home have gone on to compile a 10-15 record in Game 7 since 2003, when the NBA went to seven-game series in all rounds. That isn’t a great record by any means, but a 40% is far from no chance. It’s getting close to a coin flip.
game6losers.png Take a look at that list, and you’ll see that the news gets even better for Pacers fans when you consider that the most recent examples of this scenario have gone decidedly in the favor of the team that lost Game 6 at home — with four out of the last five having recovered to win Game 7 on the road.
The Warriors did it this season, losing Game 6 at home to the Rockets before going to Houston and winning Game 7.
The Heat famously did it in the 2023 ECF against the Celtics, who came back from a 3-0 hole to tie Miami 3-3 heading back to Boston. You could not have any more momentum working against you than that Miami team did after Derrick White stole Game 6 from them on a buzzer-beating tip-in, but Miami rallied the troops and got it done in Boston.
The Celtics did the same thing to Miami in 2022, losing Game 6 in Boston before going to Miami and winning Game 7 to qualify for the Finals. The Warriors did it to the Kings in 2023.
When it comes to Saturday night’s action, the Pacers are favored (-3.5) to win Game 6, via BetMGM, and are -375 to win the series and advance to the NBA Finals.
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21+ only. First Bet Offer for new customers only. Min. first deposit of $10. Subject to eligibility requirements. Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. Bonus bets amount equals lost stake up to $1500. Must be physically located in AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, DC, WV, or WY. Void where prohibited. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). Data & text rates may apply. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA).21+ only. First Bet Offer for new customers only. Min. first deposit of $10. Subject to eligibility requirements. Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. Bonus bets amount equals lost stake up to $1500. Must be physically located in AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, DC, WV, or WY. Void where prohibited. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). Data & text rates may apply. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA).21+ only. First Bet Offer for new customers only. Min. first deposit of $10. Subject to eligibility requirements. Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. Bonus bets amount equals lost stake up to $1500. Must be physically located in AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, DC, WV, or WY. Void where prohibited. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). Data & text rates may apply. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA). This is to say that Game 6 is not a must-win for the Pacers. It may feel that way, but it isn’t. Heck, the last time the Pacers faced this exact scenario, they came out on top. It was 2005, and Indiana failed to close out the Celtics in Game 6 at home but went to Boston and won Game 7.
So this can be done. The Pacers aren’t going to approach Game 6 like it’s some sort of house-money game, of course. It’s not even close to that. If we’re going on historical results, which realistically don’t have much to do with any future outcomes that are defined by an entirely different set of circumstances anyway, there’s been a better chance of the Game 6 loser also losing Game 7. The odds would not be on Indiana’s side in New York.
Still, the Knicks have to win Game 6. There’s been a lot of talk about all the pressure on Indiana, but if you remove the emotion from it, that’s not true. New York has no room for error, but Indiana still does, even if the margin is shrinking.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will host Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals, and they’ll learn their opponent in the coming days. The Thunder punched their Finals ticket Wednesday night with a Game 5 blowout win to eliminate the Minnesota Timberwolves. OKC awaits either the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks in the championship round.
The Pacers have a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference finals against New York. The Knicks staved off elimination with a Game 5 win on Thursday, and will try to keep their season alive again in Game 6 on Saturday night.
The Pacers are back in the conference finals for the second year in a row after taking out the top-seeded Cavaliers in the second round. They’re facing the Knicks, who eliminated the reigning champion Boston Celtics in six games. The Pacers have not made the NBA Finals since 2000, when they beat the Knicks in the East finals. The Knicks have not won the East since 1999… when they beat the Pacers in the East finals.
We’ll be with you every step of the way as the competition marches on. Below is the schedule for the 2025 NBA playoffs.
Kevin Durant may have squashed a trade deadline deal to the Golden State Warriors, but they weren’t the only team to pursue the 2014 league MVP in the middle of the season. Reports have indicated that several other teams tried to get him as well, and despite the difficulties such a blockbuster presented, at least one other team made an aggressive push.
“It became clear to me in talking to the parties involved just how serious the Wolves were about trying to trade for Kevin Durant at the trade deadline,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on his Hoop Collective podcast.
