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Gilgeous-Alexander puts Thunder on brink of NBA Finals

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks on
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made six free throws in the final 15 seconds [Getty Images]

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander produced a stunning performance as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves to move within one win of the NBA Finals.

Oklahoma led 65-57 at the break and 90-85 at the end of the third quarter, but had to survive a late Minnesota fightback to take a 3-1 lead in the seven-game series.

Gilgeous-Alexander - who scored 40 points, grabbed nine rebounds and provided 10 assists - made five of six free throw attempts in the final 15 seconds to seal a 128-126 victory.

Jalen Williams added 34 points on 13-for-24 shooting, while Chet Holmgren finished with 21 points on nine-for-14 shooting.

The performance of Mark Daigneault's side was an impressive response to the 143-101 thrashing they suffered in game three.

"We did a good job of staying in the moment tonight," Gilgeous-Alexander said.

"We obviously had a bad taste in our mouth from the last game, and we just wanted to control the things that we could control tonight. I think staying in the moment was the best way to do so.

"We could have been better tonight for sure. Tonight wasn't perfect, but we gave ourselves a chance... and we got a W."

The Timberwolves pushed Oklahoma City all the way, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker scoring 23 points off the bench, Jaden McDaniels contributing 22 points, and Donte DiVincenzo finishing with 21.

"Everything is out there," Alexander-Walker said.

"There's no secrets. They know how to beat us. We know how to beat them. It's just about going out there and doing it and who wants it more [and who is] trying to execute it more.

"We showed that at times throughout this game, but consistency, that's all it has to be."

Victory in game five in Oklahoma on Wednesday (01:30 BST on Thursday) will secure the Thunder a place in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012, where they would face either the Indiana Pacers or the New York Knicks.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 40, Thunder defense forcing 23 turnovers has OKC one win from NBA Finals

It was the two words in all caps and red ink at the top of the scouting report for Minnesota going into the Western Conference Finals:

Limit turnovers.

The Timberwolves had to break even in the possession game to upset the Thunder in this series. They failed at that in the biggest moment of their season Monday night — Minnesota turned the ball over 23 times and allowed 19 Oklahoma City offensive rebounds in Game 4. The result was the Thunder getting up 11 more shots in the game.

That was the difference in what an epic, high-level playoff game, one of the best of the postseason. Well, turnovers and a career playoff high 40 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Oklahoma City hung on at the end for a 128-126 Game 4 win that puts them up 3-1 in the series. The Thunder can close the series out Wednesday night at home.

This is a gut-punch loss for the Timberwolves because they played well enough to win:

• Minnesota created better looks most of the night.

• Minnesota shot better, including 18-of-41 (43.9%) from 3.

• Minnesota grabbed 19 offensive rebounds themselves.

• Minnesota got 64 points from their bench behind Nickeil Alexander-Walker scoring 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting, Donte DiVincenzo scoring 21, including five 3-pointers, and 11 points from Naz Reid.

“Definitely sucks being that close…” Alexander-Walker said postgame. “Everything is out there, there are no secrets — they know how to beat us and we know how to beat them.”

What hurt the Thunder was a slow start and rough night from Anthony Edwards, who scored 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting. Which was better than Julius Randle, who struggled again with five points on 1-of-7 shooting (but nine rebounds).

Not only did SGA step up for the Thunder, but so did their next stars: Jalen Williams had 34 points, including six 3-pointers, while Chet Holmgren had 21 points, seven rebounds and three blocks, including a critical one late.

After coming out flat and getting blown out in Game 3, the Thunder came out Monday with increased defensive ball pressure and activity — looking like themselves again — except it didn’t work. For example, the Thunder defense forced the ball to Jaden McDaniels, but he responded with 10 early points. Minnesota shot 63.2% in the first quarter but trailed 37-30 after one because of their seven turnovers in the frame. That was the theme of the night.

So was Oklahoma City taking a small lead (never more than 11) and then Minnesota walking them down. It was a physical, intense, high-level game of basketball played well by both teams.

The last time the Thunder got one of those small leads they held on, and now they have a commanding lead in the series.

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Knicks' Game 3 win against Pacers testament to team fighting for each other, including Tom Thibodeau

It's obvious by now, but the Knicks' Game 3 win against the Indiana Pacers was quite impressive.

Down by as many as 20 points (where have we heard that before) in the first half, New York was staring down the barrel of being down 0-3 in the series. But for the third time during this playoff run, the Knicks staged a ferocious comeback in the second half and willed themselves to a victory.

"We saw that we were on the brink of it looking pretty dark for us and the way we responded, I think it brings us closer together," Jalen Brunson said via a Zoom call on Monday.

Listen to this, New York is now 3-2 this postseason after being down 20 or more points. All other teams since the play-by-play era (1996-97 season)? 25-835.

That is to say, it just doesn't happen often.

At the helm of it all has been head coach Tom Thibodeau, now in his fifth season coaching the Knicks and his 13th year as a head coach following stints with the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves.

During his time in New York, Thibodeau has gone 226-174 and has reached the playoffs in four out of his five seasons. In fact, Thibs has failed to make the postseason just three times as a head coach.

Despite so much playoff experience, the 67-year-old has never made it to the NBA Finals and is 47-53 in the postseason. Simply reaching the Conference Finals is an accomplishment for Thibodeau who hasn't been here since the 2010-11 season -- his first season as a head coach with the Bulls.

So when the Knicks pulled out the win in Game 3, yes, they did it for one another, but they also did it for coach whether they were aware or not.

"He’s obviously been in a lot of battles. He’s been on different teams that have had different successes," Brunson said about Thibodeau. "We haven’t necessarily talked about it, but now that you ask that question, watching this man work tirelessly day in and day out, 364 days out of the year, he maybe takes one day off, it would mean a lot (to make the Finals).

