Bing bong, the Knicks are back. In a decisive response to their blowout Game 4 loss in Indianapolis, Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks steamrolled the Indiana Pacers in a Game 5 that ended with almost the exact same score as Game 4 — but flipped.
Now the series heads back to Indianapolis with the Pacers’ season on the brink. So far, the series has split along home-court lines, and the Knicks aim to be the first road team to win a game. The Knicks’ ferocity took the Pacers off-guard on Tuesday, but is it likely Indiana will be as unprepared again and at home? Can New York clinch the series with a road win on Friday?
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Here’s a look at the storylines, odds and staff picks for Friday’s Game 6 in Indianapolis.
All odds from BetMGM. Find the best deals on StubHub for tickets.
No. 2 New York Knicks at No. 6 Indiana Pacers
How to watch: 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Series odds: Knicks -250, Pacers +200
Knicks lead series 3-2
This series feels like a game of tag, where the home team is always It. And by “It” I guess I mean the betting favorite for the game but not for the series. That’s right, the Pacers are favored in this game by a moderate spread, but the Knicks have taken over as favorites to win it all. Before Tuesday’s game at MSG, the series odds were Pacers -135, Knicks +110.
In Game 5, the Knicks were back in power mode. Brunson seemed to shake off any lingering concerns about his health, along with anyone who tried to guard him. He had his fifth 40-point game of this postseason: 44 points, seven assists and four rebounds on 18-of-35 shooting.
It wasn’t just Brunson, of course. The Knicks changed up their starting lineup with Miles McBride in place of Precious Achiuwa, and were able to space the floor. They had half the number of turnovers the Pacers did and almost twice as many rebounds, thanks in large part to Isaiah Hartenstein (12 offensive rebounds, 17 total). Many have criticized Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau for running his key players for too many minutes, and it’s true that the strategy is a risk when Brunson isn’t healthy. But when Brunson is back, the Knicks are back.
The Pacers, meanwhile, just looked like they couldn’t get their head in the game. They started well and even took an early lead but unraveled and got sloppy. This is how bad it looked by halftime. In the words of The Athletic’s Eric Nehm: “By the end of the first half, Brunson had tallied 28 of his 44 points, the Knicks had grabbed 12 offensive rebounds, the Pacers had committed nine turnovers and New York had taken 15 more shots than Indiana. The Pacers were lucky to only be down by 15 at the half.”
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In addition to rediscovering the energy and rhythm that powered their two wins, the Pacers need to find a way to execute more efficiently against a rolling Knicks squad.
It’s likely the Pacers can gut out a win at home, and it’s hard to imagine that, facing elimination, they’ll be caught as flat-footed as they were on Tuesday. But it’s hard to imagine them winning anything if the Knicks keep up this new look, especially not a Game 7 in Madison Square Garden.
Expert picks for Knicks at Pacers
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(Photo of Jalen Brunson: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