Kevin Durant trade explainer: Why Suns star is likely to be dealt and who’s in the running to land former MVP Sam Quinn Kevin Durant trade explainer: Why Suns star is likely to be dealt and who’s in the running to land former MVP This is not the first report of Minnesota’s interest, but the severity that Windhorst describes is notable because a Durant-to-Minnesota deal was basically impossible during the season. Both the Suns and Timberwolves were above the second apron during the season, so trading with one another would have involved cap gymnastics that just weren’t feasible. At least two significant rules would have all but certainly scuttled any trade that would have sent Durant to Minnesota during the season:
If a team brings in more salary than it sends out during a trade, it is automatically hard-capped at the first apron. As both teams were above the second apron, neither had any chance of shedding enough money to duck below the first apron during the season. Teams have worked around this rule by including third teams, but both the Suns and Timberwolves had traded away most of their draft picks, so enticing another participant would have been difficult. It could have potentially been doable if not for the next rule we’re going to cover… If a team aggregates multiple salaries in a trade, it is hard-capped at the second apron. What this basically means is that Minnesota could not have combined several players to reach the salary-matching requirements for acquiring Durant unless they could shed enough money to get below the second apron in the process. With only Detroit having cap space during the season, doing so would have been extremely difficult. The rules are set up to make it so hard for second-apron teams to trade with one another that, outside of one specific circumstance, it usually just isn’t plausible. If two second-apron teams are making a trade in which only one player is moving in each direction and those players have the exact same salary, down to the dollar, these rules can be avoided. But obviously, in most trades, that won’t be the case. Therefore, for the Timberwolves to seriously have pursued Durant during the season, they would have needed to find an extraordinarily creative solution to the cap problems both they and the Suns were facing. Even trying shows that they must indeed have been very serious about their pursuit.
Which is pretty notable as we enter an offseason in which Durant is widely expected to get traded. We now know that the Timberwolves should be among the more interested parties, and the rules are going to be much easier for them to navigate over the summer. As of right now, Minnesota is below the second apron for the 2025-26 season. Phoenix is above it, but with team options and non-guaranteed contracts, it can pretty easily get below if needed. And then, of course, during the offseason, more teams are in a position to potentially serve as a facilitator because they have empty roster spots, cap exceptions, and, in Brooklyn’s case, cap space. If the Suns and Timberwolves are motivated to make a deal, they should be able to legally complete one.
NBA trade rumors: Kevin Durant, Spurs had mutual interest at trade deadline; Clippers eyeing Jrue Holiday? Jasmyn Wimbish NBA trade rumors: Kevin Durant, Spurs had mutual interest at trade deadline; Clippers eyeing Jrue Holiday? The questions that arise thereafter are basketball-related. The Timberwolves were underwhelming for most of the regular season, but got hot down the stretch and wound up reaching the Western Conference finals. Are they as interested in making major changes to their team after that success? Or did their five-game decimation at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder show them how much work they still have to do if they hope to seriously compete for the championship next season?
And what would a trade look like? Minnesota would almost certainly take prized wing defender Jaden McDaniels off the table entirely. Could they build a package around Julius Randle (who would presumably opt into the final year of his deal and sign an extension in Phoenix) or Rudy Gobert? They don’t have tradable first-round picks outside of the No. 17 pick this year, but they do have young players like Rob Dillingham, Terrence Shannon or Jaylen Clark to sweeten the deal. Throw in a role player or two and maybe Phoenix could be enticed.
The Timberwolves have one of the most aggressive front offices in basketball. Three offseasons ago, they traded a mountain of picks to get Gobert. Last October, they swapped Karl-Anthony Towns for Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a pick. They aren’t going to sit on their hands, and Durant was Anthony Edwards’ childhood idol. This is a sensible fit for a lot of reasons, and now that we know how aggressively Minnesota chased Durant during the season, we should have every reason to expect a similar pursuit this summer.
The Indiana Pacers will look to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000 on Saturday night when they host the New York Knicks for Game 6. But while they remain one of three teams alive for the 2024-25 NBA title, 27 other teams are already shifting focus to next year.