"I know he’s not thinking about that, I know he’s not thinking about what it would mean to him, he’s just thinking about what can we do better in Game 4."

Brunson is right. During his Zoom call with the media, Thibodeau was only thinking about ways to improve his team for Tuesday's battle in Indiana. After all, New York is still down 2-1 in the series.

However, he did allow himself to discuss what about the team he enjoyed and focused on the journey rather than the destination.

"I try not to get wrapped up in anything that’s personal," Thibs said. "I think everything is team-oriented and so when you’re with a team you want to maximize all the opportunities that you do get and you wanna try and get the most out of your group. And I think each day when you have a committed group that’s what you enjoy. You enjoy the challenge of it all.

"Each day you’re gonna be tested in a different way and if you love competition this is the best for competition. So we’re fortunate, we have a great group of guys and we work as hard as we can each and every day. Sometimes we fall short and the next day come back with more determination to fix it and get better.

"I think that’s where you get enjoyment and when you’re with a good group of people that feel that the team is the most important thing, that’s what makes it enjoyable."

With so much Villanova representation on the team, it's been well-documented how far back some of the players go. Still, for the most part, a lot of this year's team looks different than last year's and in year's past.

Brunson says building that chemistry remains a work in progress.

"It’s definitely an ongoing process. Obviously the longer you’re with your teammates, the more you understand them," he said. "The way I’ve been able to kind of connect with these guys on a daily basis definitely helps. It takes time. It takes time for teams and chemistry to bond and I feel like we have great chemistry, but we’re able to push each other out of our comfort zones and to make each other better, I think that’s when it takes another step."

Nevertheless, having chemistry and being friends with everybody on the team doesn't necessarily translate to championships.

It's only when a team has the right mix of players, attitude, coaching and skill that helps them reach the top. Brunson and the Knicks believe they have that and Game 3 was a perfect example of them showing it.

"In order to go through and do something special, you have to go through a lot of adversity, you have to go through a lot of questioning mentally internally if we’re gonna do this," he said. "It can make or break teams and I think what we did last night definitely helps us.

"I feel like internally we think we can do it, but when we’re actually going through it and when we actually do it in a time like this, like I said it brings us closer together."

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Pacers’ Aaron Nesmith ‘likely’ a game-time decision for Eastern Conference Finals Game 4 against Knicks

The Pacers could potentially be without a big piece for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks.

Sharp-shooting Aaron Nesmith is expected to be listed as questionable and will likely come down to a game-time decision for Tuesday's crucial matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, head coach Rick Carlisle said.  

Nesmith, who is still very sore, was seen walking around the Pacers’ locker room with a “noticeable limp” after he suffered a right ankle injury midway through the third quarter of Game 3. 

The injury occurred when he landed awkwardly and rolled his ankle on a drive to the basket -- he needed assistance leaving the court and was initially ruled questionable to return for the remainder of the contest. 

Nesmith did get back out there for the final seven minutes, but didn’t record a bucket in the loss. 

Carlisle said postgame that he was moving without limitations when he came back down the stretch -- but they wouldn’t have any further update on his status until he checked in with the training staff on Monday. 

If Nesmith were to miss any time, it would be a huge momentum swing towards the Knicks, who are now trailing just 2-1 in the series. 

The 25-year-old former first-round pick has been a significant presence on both ends of the court thus far this series, averaging 16.7 points on 53.6 percent shooting from the field over the first three games.

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Josh Hart was okay coming off bench because he 'had a hand in that decision' to start Robinson

Tom Thibodeau's starting lineup change worked. In Games 1 and 2, the Knicks started in a hole because the starting five they had used most of the season was -29 in this series, and New York lost both games. For Sunday's must-win game, New York moved Mitchell Robinson into the starting five — forming a two-bigs lineup with Karl-Anthony Towns — and moving Josh Hart to the bench. It worked in that the new starting five got the Knicks off to a 15-10 lead by playing better defense, with the Pacers shooting 2-of-8 to open the game. For the game, the new starting five was +1 in 13 minutes (the old starting five played a little more than five minutes together in this game and was -9).

It also wasn't Thibodeau's starting lineup. Josh Hart said postgame he suggested the idea, here’s his quote via the New York Daily News.

"It was something that I've had in the back of my mind, and I've always wanted to do. Down 0-2, especially with how [Robinson] played last game, that was something that we had to do. And obviously that's a group decision that really boils down to Thibs and myself...

"It was never going to be a tough day for me because I had a hand in that decision. When I'm in a decision like that and kind of got the ball rolling on that, it was funny. Y'all [the media] are scrambling, trying to get answers, and I never really cared because it was kind of my decision. I was comfortable with it."

Not getting into a hole to start the game didn't mean the Knicks avoided the hole altogether, they were still down 20 in the second quarter as the Pacers still found plenty of lineup advantages once the benches came into play. However, Karl-Anthony Towns took over in the fourth and saved the Knicks’ season.

Expect the new starting lineup to be back for Game 2, but also expect some Pacers adjustments in how they attack it. Still, it will be an advantage if the new starting five can keep New York out of a hole to open the game.

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Boston Celtics 2024-2025 fantasy basketball season recap: Jayson Tatum injury throws franchise into flux

While the NBA Playoffs are in full swing, now is a good time to recap the fantasy basketball season for all 30 teams.

In the following weeks, we will provide a recap for each team, starting with the team with the worst record and concluding with the NBA champion in June.

Coming off of the franchise's 18th NBA title, the Boston Celtics appeared to have every chance of repeating. One of three teams to win at least 60 games, Joe Mazzulla's team went into the postseason as the two-seed in the East. Unfortunately, injury woes that began late in the regular season continued in the playoffs, with Jayson Tatum suffering a ruptured Achilles during the second round. With a sky-high salary/luxury tax bill to navigate, the Celtics will have some questions to answer this offseason.

