The Indiana Pacers have done surprisingly well since losing their star player, Victor Oladipo. But after losing their last two and five of their last seven, they are in danger of slipping down the standings. The New York Knicks enter the game riding a six-game losing streak where they have largely failed to be competitive in the least.
NBA
New York Knicks @ Indiana Pacers
Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Tuesday 12th March 2019
No one expected much out of the New York Knicks this season, and that is precisely what the Knicks have produced—not much. With 15 games to go in the regular season, they have won just 13 on the season. But with how they are playing, it is hard to say if they have a chance to reach 15 wins this season.
The Knicks have not been good at anything all season, but their offence has been especially bad their last three games as they failed to crack 100 points in each. However, their defence has improved during the losing streak. They gave up 125, 128, and 115 in the first three while giving up 107, 102, and 103 in the last three.
To have a shot at beating the Pacers, they will need their defence to turn in an even better performance along with some life from their offence.
Hopes were high for the Pacers entering this season. But when Victor Oladipo went down with a season-ending injury, the Pacers were expected to fade into the background of the NBA season. Instead, they have gone 10-10 since losing Oladipo and have remained a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference.
However, with the East being as competitive as it is this season, they can’t afford too many slip-ups and still hold onto a spot in the top four. With losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers over the weekend, they are in danger of sliding into the No. 5 seed soon– if they don’t get things turned around.
But the Pacers have been a solid home team this season (25-9). Playing against a team like the Knicks at this point in the season could give them a chance to work out a few kinks without having to worry too much about the outcome of the game.
That is, as long as they don’t make the mistake of trying to overlook the Knicks.
The Indiana Pacers have had little trouble handling the New York Knicks this season. Heading into Tuesday night’s game in Indianapolis, the Pacers are 3-0 this season and will be looking to sweep the Knicks for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
The first game was the closest with the Pacers winning by six. But the other two were not as close and saw Indiana win by 11 and 16.
From a historical perspective, the Knicks hold a slight edge over the Pacers having beaten them 91 of the 177 times they have played in the regular season. Indiana holds the edge in the playoffs, though, winning 22 to New York’s 19.
Indiana did not play well in their last two games, and with a stretch of playoff caliber teams coming up on their schedule, they can’t afford to overlook the Knicks and lose this game—and they probably will not. They have done well this season and can’t let things slip away against a team like the Knicks.
Expect the Pacers to get focused early on playing at home and take care of business. Take the Pacers (-800) to win over the Knicks (+600), straight up and against the spread (-11.5). As for the over/under (212), take the under.
For an over/under in today’s NBA, 212 is a rather small score. But the Knicks can’t be relied upon to score 100 points; with the Pacers defence, they probably will not. That would leave the Pacers to score at least 113. With how they have shot the ball the last two times out, don’t count on it.
Take the under.