Pacers vs Knicks predictions
With the Indiana Pacers heading into Game 1 at Madison Square Garden, all eyes are on Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam to set the tone for their squad. Haliburton has been the playmaking engine all year long, and you can expect him to flirt with a double-double—look for close to 19 points and around nine assists as he tries to carve up the New York defense. Siakam, always steady, should be good for more than 20 points and will likely pull down close to nine boards, staying aggressive in the paint. Myles Turner is probably going to play a big role too, especially protecting the rim—think about 16 points, strong rebounding numbers, and a couple of blocks to his name. If those three are clicking, the Pacers have enough firepower to make this one interesting.
On the Knicks’ side, Jalen Brunson is basically must-watch TV at this point. It feels like every time he steps onto the court, he finds a way to put up big numbers and keep the Knicks in control. I’m expecting him to put up somewhere around 26 points and seven or eight assists, creating problems for Indiana all night. Karl-Anthony Towns is another huge factor—he should dominate on the boards with at least a dozen rebounds and has the scoring touch to put up 20-plus points if he gets rolling early. Don’t sleep on the contributions from OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges either; they’re both set up to score in the high teens while racking up steals and keeping Indy’s perimeter threats honest. With Josh Hart attacking the glass and filling in the stat sheet, New York definitely has a balanced offensive attack.
So who’s taking the early edge in this classic postseason rivalry? While the Indiana Pacers have a dynamic lineup and the ability to put up points in a hurry, home court at Madison Square Garden gives the New York Knicks a real boost—especially with Brunson at the helm. If the Knicks stay aggressive on the boards and keep Haliburton in check, it feels like they have just enough depth and shot-making to pull off a Game 1 win in front of their raucous crowd. Expect a tight, hard-fought battle, but the edge goes to the Knicks to kick off the series.