Boston Celtics 2024-2025 Season Recap

Record: 61-21 (2nd, East)

Offensive Rating: 119.5 (3rd)

Defensive Rating: 110.1 (4th)

Net Rating: 9.4 (2nd)

Pace: 96.59 (29th)

2025 NBA Draft Picks: 28, 32

Boston's 2024-25 season got off to an excellent start, as the champs blew out the Knicks on opening night. Despite not having Kristaps Porzingis to begin the season as he recovered from offseason leg surgery, the Celtics were clearly among the NBA's upper crust, boasting the talent and experience needed to make a run at another championship. Unfortunately, Joe Mazzulla's team would struggle with some health issues late in the regular season that would be a harbinger of things to come.

Jrue Holiday missed time with a shoulder injury while Jaylen Brown was nagged by a knee issue that proved more serious than some anticipated. Add in Porzingis being sidelined by an illness that sapped his conditioning, and the champs entered the postseason at less than full strength. Jayson Tatum would injure his wrist during the first-round series against Orlando, and the most significant blow would be absorbed during Game 4 of the team's second-round series with the Knicks.

Tatum ruptured the Achilles tendon in his right leg while attempting to corral a loose ball. Two nights later, Boston would win Game 5, but the ending was inevitable. The Celtics' title run ended in a Game 6 blowout defeat, after which it was reported that Brown was playing through a partially torn meniscus. The health of the team's top three players and the sale of the team open the floor for some significant questions to address this summer.

Does Boston look to run it back while Tatum recovers from his injury? Or will this be used as an excuse to reshuffle the deck and try to save some money? Boston's approach will significantly impact the NBA in 2025-26.

Fantasy Standout: Jayson Tatum

From a fantasy standpoint, Tatum entered the season in an interesting spot. While he's certainly a player worth selecting in the first round of standard league drafts, some were prepared for the Celtics star to be a player whose value would sit near the first/second round turn. That's precisely what happened, with Tatum ranking 13th in eight- and nine-cat per-game value according to Basketball Monster. Having appeared in 72 games, he was a top-10 player in total value.

Making 72 starts, Tatum averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 3.5 three-pointers per game, shooting 42.5 percent from the field and 81.4 percent from the foul line. While his percentages decreased slightly compared to the 2023-24 campaign, Tatum's assist average was the highest of his career. His 31 double-doubles were six more than his tally during Boston's championship season, and JT was also responsible for two triple-doubles. Among the highlights were a February 28 loss to the Cavaliers in which he recorded 46 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists. Tatum was also responsible for a 43/15/10 line in a December 21 win over Chicago.

After missing Game 2 of Boston's first-round series with Orlando due to a right wrist injury, Tatum would score 35 points or more in each of the final three games. And his Game 4 performance against the Knicks was one of the best of his postseason career before suffering the Achilles tendon tear that ended his season. Due to that injury, Tatum will likely miss most of the 2025-26 season, if not all. He can't be selected in drafts as high as he would if healthy. Whether or not Tatum will be worth stashing depends on the Celtics' next update on his status. If there's a chance that he'll be back in time for the fantasy playoffs, some managers will be willing to take the risk and draft Tatum with a late-round pick.

Fantasy Revelation: Payton Pritchard

After a solid run in his fourth NBA season, Pritchard emerged as one of the top reserves in the NBA in 2024-25. The eventual NBA Sixth Man of the Year appeared in 80 games, starting just three, recording averages of 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and 3.2 three-pointers in 28.4 minutes per game. Pritchard, who shot 47.2 percent from the field and 84.5 percent from the foul line, established new career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals, three-pointers and field-goal percentage.

The production was good for top-50 value in nine-cat formats and top-60 value in eight-cat formats. While Pritchard ended the regular season rostered in about 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues, he played well enough to justify a higher percentage, especially when the Celtics were forced to play without a starter (or more). He's one of the players impacted by Tatum's availability next season. Despite being a reserve, Pritchard is good enough to be considered a potential top-100 pick, especially with him averaging high-20s in minutes per game.

Fantasy Disappointment: Jrue Holiday

While some may argue that Jaylen Brown should be the choice, at least he finished the season as a top-100 player. For the first time since his rookie season, Holiday failed to provide top-100 per-game value according to Basketball Monster. In 62 games, he averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.7 three-pointers in 30.6 minutes, shooting 44.3 percent from the field and 90.9 percent from the foul line. Averaging just 1.2 turnovers per game, Holiday was slightly more valuable in nine-cat formats than eight-cat formats.

While he did not miss more than four consecutive games at any point during the regular season, Holiday endured a month-long stretch in which he missed nine of 12 games due to a right shoulder impingement and a mallet finger on his right hand in early February. And he would miss the final three games of Boston's first-round series with a strained right hamstring. Given Boston's expected luxury tax bill (they're a repeater, too) and Tatum's injury, Holiday may be a name to watch this offseason, as he turns 35 in June and has three seasons remaining on his current contract.

Fantasy Recaps/Look-Aheads

Jaylen Brown

After appearing in 70 games and earning his third All-Star Game appearance in 2023-24, injuries limited Brown to 63 appearances in 2024-25. He averaged 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.8 three-pointers in 34.3 minutes, shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 76.4 percent from the foul line. While Brown's scoring average decreased by nearly a whole point, his rebounds and assists increased, averaging a career-high in the latter. Another positive was the improved foul shooting, with Brown's percentage rising by over six points after a subpar 70.3 percent mark in Boston's championship season.

