Knicks vs. Pacers Game 1 odds, prediction: NBA playoffs picks, best bets
New York City is bleeding orange and blue as fans sit on pins and needles, hoping to clinch their first NBA Finals berth since 2000.The books like where the Knicks are sitting after upsetting the Celtics in the last round.The Knicks were +550 to advance past the Celtics and are now set up to face the Pacers as clear favorites throughout the betting market, coming in at -145 odds at DraftKings.Tom Thibodeau’s group legitimately beat the Celtics, with the season-ending Jayson Tatum injury having nothing to do with the Knicks’ performance to go up 3-1 in the series.It is difficult, however, to expect the Knicks to outplay the Pacers in fourth quarters as they did against the Pistons and Celtics.The Indiana Pacers were second in the NBA in fourth-quarter points per game (29.1) during the regular season.They also had the fourth-best fourth-quarter margin in the NBA (+2.0) behind only the Cavaliers, Timberwolves and Thunder.Those impressive numbers during the regular season have continued in the playoffs.Indiana has been shooting an insane 49.8 percent from the field in the fourth quarter, the second-best figure overall behind only the eliminated Clippers.Their defense is a big piece of their late-game success and could be a major issue for the Knicks if they expect to pull games out late.Indiana’s opponents are shooting just 41 percent from the field in the fourth quarter, the third-best percentage among all playoff teams.All of that considered, the Pacers have by far the best net margin in the NBA in fourth quarters.Sports+ subscribers: Sign up for Inside the Knicks to get daily newsletter coverage and join Expert Take for insider texts about the series.If the Knicks didn’t pull off a 21-0 run in the fourth quarter of Game 1 against the Pistons and back-to-back 20-point comebacks in the second halves in Boston, they’d likely be in Cancun right now sipping on margaritas.If you think I am focusing too much on the fourth quarter, consider this: The Pacers have ha...