Will Pacers even series in New York?

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The Knicks and Pacers‘ Game 2 is the only contest on Wednesday’s NBA playoff slate. Let’s get right to our three bets for the matchup.

Pacers team total: Over 108.5 points

The Pacers’ game plan includes playing fast and generating easy transition baskets against the Knicks. They successfully did that in Game 1 en route to 117 points. Although it lost, Indiana executed its plan well and had multiple chances to win (it possibly still would have with decent officiating).

The Pacers’ pace and full-court defensive approach exhausted the Knicks’ guards. The Knicks already play a tight rotation, with most starters playing virtually the entire game. Their rotation got even tighter with the announcement that Mitchell Robinson is out for the playoffs.

Fatigue wears on the Knicks’ defense more than their offense. New York’s defensive prowess carried it for stretches this season, but it’s been the fifth-worst defense among 16 playoff teams.

Indiana must press and constantly run on a tired Knicks group to win this series. The Pacers rebounded well in the first half of Game 1 and limited the Knicks’ extra possessions – a concern entering the series – before they slipped on the glass in the second half.

I’m not willing to take Indiana (a 4.5-point underdog) because it can’t get stops against the Knicks and doesn’t have the perimeter defenders to stop Jalen Brunson. The team total is the safer play. If the Pacers even the series, it’ll be with their offense in another high-scoring, fast-paced showdown.

Odds: -115

Pascal Siakam: Over 19.5 points

A fascinating subplot of this series is the matchup between Siakam and OG Anunoby, who were teammates and won a championship on the Raptors.

They know each other’s games and tendencies well. Anunoby guarded Siakam in Game 1, and Siakam mostly won the matchup. Anunoby is a terrific on-ball defender, but Siakam generated good looks against him.

Siakam finished with 19 points in Game 1, but Indiana should feed him more frequently in Game 2. The Pacers need Siakam’s offense with Tyrese Haliburton slumping. More actions will likely run through Siakam, who has an advantageous matchup.

Odds: -120

Jalen Brunson: Under 37.5 points

How long is this level of production from Brunson sustainable? He’s doing more to will his team to victory than any other player in the playoffs.

He scored 40 points in four straight playoff games, the first player to do so since Michael Jordan.

The Pacers don’t have the personnel to defend him, but they can implement tactics to get the ball out of his hands more. Indiana’s timid doubles burned it in Game 1. The Pacers should double harder in Game 2, turning Brunson into a passer more than a scorer.

Betting against Brunson is a risky proposition. He continues to amaze and prove the naysayers wrong. Brunson may show some fatigue in Game 2 with only one rest day and as Indiana pressures him the length of the court.

This total in a playoff game is absurdly high. I believe we’ll see a pedestrian showing from Brunson, which, by his standards, could still be a 35-point night.

Odds: -120

Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.