However, while no stretch was longer than four games missed due to injury (a hip injury in early November), his production tailed off late in the regular season. The issue, as it would be learned shortly after the Celtics' season ended, was a partially torn meniscus in his right knee. For fantasy managers who may have been disappointed by Brown's production during the playoff weeks, the knee issue had much to do with that. At the time of publishing, no decision was made regarding whether Brown must undergo surgery this offseason.

The combination of him getting healthy and Tatum's Achilles tendon rupture will likely boost Brown's value heading into drafts next fall, especially with lead executive Brad Stevens expressing his confidence in Brown leading the way. Despite only having two top-50 fantasy seasons to his credit, the Celtics star continues to have an ADP within that threshold, but the circumstances make Brown worth the risk.

Derrick White

After proving more valuable than many fantasy managers expected him to be in 2023-24, White had another excellent fantasy season in 2024-25. Appearing in 76 regular-season games, he averaged 16.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.1 blocks and 3.5 three-pointers in 33.9 minutes. White, who shot 44.2 percent from the field and 83.9 percent from the foul line, finished as a top-50 player in eight- and nine-cat formats regarding per-game value, and the availability made him a top-25 player in total value.

White finished the season with four double-doubles, and in a March 5 win over the Trail Blazers, he went off for a career-high 41 points. Not only was that his first 40-point game, but it was the first in which he surpassed 35. Regarding availability and production, White has been a reliable member of the Celtics' rotation since he arrived in Boston during the 2021-22 season. While some continue to discuss the possibility of the Celtics making significant changes following Jayson Tatum's Achilles injury, White is a player the team and fantasy managers can count on if Boston keeps the group together for another season.

Kristaps Porzingis

Limited to 57 regular-season games in 2023-24, Porzingis' 2024-25 campaign did not begin until November 25 due to offseason ankle surgery. Unfortunately, an ankle injury cost him four games just after Christmas, and the Celtics center would miss eight games in March due to an unidentified viral illness that proved more problematic than many expected. After playing 34 minutes in Game 3 of Boston's first-round series against the Magic, Porzingis would not surpass 25 minutes again, playing 19 or fewer in five of the team's six games against the Knicks in the second round. Due to how the illness impacted his stamina, he was a shell of himself against the team that drafted him.

Porzingis played in 42 regular-season games, averaging 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.5 blocks, and 2.5 three-pointers in 28.8 minutes. While he provided excellent per-game value, the total value was not there due to KP's availability issues. The 7-foot-3 Celtic has played 65 regular-season games or more three times in his career, and he's logged 99 in Boston. If the Celtics were to make significant changes this summer, Porzingis is a player to watch despite the injury woes.

Unless Boston were to extend his contract, the 2025-26 season will be the last on Porzingis' current contract, and it's worth a little over $30.7 million. From a fantasy standpoint, his Yahoo! ADP will be considerably higher than his 2023-24 number (104), but he'll be a risky early-round dice roll due to the injuries.

Al Horford

While Horford remained a dependable member of the Celtics' rotation, his production did not make a significant dent in fantasy leagues. Starting 42 of the 60 games he appeared in, the 38-year-old center averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.9 blocks and 1.9 three-pointers in 27.7 minutes. Shooting a career-low 42.3 percent from the field, Horford finished the regular season ranked outside the top-100 in eight- and nine-cat formats, providing greater value in the latter.

Once again not playing both games of back-to-backs, Horford only had two instances this season in which he missed consecutive games. However, his left significant toe sprain in mid-March slowed the veteran forward. And with Horford turning 39 in early June, his days as a consistently reliable fantasy option are likely in the rearview mirror. He'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer and has yet to decide his NBA future. However, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported in mid-May that Horford does not plan to retire and hopes to re-sign with the Celtics. If that happens, his fantasy value in 2025-26 should not change; he'll be a late-round option in standard leagues.

Luke Kornet

While Kornet may not have been productive enough to merit being rostered in fantasy leagues throughout the 2024-25 season, the 7-foot-2 center had his moments. He reached double figures in scoring on 15 occasions, including a 19-point effort against the Hornets on November 2, and there were seven games in which he recorded at least three blocked shots. Kornet's most notable performance occurred in the postseason, however, as he helped spearhead Boston's Game 3 win over New York by recording 10 points, nine rebounds, one assist, one steal and seven blocked shots, shooting 5-of-5 from the field.

Ranked just within the top-200 in nine-cat formats, Kornet finished outside that threshold in eight-cat formats. He wasn't a player worth targeting in fantasy drafts before the season began, and that's unlikely to change if the Celtics keep the band together in 2025-26. However, if they were to lose Horford via free agency (or retirement), Kornet's ceiling would rise slightly, especially with Kristaps Porzingis' injury history.

Sam Hauser

Hauser was another Celtic who was most valuable when the team was down at least one starter. He started a career-high 19 games during the regular season, averaging 8.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 2.3 three-pointers in 21.7 minutes (71 appearances). Hauser scored 20 points or more on four occasions, including a 33-point effort in Boston's March 10 win over the Jazz, and there were seven games in which he made five three-pointers or more.

Having finished the regular season ranked outside the top-200 in eight- and nine-cat formats, Hauser is unlikely to be a player worth targeting in deep-league drafts next fall, even with Jayson Tatum unavailable. But there should once again be moments where it makes sense to stream him, especially for category league managers needing three-point production.

Restricted Free Agents: Drew Peterson

Unrestricted Free Agents: Al Horford, Luke Kornet, Torrey Craig

Team Option: JD Davison

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Connection, normalcy and fierce loyalty: why life is sweet on small market NBA teams

The Thunder have formed a tight unit during their run to the Western Conference finals. Photograph: Garrett Ellwood/NBAE/Getty Images

Two-time NBA All-Star Reggie Theus remembers the 1981 playoffs. In a “big time” opening round series, his Chicago Bulls faced the New York Knicks. The first game tipped off in one of the world’s most famous arenas, Madison Square Garden, and it included stars such as Artis Gilmore, Bill Cartwright and Michael Ray Richardson. The Bulls won game one and went on to win the series, playing Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics in the next round. Theus scored 37 points in the clincher against New York, an overtime victory in the Windy City. But it was a thrill he never quite felt again.

