NBA DFS Picks for the Playoffs: Pacers vs Knicks – Game 1

We’ve got ourselves a surprise Eastern Conference Finals matchup. The red-hot Indiana Pacers are headed to Madison Square Garden to face the surging New York Knicks in a rematch of last year’s second-round thriller. That seven-game series ended with the Pacers narrowly edging out the Knicks to advance to the Conference Finals, only to fall to the eventual champion Boston Celtics. This year, the stakes are even higher with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line.

Neither team was expected to make it this far in the East, as they took down the #1 Cleveland Cavaliers and #2 Boston Celtics to get here. However, only one will reach the NBA Finals, so let’s dive into my NBA DFS picks for Game 1 in New York City.

Pacers vs Knicks Series Preview: Eastern Conference Finals Rematch

What makes this series so fascinating is how unexpected it is. Both teams were underdogs in the previous round and knocked off legitimate title contenders. Indiana handled a banged-up but heavily favored Cavaliers squad in just five games, while New York stunned the basketball world by taking down the defending champion Celtics in six. Now, two of the grittiest, hungriest teams in the league meet in what should be a highly competitive, emotional series.

The Knicks enter the series as slight favorites, but there’s no clear consensus. A growing number of analysts and former players are picking Indiana to pull the upset and with good reason. The Pacers are arguably playing the best basketball in the league right now. Their offense is clicking behind Tyrese Haliburton’s elite playmaking, and their deep, versatile bench keeps the energy high and the pace relentless. That pace is where this matchup could be won or lost. 

The Pacers want to run. They want to wear teams down in transition, move the ball quickly, and attack before defenses get set. The Knicks? Not so much. New York wants to slow things down, control the tempo, and play a more physical half-court game where their size and strength come into play. It’s a clash of styles, and if last year’s series taught us anything, it’s that the Pacers can make life difficult for the Knicks when the game gets fast. They forced Jalen Brunson to carry a massive offensive load, and while he delivered, it wasn’t quite enough for them to best the Pacers. Lucky for the Knicks, they’ve found a true second scoring option. Enter Karl-Anthony Towns. 

Pacers vs Knicks Game 1 Prediction

New York has a new weapon, which they didn’t have last postseason. Karl-Anthony Towns has been nothing short of outstanding since arriving in New York, giving the Knicks a true frontcourt scoring threat to pair with Brunson. Towns can be the difference in this series and especially in Game 1. He’s had the Pacers’ number all season long. 

In three matchups against Indiana this year, KAT averaged 30.3 points and 12 rebounds on 57% shooting. Even with Myles Turner patrolling the paint, one of the league’s best shot blockers, the Pacers haven’t been able to slow him down. KAT has consistently dominated Turner in head-to-head battles throughout his career. Across 11 matchups, he’s put up 28.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, a trend that doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Turner is a quality defender, but Towns’ combination of strength, touch, and range presents a tough cover, especially when he’s rolling. 

With the line for Towns’ Game 1 points prop currently sitting at 22.5, there’s solid value on his point total going higher than this number. Given his history against Indiana, his playoff production this postseason and the likelihood that the Knicks will lean on him to help offset Indiana’s tempo, it’s hard not to like that number.

Our Pick: Karl-Anthony Towns to Record 23+ Points