Knicks vs. Pacers: Predictions, Scores, Rivalry History

Some NBA rivalries fizzle out after a few seasons. The Knicks and Pacers have been going at it since 1977, trading playoff barn-burners, buzzer-beaters, and enough trash talk to fill Madison Square Garden twice over. This page breaks down their head-to-head history, current odds for the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals, and what each matchup means for the teams’ championship futures.

Latest Score: Pacers 138-135 Knicks (OT, May 21, 2025) ·
Rivalry Start: 1977 ·
Playoff Meetings: 6 times (1993-2000) ·
Recent Win: Knicks 136-110 (March 17) ·
Upcoming Game: March 13, 2026

Who is favored to win, the Knicks or the Pacers?

Heading into the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals, oddsmakers gave the Knicks a slight edge. Sports Illustrated reported that for Game 1 on May 21, 2025, the Knicks were favored by 4 points (−4/−4.5) with a moneyline of −180, while the Pacers sat at +150/+155. The over/under total ranged from 223 to 224.5 points.

The Knicks’ −180 moneyline implied roughly a 64% win probability for Game 1. ESPN’s Basketball Power Index (BPI) painted a closer picture, projecting a Knicks win by just 0.8 points and assigning a 53% chance of victory. The Pacers, meanwhile, had built momentum by winning the 2024 ECF Semifinals 4-3 over these same Knicks after New York lost Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby to injuries.

Key player matchups

Tyrese Haliburton has become the Pacers’ centerpiece in this rivalry. In Game 4 of the 2024 series, he posted a 32-15-12 triple-double. Aaron Nesmith countered with six three-pointers in the fourth quarter of Game 1, a performance that helped seal the 138-135 overtime win. The Knicks counter with Brunson, whose late-game shot-making has carried them past Detroit and Boston this postseason.

Current odds and picks

Series futures from Sports Illustrated showed Knicks at −140 to reach the Finals and +360 to win the championship. Pacers stood at +550 for the title. For Game 1 specifically, Sportsepreneur reported Knicks −4, moneyline −175, over/under 223. Both teams entered the ECF 2-0 in Game 1 situations during the 2025 playoffs.

Pacers vs Knicks Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

ESPN’s betting desk broke down the matchup in detail before Game 1 tipped off at 8 p.m. ET on May 21, 2025. The broadcast highlighted that the Pacers had gone 4-1 on the road in the 2025 playoffs, while the Knicks posted a 3-3 record at Madison Square Garden. That road resilience gave Indiana confidence despite opening as underdogs.

Expert picks

Sportsepreneur predicted a Pacers series win in six games, citing Indiana’s balanced scoring attack, superior depth, and improved defensive effort. The analysis noted that the Knicks’ reliance on Brunson created predictability the Pacers could exploit. Sports Illustrated’s opening odds aligned with this uncertainty, posting Knicks −4 with an over/under near 223.

Betting trends

The Pacers averaged 117.7 points per game in the 2025 postseason, ranking second among all teams. ESPN’s Moody recommended backing Indiana over 110.5 points at −105, noting the Pacers had hit that line in eight of their previous 10 playoff contests. The Knicks’ 5-1 road record against Detroit and Boston suggested their ceiling was higher on the road than at home during this stretch.

Who wins game 7 of Knicks vs Pacers?

The most recent Game 7 in this rivalry came in the 2024 Eastern Conference Semifinals, when the Pacers closed out the Knicks 4-3. That series turned on injuries, but the competitive DNA of both teams showed in every game. The Knicks fought back from 3-2 down to force Game 7 before falling.

Game 7 recap

Pacers won that decisive game by rallying behind Haliburton’s playmaking and Nesmith’s three-point shooting. The Knicks’ depleted lineup struggled to contain Indiana’s pace in the second half. Land of Basketball’s records show the Pacers have won 30 of 54 total playoff games against the Knicks, including that series-clinching Game 7.

Series outcome

The 2024 result gave the Pacers a 6-3 lead in all-time postseason series. The Knicks won series in 1994 and 1999; the Pacers took 1993, 1998, 2000, and 2024. The 2000 Eastern Conference Finals, won by the Pacers in six games, remains the highest-stakes matchup in the rivalry’s history.

Who is the Knicks biggest rival?

For Knicks fans, the Pacers rivalry stands apart from the brief Brooklyn Nets chapter or the Chicago Bulls’ dominance of the 1990s. The NBC Sports overview of the rivalry traced its roots to Reggie Miller’s infamous “four-point play” moment and Spike Lee’s courtside reactions, turning each Knicks-Pacers game into theater.

Pacers rivalry details

The teams have met in the playoffs nine times total, with six of those series coming between 1993 and 2000. ESPN’s timeline counted four instances where both teams faced off with a Finals berth on the line, underscoring the stakes that make this rivalry special. Wikipedia’s entry on the rivalry highlights the 1994 and 1999 series where the Knicks eliminated Indiana en route to the Finals, and the 2000 matchup where the Pacers returned the favor.

Nets rivalry comparison

The Knicks-Nets rivalry was geographically logical but lacked the postseason history that defines Knicks-Pacers. Brooklyn and New York never met in a playoff series during the Kevin Durant/Kyrie Irving era, and the Nets’ struggles since 2020 have deflated any narrative. The Pacers remain the Knicks’ most meaningful Eastern Conference foil.

Who is Pacers’ biggest rival?

Pacers history primers from the team’s official site identify the Knicks as their primary playoff rival, ahead of the Detroit Pistons or Miami Heat. The Pacers’ 30-24 all-time playoff record against New York, tracked by StatMuse, gives them the edge in this particular matchup. No other team has faced Indiana more times in the postseason.

Knicks as top rival

Indiana Pacers’ own history primer counts eight playoff meetings with the Knicks before 2025. The rivalry spans from 1977 through the present day, with every high-stakes chapter anchored in either New York or Indianapolis. The 2024 and 2025 playoff encounters have kept the matchup relevant for a new generation of fans.

Other rivals

The Pacers’ 1990s rivalry with the New York Knicks overshadowed battles with the Bulls, who eliminated Indiana in back-to-back seasons. Miami presented the biggest obstacle in the 2010s, when the Heat beat the Pacers three times in four seasons. Still, none of those matchups match the Knicks’ nine playoff encounters.

Head-to-Head Record Comparison

Six key comparisons illustrate the competitive balance between these teams across different eras and contexts.

The implication: Indiana’s historical playoff dominance and recent road dominance make them dangerous underdogs, but the Knicks’ home-court firepower and series-favorite status keep New York in every game.

Rivalry Timeline

The Knicks-Pacers timeline traces a rivalry that peaked in the 1990s but has found new life in the 2020s.

The pattern: The rivalry’s peak occurred in the 1990s, but the teams have met in the playoffs five times since 1993 and twice more in 2024-2025, keeping the tension fresh.

Summary

The Knicks-Pacers rivalry has delivered playoff classics since 1977, and the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals added another chapter. The Pacers hold the all-time playoff edge (30-24) and have won six of nine postseason series, but the Knicks entered Game 1 as favorites with −140 series odds to reach the Finals. Indiana’s 117.7 points per game and 4-1 road record make them dangerous, while New York’s home-court crowd and Jalen Brunson’s shot-making give them an edge in close games. For bettors weighing Knicks +360 championship odds against Pacers +550, the value depends on whether you trust New York’s depth or Indiana’s pace.