While Theus made the playoffs three more times in his long career, he never again featured in such a glitzy postseason showdown like Chicago versus New York. During his 13-years in the league, the he suited up for teams like the Kansas City and then Sacramento Kings (the team relocated to NorCal in 1985) and Orlando Magic. In a way, he was like a kettle moving from the front to the back burners. Indeed, more often than not, the NBA’s glamour markets – cities like Los Angeles, Boston, New York and Chicago – get the attention. But those aren’t its only teams, nor are they necessarily the places with the most success in any one season.

Related: The strange twilight of Russell Westbrook, the NBA’s ultimate fetish player

In this year’s playoffs, many of the franchises came from small markets, including the top seeds in each conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers, as well as several of its now-Conference finalists. But while big markets like New York, Miami or Golden State can draw free-agents thanks to their reputations and attraction for nightlife and entertainment, it’s hard not to wonder what life is like for the pros who live and hoop in smaller, more modest locales?

For Theus, who played more years in places like Sacramento than he did Chi-town, the difference felt obvious. “You just get that hometown feel that small markets have,” Theus says. “Everyone sort of knows each other on a personal level.” Some teams, he says, just have a family feel to them. One organization he cites is San Antonio. While Theus never played for the Spurs, he sees how the culture that squad built over decades led to winning, stability and consistency. “There aren’t a lot of different things getting in the way there,” he says.

While some fans may think that small town life for an NBA star is boring, Theus explains that it was quite the opposite. “You end up doing what the city has to offer,” Theus says. “I’m an archer and [Sacramento and Orlando] had a lot of hunting and fishing for me. It was great. I don’t know anybody that was bored or didn’t have fun. You did a lot more things together with your teammates. Small towns are personal, which is part of the charm.”

When Theus played in the 1980s and 1990s, life was different than it is today. If you were in Sacramento, there wasn’t much national media exposure. Today, though, the reigning NBA MVP, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has already been featured in a number of significant TV commercials. As have players like Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. Thanks to social media, NBA League Pass and streaming services, any player anywhere can become a household name. But when Theus played, it wasn’t nearly so easy to get national attention.

“Small markets sometimes feel like they’re on an island by themselves,” he says. But there’s also a big benefit to that, he notes: “[The players] become closer.” Theus says he is still in regular touch with teammates he had in Sacramento and Orlando. But that’s not the same with those in Chicago. It’s a tradeoff. In smaller markets there’s less attention but with that comes, perhaps, a more normal life.

“If you’re in Chicago, LA, New York, there are no other places like that,” Theus says. “Those are the three biggest media markets around. So, obviously there’s no place like that. The nightlife – and when I say the nightlife, I’m thinking of dinner spots, entertainment and so forth – those three places are unique.”

Age can also be a factor in how you see playing in a smaller market. When Theus played in Chicago, he was in his early 20s – and the world was his oyster. When he was in Orlando, he was more mature, and in his 30s. In between, he was in sleepy Sacramento. Today’s NBA stars earn tens of millions of dollars a year. That affords a lavish life, from private jets to vacations around the globe. If you’re young and want to party, you can find a way today, even if you’re in a smaller city. Still, though, when it comes to a city’s reputation or celebrity fans? Some have all the luck.

“There is no place like Madison Square Garden,” four-time All-Star Michael Ray Richardson tells the Guardian. “Sugar,” as he was known then, played in the Big Apple for four years before suiting up across the river in the smaller New Jersey for four more. “In New York, you got all the movie stars and actors and all of that,” he says. “In New Jersey, you really didn’t have none of that.”

For Richardson, who now lives in Lawton, about 70 miles south of Oklahoma City, he’s seen what a winning team can mean to a region that is otherwise devoid of major pro sports. It’s something to rally around, he says, to enjoy together as a community. A winner like OKC can make a state feel like one giant college campus. “The whole state is going crazy,” says Richardson, “because there’s no other professional team here. So, if you go to an Oklahoma City Thunder game, it’s like a college atmosphere. It’s unreal.”

Robert Parish won three titles with Bird and the Celtics in the prime of his career, and a fourth with Michael Jordan’s Bulls. But in between, he played for two years in Charlotte, which at the time was an expansion team in one of the NBA’s smallest markets. Comparing the places, Parish says tradition stands out. If there’s history, there’s more to cheer for, although history is not always connected to size – just look at how the Packers are intertwined with the lore of Green Bay and the NFL. The same goes for the Spurs in San Antonio

“The obvious difference is reputation,” Parish says. “The larger cities [often] have that long, rich history of being loud, loyal and appreciative with crazy fans.” Still, Parish says, victories translate to both types of NBA cities. “The celebrity athletes got the love [in Charlotte] because the Hornets gave the fans a reason to be proud – winning! Same reason for the fan loyalty in bigger markets.”

There may be no team in the world with as much tradition as the Celtics – thanks, in part, to Parish. But it’s something Theus recognizes, too. “When you think about the Boston Celtics,” Theus says, “when you think about LA and Chicago, the sports history is a big factor. The lineage runs deeper because it’s been there for so long.” He adds, “Of course, Sacramento has grown up quite a bit now. But when we first got there, we had to tell the fans they weren’t supposed to clap so hard for the other team! … There was a real learning curve.”

