The conference round of the NBA Playoffs resumes with one standalone matchup on Sunday night, as Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Pacers and Knicks takes center stage at 8:00 p.m. ET on TNT.
Our staff of basketball betting experts dug into the latest odds and identified 5 NBA picks for tonight's contest. Continue below for our NBA best bets and predictions for Sunday, May 25.
NBA Playoffs Best Bets, Picks, Predictions: Sunday, May 25
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Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Knicks vs. Pacers
By Joe Dellera
The Knicks are on the road and down 0-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals. They desperately need the Captain to put the team on his back yet again.
Brunson is destroying Indiana this series with 43 and 36 point efforts on a monstrous 40% Usage Rate. He’s taken 25 and 27 shots with 14 and 5 FTAs in these games as well.
He’s getting to his spots and nobody can truly even slow him down.
Even though no one wants to see a player destroy them on offense to this degree, Indiana hasn't made any major schematic shifts to slow it down.
Given that they’re up 2-0, I doubt they’ll completely change the game plan tonight, and even if they did, it doesn’t mean they can stop him.
I’ll back Brunson to put the city on his back in Game 3.
Pick: Jalen Brunson Over 30.5 Points (-125)
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Knicks vs. Pacers
Nothing is off the table for the Knicks, as recent reporting suggests Mitchell Robinson could replace Josh Hart in the starting lineup.
As a 7-footer who can guard multiple positions, Robinson is likely the best option the Knicks have to slow down Indiana’s juggernaut offense. He can be an asset on the perimeter when asked to defend smaller players, while his size is also a deterrent inside the paint as a rim protector.
For example, John Schuhmann of NBA.com highlighted that Indiana scored just 0.80 points per opportunity when Robinson was the primary defender on a ball screen.
Though we won’t know if Robinson will get the start until closer to tipoff, it remains clear that the Knicks are at least considering making some adjustments.
After all, it makes sense to try something different when you find yourself in a 0-2 hole in the postseason. At minimum, we should see a spirited performance from the Knicks to start the game.
According to our Action Labs database, playoff teams on a two-game losing streak are a robust 174-98-2 (68.89 units) on the first half moneyline. This angle is all about motivation, making it a great way to back the Knicks in Game 3.
Pick: Knicks First Half Moneyline (-105)
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Knicks vs. Pacers
By Alex Hinton
The Pacers went into Madison Square Garden and were able to steal home court advantage and bring a 2-0 lead back to Indiana.
They have posted a 126 offensive rating while the Knicks are at 123.9 through the first two games. That has resulted in 273 and 223 points in the first two games.
Game 1 did require overtime but it was already well over tonight’s total in regulation.
Now back home, the Pacers may look to run even more. The Over is 3-2 in their home games this postseason. Four of those games had at least 224 points.
Though the Knicks dropped the first two games in this series, being on the road may not be the worst thing for them. They are 5-1 on the road this postseason. The Over is 3-3 in those games and all three Overs had at least 229 points.
Jalen Brunson may be a big factor in getting this total. He is averaging 39.5 points per game in this series after averaging 29.7 points per game against in last year’s seven-game series.
With his team desperate for a win tonight, expect him to lead the way, which in turn should lead to another high-scoring affair.
Pick: Over 223.5 (-110)
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Knicks vs. Pacers
Just like the Wolves showed last night, being down 0-2 seems to be quite a boost.