That includes identifying offseason targets who may still be playing, and according to a new report from Marc Stein, the Detroit Pistons have been keeping an eye on two big men during this year’s conference finals.
The Pistons are looking to add a stretch five this summer, as their spacing got cramped at times in their opening-round loss to the Knicks and giving Cade Cunningham more space to operate and more shooting help is near the top of their priority list. Pacers center Myles Turner and Timberwolves center Naz Reid are among the potential free agent options this summer that would fit the bill for Detroit, and according to Stein the Pistons will have interest in both players.
If Pacers can’t close out Knicks in Game 6, what do odds say about their Game 7 chances in New York? Brad Botkin If Pacers can’t close out Knicks in Game 6, what do odds say about their Game 7 chances in New York? Turner navigated perpetual trade rumors for years in Indiana before finally becoming a core piece on a team looking to win a championship, and as Stein notes, the Pacers expect to re-sign him. However, the business of basketball always threatens to make things messy, and if the Pacers push for a hometown discount to alleviate a tax bill they’ve not paid in two decades, a team like Detroit could come in with a more substantial offer (almost assuredly via a sign-and-trade).
Reid, meanwhile, has a $15 million player option for next year and if he declines that option to seek a new deal, the Timberwolves will have three huge decisions on their hands with Reid, Julius Randle and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. It’s no secret how beloved Reid is in Minnesota, but the Wolves front office will need to get creative and likely find a way to move off some significant money to be able to retain all three players. Detroit (and others) will hope that financial squeeze could open the door for them to land Reid to give them the kind of stretch five they are desperate for.
If neither Turner nor Reid are available, the Pistons will have to seek out alternatives. On the free agent market, the options drop off some from there, but Santi Aldama could be an interesting target for Detroit, while Brook Lopez and Chris Boucher are the next best free agents in the stretch big category. If those options don’t intrigue general manager Trajan Langdon, Detroit could explore options for stretch bigs on the trade market.
The Celtics will reportedly listen to calls for much of their roster beyond Jayson Tatum, and while his injury history brings cause for concern, Kristaps Porzingis would give the Pistons an unquestioned talent upgrade. Nikola Vučević is very much available in Chicago, and is coming off a 40.2% shooting season from 3-point range this past year. Orlando could be open to moving either Wendell Carter Jr. or Jonathan Isaac to clear up their frontcourt, both of whom had disastrous shooting seasons last year but were each above average from 3 two seasons ago. If Detroit buys a bounce back from either of them in a better situation, they could be options as well.
The Indiana Pacers will have another opportunity to close out the Eastern Conference finals when they host the New York Knicks in Game 6 on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. New York kept its season alive with a 111-94 win in Game 5, easily covering the spread as a 4.5-point favorite. The Pacers are 4-point favorites in Game 6 with an over/under of 221.5, and SportsLine’s model is projecting value on Indiana to cover the spread at betting sites. Saturday’s game is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET.
Pascal Siakam is averaging a team-high 20.4 points per game for Indiana in the postseason, and he scored 30 points at home in Game 4. The model is including Siakam in its Pacers vs. Knicks same-game parlay plays for online sports betting, backing him to go Over 9.5 rebounds plus assists. You can also check out our Knicks vs. Pacers props for Game 6. If you want to pick the game, the latest FanDuel promo code gives users $200 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins.
SportsLine data scientist Stephen Oh is the expert behind the SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model is 23-11 (68%) on top-rated NBA against-the-spread picks this season. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns. You can find more analysis from Oh and other SportsLine data analysts on their Inside The Lines blog.