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Knicks vs. Pacers Game 4 Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for May 27

On Tuesday, May 27, and the New York Knicks (51-31) and Indiana Pacers (50-32) are all set to square off from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

New York took Game 3, 106-100, behind Karl-Anthony Towns' massive 20-point fourth quarter to cut the Pacers' deficit to 2-1. The road teams are 3-0 in this series so far and New York needed a 36-20 fourth quarter to keep that streak alive.

Towns led all scorers and led the game with 15 rebounds, while Tyrese Haliburton poured in 20 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds for Indiana. Jalen Brunson followed up his 89 points in Games 1 and 2 with 23 points in Game 3, plus Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby combined for 31 points on 12-of-27 from the floor (44.4%).

The Knicks are currently 24-17 on the road with a point differential of 4, while the Pacers have a 8-2 record in their last ten games at home.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Knicks vs. Pacers live

  • Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
  • Time: 8:00PM EST
  • Site: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
  • City: Indianapolis, IN
  • Network/Streaming: TNT / Max

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Knicks vs. Pacers

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Odds: Knicks (+120), Pacers (-143)
  • Spread:  Pacers -2.5
  • Over/Under: 221 points

That gives the Knicks an implied team point total of 109.93, and the Pacers 111.24.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Tuesday’s Knicks vs. Pacers game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Knicks in Game 4 and Brunson to go over 29.5 Points:

"New York needed a 36-20 fourth quarter to pull out the victory in Indiana, and I believe that momentum can spill over into Game 4. Going back to MSG tied at 2-2 is very possible and what I will be rooting for. If the Knicks' starters can avoid foul trouble, this should be a one to two possession game, so I'll take the +2.5.

Jalen Brunson is 2-1 to the Over on his points prop in this series after going Under last game with 23 points as KAT went off for 20 fourth-quarter points. Game 4 is pivotal and I doubt he stays Under 25 points for back-to-back games in this series or Under 30 for that matter. The volume will be there, so I will continue to grab Brunson 30-plus points each game in this series."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Knicks & Pacers game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Knicks at +2.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 221.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Knicks vs. Pacers on Tuesday

  • The Knicks have won 4 of their last 5 at Eastern Conference teams
  • The Pacers' last 3 home games versus the Knicks have gone over the Total
  • The Pacers have covered the spread in 7 of their last 9 postseason games
  • The Knicks have won 4 of their last 5 road trips to teams with winning records

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Knicks Playoff Notes: Karl-Anthony Towns' fourth quarter, rotation shakeup huge in Game 3 win

INDIANAPOLIS – Around 10 pm on Sunday, some of you were probably putting Karl-Anthony Towns in the trade machine. Maybe it was for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Maybe Kevin Durant.

Other Knick fans were cursing Tom Thibodeau’s coaching or Jalen Brunson’s turnovers.

Things looked bleak at the time.

The Knicks were 12 minutes away from a 3-0 deficit in the Eastern Conference Finals and probably a few days away from the start of their offseason.

And then, improbably, Towns saved the Knicks’ season.

Towns’ 20 points in the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter gave the Knicks life in a game where they looked stuck in the mud.

When Towns started scoring, the Knicks were down 10. When he hit a 30-foot three pointer with 5:07 to play, New York led by four and had a clear path to win No. 1 in the Eastern Conference Finals.

They sealed the win with a big basket from Brunson, huge rebounds and clutch free throws from Josh Hart.

But none of it would have mattered without Towns’ 20 points.

“Fourth quarter is different. It’s a whole ‘nother game,” he said afterward. “Forget that last game and those last three quarters and just focus on giving yourself a change to win the game.”

THE RIGHT ROTATION MOVES

Thibodeau shook up the lineup ahead of Game 3, inserting Mitchell Robinson and moving Hart to the bench.

He also changed his rotation, giving minutes to Landry Shamet and Delon Wright ahead of Cam Payne.

After the game, Thibodeau didn’t go into great detail when asked to explain the decisions.

“Whatever gives your team the best chance to win. I know you try to put everything into a box. I don’t work that way,” Thibodeau said in response to a question about his rotation. “People think, ‘I want a low-scoring game.’ No, I just want more point than they have. I don’t care if it’s low scoring, high scoring, medium scoring. I just wanna win. That’s the bottom line.

“Whatever gives us the best chance to win, that’s what we’re gonna do. And so, that’s what I felt was gonna give us the best chance to win tonight’s game, so that’s why we did it.”

The Knicks starting lineup had been outscored by 29 in the first two games of the Pacers series.

They were a +1 in 14 minutes on Sunday.

The Knicks’ original starting lineup – Brunson, Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Hart – was a +9 in 3:30 in the game.

Whether you agree with Thibodeau’s moves or not, you can’t say they didn’t lead to success on Sunday night.

With Miles McBride in foul trouble, Thibodeau went to Wright and then Shamet.

Shamet had been out of the rotation since early in the Detroit series. Wright hadn’t played regular minutes in roughly seven weeks. But both players contributed to the Knicks’ fourth-quarter comeback.

McBride had nine points and a steal in 14 second-half minutes.

New York outscored Indiana by 12 with McBride on the floor in the second half.

“Coach did a great job with moving things around and we figured it out,” he said.

HART TO HART WITH THIBS

Hart had a huge contested rebound of a Myles Turner missed three with 20 seconds to go. The Knicks led by two at the time. Hart drew a foul on the rebound and hit both of his free throws to give New York a two-possession lead.

He was everywhere in the fourth quarter, finishing with five rebounds (two offensive), two assists and one steal. He also hit all four of his free throws.

Not bad for a bench player.

After the game, Hart said that he played a significant role in Thibodeau’s lineup decision.

He’d been thinking about the lineup change since late in the Boston series when he was having a tough time against Luke Kornet. When it was time to make the switch, Hart was fully on board.

