New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers Playoff Game 2. Prediction, Betting Tips and Odds 23.05.2025

Event Details

• Date and Time: Friday, May 23, 2025, 6:00 ET
• Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, USA
• Competition: NBA Playoff Game

New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers Preview

New York Knicks Team News

After losing in a nail-biting game 1, the Knicks will be looking to grab game 2 at home, hopefully shaking off the doubts from that overtime loss. Moreover, with the crowd on their side in Madison Square Garden, they should have all of the momentum in the world going into this game, which should bode well for the Knicks.

Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns will again need to be on their A-game, as the deep Indiana roster isn’t going to let anything easy slide. The duo should be up for the task, though, as they both played well in game 1, shooting on decent splits with KAT continuing to dominate on the boards.

final pic.twitter.com/Uu8ShnroC6

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 22, 2025

Miles Turner has been playing decent so far this post-season, but down the stretch, KAT definitely has the mismatch down low.

If they can manage to abuse that and take some of the pressure off of Brunson, they should be in good shape. All Brunson needs is a little bit of space to make his own plays without a long athletic guard in his face, and the Knicks’ offence should be killer in the half-court.

MR. CLUTCH pic.twitter.com/zhF87rlXdC

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 22, 2025

20Bet has the Knicks as the slight favorites for a reason. Playing at home with a chip on their shoulder from that nasty overtime loss should give them all the reason in the world to play their hearts out. They just need to keep those Indiana transition buckets in check.

Indiana Pacers Team News

The Indiana Pacers had a tremendous rally in the fourth to push game one into overtime, where they managed to barely scrape by with the dub, but if they want a chance at grabbing game 2, they’re going to need to have a better sustained performance.

Their athleticism and length have been massive so far in the postseason, torching teams in transition with Pascal Siakam leading the charge, but they need to really lock in in the half-court. 

good morning to you all 🫵 pic.twitter.com/sbEcR6fdLg

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 22, 2025

Myles Turner is also going to need to be far bigger on the boards than just 6 rebounds a game, but with their overall length, they should be able to keep up as long as he boxes out.

However, their depth could pose some problems for the top-heavy Knicks, as they’ve got 6 guys averaging double-digit scoring numbers. If Siakam or Tyrese Haliburton has an off-shooting night, they have far more leeway than the Knicks.

Defensively, they are going to struggle down low with KAT banging on Turner, but if they smother the New York backcourt and stop them from feeding the big man, they could slow him down. They’re going to need to really focus on the duo of Brunson and Towns, but if they can manage to slow them down, they could be in a good spot.

sweet dreams 💤 pic.twitter.com/Evc2Kf38DS

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 22, 2025

All in all, Indiana is in for a tough game 2 with the odds against them, but if they play their game and push the tempo, they could upset the Knicks at home.

New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers Prediction

• Pick: New York Knicks to win
• Odds: -233 (20Bet)
• Score prediction: New York Knicks 123 – 120 Indiana Pacers

The New York Knicks should have quite the advantage going into game two, as the fans at Madison Square Garden will be on their side. Moreover, that devastating loss in overtime in game 1 will be fresh in their minds, pushing them to hopefully put the game away long before the fourth quarter.

That being said, the Indiana Pacers aren’t going to go out without a fight; they will be looking to push the pace of the game and score easy buckets in transition with their length.

OG with the finish ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/p0DWaj6nDL

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 22, 2025

As long as the Knicks don’t get sucked into that pace of play, and manage to slow down the game and play to their strengths they should be in a good spot though. Brunson’s shooting and playmaking, combined with Karl-Anthony Towns’ stellar inside play, should be enough to overwhelm the Pacers in the half-court at the very least.

Defensively, the Knicks should also have the edge, with OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart locking down on the perimeter, averaging over 1 steal apiece so far this postseason. And down low, KAT should once again have the edge against Myles Turner, as he has consistently struggled to create his own offence if it’s not a pick and roll play.

We really have to agree with the bookmakers on this one, the Knicks should have this one in the bag, evening the series at 1-1, but you never know what could happen. If Indiana gets hot, the Knicks could be in for a world of hurt.

New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers Betting Tips 

• Pick: Jalen Brunson to score 29.5 or more
• Odds: -120

Jalen Brunson should have a standout game at home with the fans in Madison Square Garden as he’ll be trying to tie the series up at 1 game apiece. In game 1, he managed to drop 43 points, and while that number was definitely inflated due to overtime, watching him push past 29.5 points at home isn’t too large of a stretch.

• Pick: Pascal Siakam to score 18.5 or less
• Odds: -112 (20Bet)

After dropping just 17 points in the overtime win in game 1, Pascal Siakam will have a large impact on game 2, but that most likely won’t come in the form of high scoring numbers. He’ll likely have OG Anunoby sitting on him throughout game 2, which will force him to play a facilitator role instead of a main scoring option. With that, he’ll likely score less than his postseason average, coming in under that 18.5 points mark.

New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers Where to Watch (USA, Canada) 

• NBA League Pass,ESPN+, Fubo (USA)
• TSN,Sportsnet  (Canada)

Disclaimer: The content provided on this page, including all predictions, odds, and related information, is for entertainment and informational purposes only. While we strive to ensure accuracy and timeliness, we do not guarantee the correctness or reliability of any predictions, data, or information presented here.

By Kai Iliev

Updated: 22 May 2025, 20:42