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21+ (18+ D.C.) and present in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL IN, KS (in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino), KY, LA (excluding certain perishes), MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, or WY. Void where prohibited. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Data & text rates may apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit RG-help.com. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).21+ (18+ D.C.) and present in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL IN, KS (in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino), KY, LA (excluding certain perishes), MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, or WY. Void where prohibited. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Data & text rates may apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit RG-help.com. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).21+ (18+ D.C.) and present in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL IN, KS (in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino), KY, LA (excluding certain perishes), MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, or WY. Void where prohibited. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Data & text rates may apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit RG-help.com. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Here are the model’s top-three picks in the Pacers vs. Knicks SGP on Saturday:
Indiana -4 (-114) Under 221.5 (-110) Pascal Siakam Over 9.5 rebounds + assists (-125) SGP pays out +443 at FanDuel (odds subject to change) Indiana -4 (-114) The Pacers are coming off their worst performance of the series, but they will be playing in front of a raucous crowd on Saturday night. Going back to Madison Square Garden would be a tall task, so they will do everything they can to close out the series in Game 6. They are 16-4 in their last 20 home games and have covered the spread in five of their last seven games. Star guard Tyrese Haliburton had a quiet showing in Game 5, but he had 32 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds in a historic performance at home in Game 4. The model has Indiana covering the spread in well over 50% of simulations, making it the first leg of the same-game parlay.
Under 221.5 (-110) The Under has hit in three of the past four matchups in this series, and while the model had a lean to the Over initially, the three points of upward line movement have now made the Under the better play. These teams combined for just 205 points in Game 5, falling well short of the posted total of 223 in that matchup. The model is projecting 220 combined points in this one, helping the Under clear with 1.5 points to spare.
Pascal Siakam Over 9.5 rebounds + assists (-125) Siakam has cleared this combination at a 54-39 rate this season, averaging 10.1 rebounds + assists per game. He is going to take on a heavy minutes workload on Saturday, as the Pacers will view this as a must-win game. Siakam is one of Indiana’s key offensive isolation players, so help defense will give him assist opportunities. He had five assists on Thursday, despite Indiana’s poor offensive showing. The model has him finishing with 7.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists to provide clear value on the Over 9.5 combination.
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21+ (18+ D.C.) and present in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL IN, KS (in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino), KY, LA (excluding certain perishes), MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, or WY. Void where prohibited. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Data & text rates may apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit RG-help.com. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).21+ (18+ D.C.) and present in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL IN, KS (in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino), KY, LA (excluding certain perishes), MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, or WY. Void where prohibited. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Data & text rates may apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit RG-help.com. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).21+ (18+ D.C.) and present in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL IN, KS (in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino), KY, LA (excluding certain perishes), MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, or WY. Void where prohibited. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Data & text rates may apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit RG-help.com. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Want more NBA picks for today? You’ve seen some of the model’s top NBA playoff best bets for Saturday. Now, get spread, total and money-line picks for every game here, all from the model that’s simulated every game 10,000 times.
Also at SportsLine: You can also see today’s top NBA picks from expert Mike Barner, who’s on a sizzling 228-166-2 (+3514) roll on his last 396 NBA picks. Visit SportsLine to see his best plays for today, all from the expert who’s up more than 35 units.
Finally, SportsLine expert Jason La Canfora, who is 107-80-1 (+1785.5) over his last 188 NBA picks, has an NBA pick locked in for Saturday. Visit SportsLine to see his best plays for today, all from an expert who’s up nearly 18 units.
The New York Knicks were able to stave off elimination and force a Game 6 against the Indiana Pacers, returning the Eastern Conference Finals to Indiana on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET. The Pacers are 4-point favorites, while the over/under is 221.5, up three points from the opening line The Knicks had their best performance of the series in a 111-94 wire-to-wire victory, but New York will need two more of those to climb out of the 3-1 deficit it faced after losing Game 4 in Indiana. Pascal Siakam returns home, where he’s had some of his most dominant performances this postseason. The model is projecting another strong all-around performance from the Pacers forward in Game 6, and sees the best value in playing Siakam Over 9.5 rebounds + assists on betting sites in its Knicks vs. Pacers NBA player props.
The Pacers scored 130 points in their Game 4 victory in Indiana against the Knicks behind Siakam’s 30, so Siakam and his teammates could be popular pieces in a Knicks vs. Pacers same-game parlay at online sports betting sites. You can also check out our Knicks vs. Pacers Game 6 SGP.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. One of the Data Scientists behind the model, Stephen Oh (@StephenOhCBS), analyzed the sim results and broke down the supporting evidence to reveal which player props have the best value for today’s slate. The NBA odds could change, so act now for maximum value. You can find more analysis from Oh and other SportsLine data analysts on their Inside The Lines blog.
