2025 Eastern Conference Finals odds, picks, predictions for Pacers vs. Knicks (2025)

It’s easy to get excited about an Eastern Conference Finals between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers as a rematch of the seven-game series from last year’s playoffs — one that should be equally as compelling. But it would be a mistake to expect this year’s series to follow the same script as the previous one.

While it’s true the Pacers are practically the same team that prevailed over New York a year ago, they're even better this time around. In addition to having a lineup bolstered by the addition of Bennedict Mathurin, the entire team is a lot better for the experience of last postseason, including a series against the eventual champion Boston Celtics.

The Knicks are also better for the experience, only their lineup isn’t the same. Karl-Anthony Towns is in the middle instead of Isaiah Hartenstein. Mikal Bridges is on the wing instead of Donte DiVincenzo. And, for now, they’re actually healthy, unlike last year’s team that didn’t have Mitchell Robinson, OG Anunoby or Julius Randle for most or all of the series -- and still forced seven games. Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson were banged up too. This is a different team.

That’s why, despite the results of last year’s series, it’s the Knicks, not Pacers, who are -155 favorites at BetMGM to prevail in the rematch.

As I’ve cautioned in the past, it’d be foolish to completely write off Indiana. While there’s no denying the Pacers’ run to two straight conference finals has been aided by injuries, that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t have won regardless. Those injuries might’ve only robbed them of the opportunity to prove just how good they are. At long last, this series gives them the chance.

In a lot of ways, Indiana’s leading man is a walking embodiment of that doubt. A star player who is somehow still considered overrated by his peers. A potential 2025 All-NBA player who wasn’t voted an all-star. In a single series, Tyrese Haliburton can break that perception of both himself and the Pacers.

But about those new-look Knicks. After Haliburton torched New York for a team-high 21 points per game on 53 percent shooting and 44 percent from three, last postseason, the Knicks loaded up on the wings with the addition of Bridges to a team that already had effective defenders like Anunoby and Hart. That length proved disruptive in two of three regular season meetings against Indiana where Haliburton was held under 20 points in Knicks wins, including an October game where he was scoreless on 0-of-8 shooting.

That doesn't bode well for Indiana's chances. In the one game Indiana won, Haliburton had 35 points and 14 assists. If that’s the blueprint for them to beat New York, it’s not one likely to succeed over seven games. Which is why I like the Knicks to eventually prevail, though out of respect for the incredible postseason the Pacers are having, I think they stretch it out to seven games as the odds suggest at +350.

Haliburton is capable of offensive explosions like the one we saw in Game 5 of the second round where he dropped 31 points to send the Cavs home, but it’s not his preferred style of basketball nor is it something we can expect from him each night. And while Pascal Siakam is respected as a capable No. 2 option, he can't be counted on as someone to consistently pick up the scoring slack on a team that takes pride in it’s depth (Siakam has four 30-point games all season). But make no mistake, as deep as the Pacers are, there will be games where someone needs to take over.

The Knicks, on the other hand, have two of those players in Brunson and Towns — with fewer defensive obstacles to worry about on the other side. Towns averaged 30 points against Indiana in the regular season. Brunson is averaging almost 30 for the entire playoffs (28.8). In what I expect to be a tight series throughout, I lean towards the team with willing scorers and capable defenders to close games the most.

Prince’s pick: Knicks win series in 7 (+350)