The fourth-seeded Indiana Pacers battle the third-seeded New York Knicks in Game 1 of their 2025 NBA Eastern Conference finals matchup on Wednesday. Indiana is coming off a stunning 4-1 series win over the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, while New York ousted the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics in six games. The Pacers (50-32), who were swept in last year's conference finals by Boston, are looking to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999-2000. The Knicks (51-31), who last reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 1999-2000, have not won an NBA title since 1972-1973.

Tipoff is from Madison Square Garden in New York is set for 8 p.m. ET. New York won two of three regular-season meetings this year. The Knicks are 4.5-point favorites in the latest Pacers vs. Knicks odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 224. Before making any Knicks vs. Pacers picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions from legendary SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall, who is an outstanding 56-27 (+2624) roll on picks involving the Pacers. 

Now, Marshall has analyzed Pacers vs. Knicks and just revealed his coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Knicks vs. Pacers. Use a DraftKings promo code, a FanDuel promo code or a BetMGM promo code to get started. 

Why the Knicks can cover

Point guard Jalen Brunson has been dominant in the 2025 NBA playoffs. In 12 playoff games, all starts, he is averaging 28.8 points, 7.7 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 39 minutes. In a 121-113 win over the Celtics in Game 4 of their series, he registered a double-double with 39 points, 12 assists and five rebounds. He scored 23 points and added six assists and six rebounds in the decisive Game 6 win over Boston on Friday.

Another force powering the Knicks is center Karl-Anthony Towns. In 12 postseason starts, he is averaging 19.8 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 35.7 minutes. In Friday's Game 6 win, he scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. He had 23 points and 11 rebounds in the Game 4 victory over Boston. See which team to back at SportsLine.

Why the Pacers can cover

Power forward Pascal Siakam is one of six Indiana players averaging double-figure scoring. In 10 postseason starts, he is averaging 18.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 32.1 minutes. In the decisive Game 5 win over the Cavaliers, he scored 21 points, added eight rebounds and dished out five assists. He had 21 points, six rebounds and three assists in a 129-109 win over the Cavaliers in Game 4 of the series.

Point guard Tyrese Haliburton is coming off a 31-point, eight-assist and six-rebound performance in the Game 5 win at Cleveland. He registered a double-double in a 121-112 Game 1 win over the Cavaliers, scoring 22 points, while adding 13 assists, three blocks and three rebounds. In Game 2 of that series, Haliburton poured in 19 points with nine boards and four assists. In 10 playoff games, all starts, he is averaging 17.5 points, 9.3 assists and 5.5 rebounds in 34.1 minutes. See which team to back at SportsLine. 

How to make Pacers vs. Knicks picks

Now, Marshall has locked in another confident against-the-spread pick for Pacers vs. Knicks. He is leaning Over on the total, but he knows a crucial X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back. You absolutely need to see what it is before locking in any picks of your own.    

So who wins Knicks vs. Pacers, and what X-factor makes one side of the spread hit hard? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Pacers vs. Knicks spread to jump on, all from the expert that has returned over $2,600 on his last 83 Indiana Pacers picks, and find out.