Best Knicks vs. Pacers Game 6 NBA props (odds subject to change):
Myles Turner Over 15.5 points + assists (-112) Pascal Siakam Over 9.5 rebounds + assists (-122) Mikal Bridges Over 18.5 points + assists (-110) Myles Turner Over 15.5 points + assists (-122) Turner was largely uninvolved in Game 5, but there weren’t many bright spots in that contest for Indiana as the Pacers look to brush off that performance as they return home. Turner had five points, two rebounds and two assists in Game 5, but in the two games of this series in Indiana, Turner averaged 16 points, 3.5 rebounds and two assists per contest. He went Over this total in points alone over those two home contests, so the chance to add assists in a nice sweetener in this buy-low opportunity after Turner finished with fewer than 13 points for just the second time this postseason.
The Pacers center is averaging 15.5 points and 1.5 assists per game this postseason despite Thursday’s output. Although Karl-Anthony Towns played and had 24 points and 13 rebounds in Game 5, Towns was a game-time decision for Thursday, so he’s likely playing at less than 100% after a hard fall on his knee late in Game 4. The Pacers could look to take advantage of any Turner vs. Town defensive opportunities they may have at home in Game 6. FanDuel Sportsbook is offering the best odds at -112, and a FanDuel promo code gives new users $200 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins.
Pascal Siakam Over 9.5 rebounds + assists (-122) It may seem kind of fluky, but it held true again in Game 5 as Siakam has continued to alternate a superstar performance with just a decent output throughout this series. The odd-numbered games have featured modest numbers from Siakam, but in the even-numbered games, Siakam scored at least 30 points in each contest and was effective in every aspect of the game. The oddsmakers have raised his total points to 20.5 for Saturday to coincide with this trend and due to that rise, Oh sees the best value in playing Siakam’s Over points + rebounds. The model projects 11 points + rebounds for Siakam, who had six rebounds and five assists in Game 5 despite being held to 15 points.
“This season he is 54-39 (58.1%) Over this line on a 10.1 average, so all we are banking on is a normal output in a game where he should be on the floor as much as possible,” Oh said. FanDuel is offering the best odds at -122 on this play as well, with other sportsbooks having his odds at -130 or higher, and a FanDuel promo code can help build your bankroll.
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The 28-year-old small forward is averaging 22 points + assists over his last 22 games against teams with a winning record and a defense ranked in the middle-third of the league, going Over in 15 of those 22 games (68.2%). He leads all Knicks in minutes (39.6 per game) and the model projects Bridges for 17 points and 3.2 assists over 41 minutes in a win-or-go-home Game 6. Caesars Sportsbook is offering this at -110 odds, and a Caesars Sportsbook promo code provides new users with 10 100% profit boost tokens after placing a wager of $1 or more.
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Also at SportsLine: You can also see Saturday’s top NBA picks from expert Jason La Canfora, who’s on a sizzling 107-90-1 (+1785.5) roll over his last 188 NBA picks. Visit SportsLine to see his best plays for Game 6, all from an expert who’s up nearly 18 units.
The New York Knicks go on the road to play against the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference finals on Saturday. The Knicks defended their home court and were able to force their way back to Indiana. On Thursday, New York defeated Indiana 111-94. These teams have played eight times, including both regular-season and postseason matches, and those matchups are tied 4-4.
Tipoff is at 8 p.m. ET from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Indiana is a 4-point favorite in the latest Pacers vs. Knicks odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 221.5. Indiana is priced at -179 on the money line (risk $179 to win $100), while New York is listed at +149 (risk $100 to win $149). Before locking in any Knicks vs. Pacers picks, make sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters the second week of the conference finals of the 2025 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 160-118 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning nearly $4,000. It is also 24-11 (69%) on top-rated NBA against-the-spread picks this season. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
Now, the model has simulated Knicks vs. Pacers 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Knicks vs. Pacers:
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Brunson has poured in 30-plus points in four of his last five matchups. In Game 5, the 28-year-old finished with 32 points, five boards and five dimes. Forward Karl-Anthony Towns has recorded three straight double-doubles with at least 20 points and 12 boards and he is -260 at FanDuel to record another one in Game 6. In his last outing, Towns had 24 points and 13 rebounds. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why the Pacers can cover The Pacers are 5-2 on their home court during the 2025 NBA playoffs. They have also gone 20-13-2 against the spread after a loss. Forward Pascal Siakam can score from all three levels. He’s leading the team in points (20.4) and rebounds (5.8) in the postseason. In Game 4, Siakam had 30 points and five boards.