“It was kind of my decision. I was comfortable with it,” Hart said after the game. “It was something that I’ve had in the back of my mind and I’ve always been wiling to do. Down two (games against the Pacers), especially with how (Robinson) played last game, that was something that we had to do. And obviously that’s a group decision that really boils down to Thibs and myself (agreeing on it).”

The decision obviously worked out well on Sunday.

The same can be said for Thibodeau’s decision to bring Brunson back in the game with 1:37 to play and the Knicks up by two. New York played for the previous five minutes with Brunson on the bench with foul trouble. Brunson also wasn’t producing for much of the game (he was 4-for-14 with three turnovers and one assist through three quarters).

But Brunson came in the game and hit a huge runner with 1:17 to go. The shot gave the Knicks a two-point lead that they would hold onto for the rest of the game.

“I knew we had to have him down the stretch,” Thibodeau said afterward.

And he knew the right time to get him in the game. After two tough games to open the series, Thibodeau deserves credit for the way he coached in Game 3.  

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Karl-Anthony Towns had one focus late in Knicks' Game 3 come-from-behind win: 'Whatever it takes'

The Knicks needed someone to step up offensively on Sunday night. 

Time and time again this season that person has been Jalen Brunson -- there’s a reason he won the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year award -- but this time it was someone else’s turn to put the team on their back. 

After a rough first two and a half frames at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Knicks found themselves struggling to get into a groove and trailing the Indiana Pacers by double digits late in the third. 

Finally, Miles McBride came off the bench and put together a 7-0 scoring run of his own to get them back within single digits heading into the fourth. 

New York ran with that momentum from there and Karl-Anthony Towns completely took things over offensively -- dominating during an incredible scoring run in which he put the team square on his back.

“He made some tough shots for us,” Josh Hart said. “He showed his ability to get to the rim, his ability to post-up, his ability to space the floor. He’s a tough matchup for anybody in the league when he has it going like that -- it’s great for us.”

The most notable bucket during that stretch was a monstrous slam on Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, which gave the Knicks their first lead since early in the first quarter -- and they went on to pull out the come-from-behind win. 

Towns became just the second player in franchise history to put together a 20-point quarter in the playoffs. 

“My teammates were just putting me in spots to succeed and I wanted to capitalize on the opportunity,” Towns said. “All of us were just doing whatever it takes to win the game and put ourselves in a position to get back in the game -- shoutout to the locker room.”

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Karl-Anthony Towns' fourth-quarter surge helps Knicks pull out massive 106-100 Game 3 win over Pacers

The Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers 106-100 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday night.

Here are some takeaways...

- Looking to shake things up with the starting five struggling, head coach Tom Thibodeau inserted Mitchell Robinson into the lineup in place of Josh Hart for the first time in the playoffs. The big man made a quick impact with three early boards and two buckets, and Hart was the first man off the bench, as expected.

The Knicks were also forced to reach even deeper into their rotation early, as Miles McBride came off the bench and picked up three quick fouls, so reserve guard Delon Wright saw his first non-garbage time minutes of the playoffs.

New York did hold Indiana to low shooting percentages all-around in the opening frame, but they struggled from the field as well and found themselves trailing by four after one -- it was the first time they've lost the opening quarter this series.

- The Knicks then opened the second with a lineup that featured Wright running the point and Landry Shamet on the wing and the Pacers were able to take advantage of it -- adding onto their lead behind some strong play by the pesky TJ McConnell.

Things went from bad to worse for New York over the closing few minutes of the half -- both Jalen Brunson (four) and Towns (three) were forced to the bench as they fell into foul trouble and Indiana's high-powered offense piled on down the stretch.

The lead stretched out to as much as 20, but a late 8-2 run helped get it back down to 13 at the break.

- With the rest of the Knicks' offense struggling to get going, OG Anunoby was doing what he could to provide a spark coming out of the locker room, but the Pacers offense had an answer each time. They suffered a big blow a few minutes later, as Aaron Nesmith needed assistance off after suffering an ankle injury.

The lead was pushed back up to as many as 18 points but New York finally put together a run late. Seeing action for the first time since the first quarter, McBride scored seven straight points of his own to help get them back within single digits heading into the final frame.

- New York carried that momentum into the opening minutes of the fourth -- they tightened things up defensively and Towns was finally able to get into a rhythm, putting together a string of big buckets to cut the lead all the way back down to three.

Moments later, the big man jammed down a monstrous slam on Andrew Nembhard and converted the free throw, giving the Knicks their first lead since the first quarter -- they wouldn't be able to get that over five points as the teams went back-and-forth trading buckets.

- As always, Brunson knocked down a late lay-in to give the Knicks a two-point advantage. Hart then came up with a massive rebound on the other end and knocked down a pair of big free throws, helping New York put away the massive Game 3 victory.

- Towns scored 20 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter and he reeled in a game-high 15 boards. Brunson had a relatively quiet night in the scoring department, finishing with just 23 points. Anunoby knocked down six of his nine shot attempts to finish with 16 of his own.

Game MVP: Karl-Anthony Towns

Towns stepped up and put together a huge fourth-quarter surge when the Knicks needed it the most.

Highlights

Whats next

The Knicks and Pacers face off in Game 4 of this series on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m.

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Could Mario Hezonja return to NBA? Multiple teams reportedly interested.

The last time we saw Mario Hezonja on an NBA court was in the bubble, when the former No. 5 pick was coming off the bench for the Trail Blazers. Since then, he has been in Europe playing in Greece and Russia before spending the past few seasons with Real Madrid. Just last summer he inked a five-year contract with the Spanish powerhouse, but the contract has an NBA out clause.

And there is interest from several NBA teams, reports Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com.

Hezonja, 30, spent five seasons in the NBA after being drafted by the Magic, but the 6'8" forward's game never rounded out as hoped. He didn't space the floor well from 3, and his offense was more straight-line drives than anything else.

