The New York Knicks will try and force a Game 7 in their Eastern Conference Semifinals showdown against the Indiana Pacers when the two clash this Saturday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Game 6. The tip is slated for 8 p.m., and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

The Knicks were left for dead in this series after a 93-82 loss in Game 4 as five-point road underdogs put them in a 1-3 hole. In the friendly confines of Madison Square Garden, however, they rallied for an 85-75 victory on Thursday night as five-point favorites to keep this series alive.

Indiana rolled to that 3-1 series lead behind a solid 102-95 victory in Game 1 as a five-point road underdog that helped set the tone. It added an 82-71 victory in Game 3 as a five-point favorite at home to help gain that early edge. The total has stayed “under” in the last three games of this series.

Knicks at Pacers Betting Storylines

Give credit to New York for taking care of business on its home court this past Thursday night to avoid a very unflattering exit from the postseason as the No.2 seed in the East. However, the Knicks’ overall performance did very little to instill any confidence that it can beat the Pacers on the road, where they have gone 0-4 straight up and 1-3 against the spread this season.

Carmelo Anthony scored a game-high 28 points in Game 5, which is exactly what he has averaged in 10 previous playoff games this year. You know that the game plan will be for him to come out firing on Saturday night despite a less-than-stellar 39.5 shooting percentage from the field. If he gets hot, the Knicks have a great chance to win, but current form has the odds stacked against him. The team as a whole is averaging 87.6 points a game in the postseason while shooting 41.2 percent from the floor.

Indiana has dominated this series with the exception of a 105-79 beatdown in Game 2 as a 5.5-point road underdog, but it suddenly looks very vulnerable without point guard George Hill in the lineup. He sat out Game 5 due to concussion symptoms and remains day-to-day for Game 6. He is averaging 16 points a game, but what was really missing on Thursday night was his ability to direct the Pacers’ offense, which he has been doing at a very high level all season long.

To avoid a trip back to New York for a Game 7 on Monday night, Indiana is going to have to rely heavily on a defense that has held opponents to 90 points or less in seven of its first 11 playoff games. The combination of Paul George and Roy Hibbert has combined to score 32.1 points a game, but, more importantly, they are pulling down 17.9 rebounds as part of the Pacers’ 47.7 average. If Indiana comes anywhere near that number on Saturday night, it should come away with the win.

Knicks at Pacers NBA Game 6 Betting Odds and Trends

BookMaker has opened the Pacers as 4.5-point home favorites for Saturday night’s Game 6 with the “over/under” set at 177.5.

The Knicks are 1-5 ATS in their last six games following an ATS win. Before this series they were 10-3 ATS in their last 13 road games, but they are 0-2 ATS in their last two. The total has stayed under in four of their last five road games against a team with a winning record at home.

The Pacers are 5-0 ATS in their last five home games and 5-2 ATS in their last seven games overall. The total has gone over in 11 of their last 13 games following a SU loss.

Head-to-head in this matchup, New York is 1-4 ATS in its last five trips to Indiana, and the total has stayed under in five of the last seven meetings there.

Knicks at Pacers Picks and Betting Predictions

The loss of Hill for this game would bring these two sides a lot closer to one another, which was evident on Thursday night. However, the Pacers playing this game on their home court tips the scales heavily in their favor. Keep an eye on the closing line as it may tighten up a point or two as game time approaches, but right now look for Indiana to win SU with the Knicks covering with the 4.5 points.

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