Guard Tyrese Haliburton didn’t play well in his last game, but he’s been effective throughout the playoffs. He’s first on the team in assists (9.5) with 18.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Haliburton has three double-doubles with 10-plus assists in the series against New York. He is listed at -125 to record a double-double. See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make Knicks vs. Pacers picks SportsLine’s model has simulated Knicks vs. Pacers and is leaning Under the total, projecting 220 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread is the better value. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s NBA picks.
The New York Knicks get a chance to even their best-of-seven series with the Indiana Pacers when they meet in Game 6 of their 2025 NBA Eastern Conference finals on Saturday. New York staved off elimination with a 111-94 win in Game 5 on Thursday. The Knicks (51-31), the third seed in the East, are 6-2 in the 2025 NBA playoffs. The Pacers (50-32), the fourth seed in the conference, are 5-2 on their home court during the playoffs.
Tipoff from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis is set for 8 p.m. ET. The Pacers are 4-point favorites in the latest Knicks vs. Pacers odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 221.5, up three points from the opening line. Before making any Pacers vs. Knicks picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions from legendary SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall, who is an outstanding 140-112-2 (+1680) roll on his last 254 NBA picks, and is an outstanding 36-19 (+1498) in his last 55 spread picks involving the Pacers.
Now, Marshall has analyzed Knicks vs. Pacers and just revealed his coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Knicks vs. Pacers. Use a DraftKings promo code, a FanDuel promo code or a BetMGM promo code to get started.
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Point guard Tyrese Haliburton also helps power the offense. In 15 postseason starts, he is averaging 18.7 points, 9.5 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 35 minutes. He registered a triple-double in Game 4, scoring 32 points, while adding 15 assists and 12 rebounds. He had 31 points, dished out 11 assists and grabbed four rebounds in a 138-135 overtime win in Game 1. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why the Knicks can cover Point guard Jalen Brunson has helped fuel the New York offense. In 17 postseason starts, he is averaging 30.1 points, seven assists and 3.5 rebounds in 38 minutes. He has scored 30 or more points in four of the first five games of the series. In the Game 5 win on Thursday, he scored 32 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out five assists. He had 43 points and five assists in the series opener.
Also helping power the offense is center Karl-Anthony Towns. In 17 starts, he is averaging 21.4 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 35.4 minutes. He has registered a double-double in four of the five games in the series, and has scored 24 points in each of the last three games. He poured in 35 points, while adding 12 boards and two assists in the Game 1 loss. His combo line of point + assists + rebounds is 36.5 for this matchup. See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make Knicks vs. Pacers picks Now, Marshall has locked in another confident against-the-spread pick for Knicks vs. Pacers. He is leaning Over on the total, but he knows a crucial X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back. You absolutely need to see what it is before locking in any picks of your own.
It looks like Cooper Flagg will be a Dallas Maverick.
That much we learned in a shocking revelation in Chicago on Monday night, where the Mavs — who had never won the lottery before and never drew a better pick than their odds in the history of the lottery system — won the lottery despite just a 1.8% chance to do so. After a tumultuous season in Dallas that included trading star Luka Doncic to L.A., the franchise has a new savior in the pipeline. It’s not official but you can book it: Flagg is Dallas-bound.
Mavericks win 2025 NBA Draft Lottery: Dallas gets No. 1 pick, Cooper Flagg months after Luka Dončić trade Sam Quinn Mavericks win 2025 NBA Draft Lottery: Dallas gets No. 1 pick, Cooper Flagg months after Luka Dončić trade The rest of the draft remains fluid, however. So with the lottery balls in place and the first round draft order officially set, our latest mock draft is updated below with projected landing spots and fits for all 30 first round picks.
