The NBA Eastern Conference Finals heats up tonight as the Knicks look to even the series at 2-2 after stealing momentum with their Game 3 comeback win in Indiana.

Road teams have dominated this series so far, with the Knicks boasting an impressive 6-1 playoff road record while the Pacers are trying to protect their strong 14-4 home record in their last 18 games.

Our analysis breaks down why the underdog Knicks at +2.5 could be the smart play tonight, considering the disturbing trend of Indiana blowing a 20-point lead and the historical 5-2 ATS edge for underdogs in recent matchups between these teams.

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GameTimePick
Pacers logoKnicks logo
8:00 PMNew York Knicks +2.5 (+2.5)|Game Total Under 220.5 (220.5)|Jalen Brunson Over 29.5 Points (29.5)

Pacers vs. Knicks

The Knicks have shown impressive road form in these playoffs, going 6-1 away from Madison Square Garden, suggesting they're comfortable as visitors in hostile environments.

The underdog is 5-2 against the spread in the last seven meetings between these teams, continuing a pattern where the betting value has consistently been with the team getting points.

New York gained critical momentum after overcoming a 20-point deficit in Game 3, which could carry into this pivotal Game 4 matchup.

The Pacers have shown vulnerability as home favorites against Eastern Conference opponents, failing to cover the spread in nine of their last 11 such games.

With Jalen Brunson (averaging 29.9 points in the playoffs) due for a breakout performance and the Knicks having the defensive pieces to contain Indiana's uptempo attack, taking the points offers solid value.

While not explicitly mentioned as a pick in the article, the total of 220.5 points stands out when comparing the teams' playoff scoring trends.

The Knicks are allowing just 108.2 points per game in the playoffs while playing at a deliberately slower pace than Indiana prefers.

New York's defensive identity has been their calling card, holding opponents to 44.7% shooting from the field and 34.3% from beyond the arc in these playoffs.

With the series intensifying and Game 4 carrying significant stakes, we can expect a tighter, more controlled game with fewer transition opportunities.

The Knicks have held the high-scoring Pacers below their season average in multiple games this series, and their ability to dictate tempo makes the under a solid play.

Brunson has been the offensive engine for the Knicks throughout the playoffs, averaging 29.9 points per game according to the article.

The expert analysis specifically mentions we're 'going to see a Brunson explosion at some point' in this series, suggesting he's due for a big scoring night.

With the series hanging in the balance and the Knicks needing their star to deliver, Brunson will likely see an increased usage rate in Game 4.

Indiana's defense has struggled at times to contain elite perimeter scorers, and Brunson's mid-range game and ability to get to the free-throw line make him a difficult cover.

Coming off the momentum-building comeback in Game 3, Brunson should be aggressive early and often as New York looks to even the series.

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