That growth in his game may have come in Europe. He shot 39.2% from 3 last season for Real Madrid, averaging 13.6 points and 4.9 assists a game this past season. Hezonja also averaged 30.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and a couple of steals a game for Croatia in the 2025 EuroBasket qualifiers (Croatia did not make the cut).

It's something to watch. Hezonja's NBA buyout clause is for around $850,000, Urbonas reports, which is about the going rate for an NBA buyout in Europe.

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Knicks reportedly considering starting Mitchell Robinson, moving Josh Hart to bench for Game 3

New York’s starting five is why they are down 0-2 in this series, they are -29 through two games against the Pacers with a -42.9 net rating and a 155.1 defensive rating.

That has led to calls for a stubborn Tom Thibodeau to shake things up, and it sounds like he will for Game 3, moving Mitchell Robinson into the starting five and Josh Hart to the bench. It's a change that has been speculated about, and Shams Charania of ESPN says Thibodeau is considering.

This would move New York toward a two-big lineup, reminiscent of how he thrived last season in Minnesota next to Rudy Gobert. The Knicks have a +10.2 net rating this postseason when Robinson and Towns share the court. The new starting five have played just seven minutes together so far this postseason.

When asked after Game 2 about possibly making a change, Thibodeau said, "We always look at everything." He has been slow to make a change despite the fact that this starting five — Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Hart, and Towns — has struggled throughout the playoffs (-50 through 14 games) and dating back to January.

Desperate times, however, can force even Thibodeau to make a change.

Whether it is enough down 0-2 in a series and heading to Indiana is another question, but it feels like something the Knicks need to do.

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Knicks leaning toward putting Mitchell Robinson in starting lineup for Game 3 of Eastern Conference Finals against Pacers

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Knicks are leaning toward putting Mitchell Robinson in the starting lineup for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, per SNY sources.

The Knicks' starting five of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns has been outscored by 29 points in the first two games of the series. The lineup has been outscored by a total of 50 points in the postseason.

After the Knicks' Game 2 loss to Indiana on Friday night, Tom Thibodeau said, "we always look at everything," in response to a question about changing the lineup. New York is down 0-2 to the Pacers after losing the first two games at home.

If the Knicks were to insert Robinson in the lineup, Hart would play Game 3 off the bench.

New York would also need to fill Robinson’s role off of the bench. Precious Achiuwa is the most logical candidate.

Robinson has been a force inside during the postseason. Entering Game 3, Robinson had an 18 percent offensive rebounding rate. The next-highest offensive rebounding percentage among players in the conference finals is the Minnesota Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert at 10 percent.

The Knicks' net rating with Robinson on the floor is +8.6. He's averaging 20 minutes per game.

Moving Robinson to the starting lineup would shift Towns to power forward. It would give the Knicks a similar alignment to the 2023-24 Timberwolves. On that team, Towns played mostly power forward alongside Gobert at center.

CP The Fanchise of KnicksFanTV earlier reported that the Knicks were strongly considering a lineup change ahead of Game 3. I don't know if the Knicks are fully committed to a lineup change. But if their thinking prior to tipoff on Sunday remains the same as it was on Saturday, Robinson will start at center.

This move would allow New York to play Hart and Miles McBride together off the bench. Hart can handle the ball and has been shooting well from the perimeter. Entering Game 3, Hart is shooting 41 percent from beyond the arc. He shot 33 percent in the regular season.

Of course, any lineup move comes with inherent risk. But New York is facing long odds in the Eastern Conference Finals. Only six of the 82 teams to lose the first two games of a conference finals came back to win the series.

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Knicks vs. Pacers Game 3 Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for May 25

On Sunday, May 25, the New York Knicks (51-31) and Indiana Pacers (50-32) are all set to square off from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Indiana took Game 2, 114-109 in Madison Square Garden to go up 2-0 in the series. Pascal Siakam scored a game-high 39 points for the Pacers, while Jalen Brunson poured in 36 for the Knicks. All five starters scored double-figures for Indiana, while four of New York's eight players failed to score more than six points.

The Knicks are currently 24-17 on the road with a point differential of 4, while the Pacers have a 8-2 record in their last ten games at home.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Knicks vs. Pacers live

  • Date: Sunday, May 25, 2025
  • Time: 8:00PM EST
  • Site: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
  • City: Indianapolis, IN
  • Network/Streaming: TNT / Max

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Knicks vs. Pacers

The latest odds as of Saturday night:

  • Odds: Knicks (+113), Pacers (-134)
  • Spread:  Pacers -2
  • Over/Under: 223 points

That gives the Knicks an implied team point total of 111.03, and the Pacers 112.07.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Sunday’s Knicks vs. Pacers game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes Jalen Brunson to score 30-plus points and the Knicks to win:

"Much like Minnesota versus Oklahoma City in Game 3, I expect New York to win and look dominant doing so. However, Indiana when down, is never out of it, which is why this series will be so entertaining. I like the Knicks +2.5 and ML, plus a sprinkle on the Knicks win margins of 11-20 and 21+.

Jalen Brunson has scored 43 and 36 points in this series and will need another Superman-type of effort in Game 3. With Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson possibly switching spots in the starting lineup and Karl-Anthony Towns getting benched for a majority of the fourth quarter in Game 2, the one constant we can rely on is Brunson to get buckets. He's 2-0 to the Over and I can see 3-0, so Brunson Over 29.5 and 30-plus are in my pocket."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Knicks & Pacers game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Indiana Pacers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Knicks at +2.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 223.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Knicks vs. Pacers on Sunday

  • The Pacers have won their last 4 matchups against Eastern Conference teams
  • The Pacers' last 3 home games versus the Knicks have gone over the Total
  • The Knicks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog
  • The Knicks are 4-1 against the spread in their last 5 road games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)