Our NBA experts Christopher Walder, Nick Holz, and David Caraviello are here throughout the playoffs offering up their spread, moneyline, OVER/UNDER, and player prop picks for all of the action.
A spot in the Eastern Conference finals to battle the Boston Celtics is on the line Sunday afternoon as the New York Knicks host the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden in Game 7 of their best-of-seven series.
Let's take a closer look at all expert picks for this winner-take-all matchup.
(Related Link) 2024 NBA Playoff Series Prices
NBA Expert Picks Results: Second Round
| Expert | Record | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Holz | 9-10 | -1.08 |
| David Caraviello | 8-12 | -5.73 |
| Christopher Walder | 8-18-1 | -9.22 |
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Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks Game 7 Preview & Picks
Matchup Page: Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks, 3:30 p.m. ET
Same-Game Parlay: Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks Game 7
| Team | Spread | Money | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Pacers | +2.5 (-115) | +138 | O 208.5 (-110) |
| New York Knicks | -2.5 (-105) | -164 | O 208.5 (-110) |
Christopher Walder's Pick: Indiana Pacers ML (+138)
So the moneyline has been anything but a close and personal friend as of late, as I ran with the Denver Nuggets to win straight up in Game 6 over the Minnesota Timberwolves and then the Knicks in Game 6 to close out their series with Indiana on Friday, as well. Lo and behold, not only did both teams lose, but they crashed and burned falling by a combined 58 points.
So why on Earth have I elected to roll with the Pacers' moneyline at plus money on the road during a series in which the home team has prevailed every single outing? It simply appears that after Game 6, New York's luck has run dry.
Josh Hart exited the matchup with a rib injury which he attempted to fight through, but with the score getting away from his squad and the pain becoming too overbearing, ultimately checked out for good in the fourth quarter. No pun intended, but Hart has been the heart and soul of the Knicks' roster throughout this postseason, and even should he suit up for the finale, there's no possible way he'll be at 100 percent with such a quick turnaround.
Indiana also rectified the mistakes it made in Game 5 on Friday by being far more aggressive on the glass by outrebounding the opposition and essentially destroying New York in the paint area to the tune of 62 points. Aaron Nesmith was also a fiend defensively on superstar guard Jalen Brunson, holding him to 2-of-13 shooting in the first half and 0-of-6 in the second quarter alone. That's not going to cut it on Sunday.
The Pacers' depth has been on full display in this series, and the Knicks are running out of energy and bodies. Travelling after a Friday night game to then take the hardwood early Sunday afternoon won't do that roster any favors.
Christopher Walder's Pick: UNDER 208.5 Points (-110)
The OVER/UNDER of 208.5 combined points is by far the lowest of the series, which is 6.5 points lower than the previous mark for Game 5 at 216 points. That could be attributed to aforementioned injuries, the magnitude of the moment, or the fact that the losing side is averaging just 94.3 points over the last three games.
Six of the last eight Game 7s across the Association dating back to 2020 have reached the UNDER, as well, and this should follow the trend.
Nick Holz's Pick: Indiana Pacers ML (+138)
All of the betting trends point towards the Indiana Pacers advancing to their first Eastern Conference Final in over two decades.
Favorites are just 4-6 ATS in their last 10 second round Game 7s. On top of that, teams who are riding high from winning Game 6, have followed that up by going 7-3 SU and 8-2 ATS in the last 10 NBA playoff second round Game 7s.
Road underdogs of six points or less are 39-23 ATS in Round 2 or later in the playoffs when looking to advance. The real kicker, home favorites of less than four points are 4-8 SU and 3-9 ATS in their last 12 Game 7s.
New York is a banged-up, fatigued basketball team. If Josh Hart and OG Anunoby do suit up, they're very likely to be playing at less than 100%. If they don't, injuries to the pair, plus Mitchell Robinson, and Bojan Bogdanovic gives the Knicks all of four starting caliber players to put on the floor. Jalen Brunson is clearly hobbled, and while I'm sure he has a few rabbits to pull out of his hat for Game 7, Brunson's magic falls short in this one.
