NBA Picks for May 8 - Best Bets for Pacers vs. Knicks Game 2

Both No. 1 seeds were in action on Tuesday, and they showed why they were the top teams in their respective conferences.

The Celtics thoroughly trounced the Cavaliers despite still being without Kristaps Porzingis. Jaylen Brown poured in 32 points, while Derrick White knocked down another seven 3-pointers. It feels like White hasn’t missed an open shot since the playoffs started, making an already elite Celtics squad even more dangerous.

The Thunder took the floor in the nightcap, and they were able to pull away from the Mavericks in the second half. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 29 points, but three starters and two reserves cracked double figures. Luka Doncic was just 6-19 with five turnovers for the Mavs, and if he doesn’t play better in Game 2, the Mavericks will be heading back to Dallas in an 0-2 hole.

There’s only one game on the schedule for Wednesday, but it should be a good one.

The Knicks have played in highly entertaining contests all postseason, and Game 1 vs. the Pacers was no exception. The Knicks ended up securing a close win, but the Pacers feel like a live underdog in Game 2.

Can they even the series up before heading back to Indiana? Let’s dive into my NBA best bets for Pacers vs. Knicks Game 2.

Best Bet for Pacers vs. Knicks Game 2

Indiana Pacers +4.5 at New York Knicks (-105; BetMGM)

The Knicks managed to secure a victory at home in Game 1, but it was far from a walk in the park. The Pacers led by six points at halftime, and it would’ve been nine if not for a halfcourt heave from Isaiah Hartenstein.

The Knicks managed to storm back in the second half thanks to a strong showing from their Villanova trio. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo combined for 59 points on 20-30 shooting after halftime, which was enough to propel the team to victory.

While the Nova boys have been outstanding all postseason, I doubt they’re going to be that good again on Wednesday. The Knicks had a bit of time off before Monday’s contest, but they’ll have a quick turnaround for Game 2. Hart played every minute in Game 1, while Brunson and DiVincenzo each played at least 43.5 minutes.

With Mitchell Robinson now out with an injury, the Knicks are likely going to shorten their rotation even more. That could hurt the team as the series progresses. The Pacers played their top guys around 36 minutes in Game 1, so they should be significantly fresher for this contest.

With the Knicks essentially down to six bodies, it’s going to be tough to keep up with the Pacers’ high-octane offense over a seven-game series. I like Indiana’s chances of pulling off the upset on Wednesday.

More Bets for Pacers vs. Knicks Game 2

Precious Achiuwa Under 9.5 points + rebounds + assists (-110; BetMGM)

With Robinson out for the remainder of the playoffs, Achiuwa is expected to fill his void in the rotation.

Of course, that’s operating under the assumption that Tom Thibodeau is a regular head coach.

Thibs is known for playing his starters ridiculous minutes, and that’s only gotten more extreme during the postseason.

With that in mind, it seems likely that Hartenstein could eclipse 40 minutes with Robinson sidelined. He’ll have to avoid foul trouble, but the four other Knicks’ starters each played at least 42 minutes in Game 1. Why should the center position be any different? Achiuwa saw the floor in the first half of Game 1, but Thibs didn’t trust him enough to play him after halftime.

Ultimately, Achiuwa should get in this contest, but I don’t think the Robinson injury is going to open up as much playing time as it might seem. Something like 8-10 minutes seems like the most likely outcome, and Achiuwa is going to struggle to crack 10 PRA if that’s the case.

Isaiah Jackson Over 3.5 rebounds (+110; BetMGM)

There’s always the chance that Rick Carlisle shortens his rotation a bit in Game 2, which makes Jackson’s minutes feel insecure. That said, the Pacers’ reserves were really good in the first game of this series. Each of the four Pacers’ reserves had a positive Plus/Minus, with Jackson posting a +5 in his 13.3 minutes.

When Jackson is on the floor, his motor is running high. He’s an extremely active player, averaging 11.1 rebounds per 36 minutes during the regular season. He doesn’t need a ton of playing time to potentially get to four boards, especially if the Knicks don’t shoot as well as they did in Game 1.

2024 NBA Playoffs Bets Record

Yesterday: 3-1 (+0.975 units)
Futures: 3-2 w/ three pending (+0.25)
Playoffs: 25-25 (-0.28 units)