NBA Playoff Picks: New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers, Game 3

New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers
Saturday, 5/11/13, 8:00 PM EST, TV: ABC
Opening Point Spread: Indiana -4
Current Betting Line: Indiana -4
Opening Total: 184
Current Total: 183.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Indiana Pacers will need to get back to pounding the glass in Game 3

New York evened up this best-of-seven series with a convincing 105-79 victory over Indiana as 5.5-point home favorites in Game 2 Tuesday, while pushing up against the betting total of 184. The Knicks could add some depth to their bench heading into Saturday night’s contest, as forward Amare Stoudemire is expected to return, as he was limited to 29 games during the regular season due to various knee injuries. “He gives us another scorer,” commented Knicks guard Raymond Felton. New York is 8-4 ATS as road underdogs of six points or less, which is important to consider when making your NBA picks against the spread.

The Knicks are being led offensively by the play of forward Carmelo Anthony during the 2013 NBA playoffs, as he’s averaging 29.3 points in 39.8 minutes, while Felton is providing 16.9 points. New York compiled a solid 23-18 overall record on the road during the regular season, including a 17-9 mark versus the Eastern Conference, which is important to consider when looking over the pro basketball odds page. Offensively, the team is scoring 90.8 points per game during the postseason, while shooting 42.5 percent from the floor.

Indiana is certainly happy about earning a split in the Big Apple through the first two games of this series, as it enjoyed one of the more dominating home-court advantages in the league. The Pacers were 30-11 overall at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, including a 20-6 mark versus conference rivals. The team has four players averaging double figures in the postseason, with forward Paul George leading the way, as he’s scoring 18.9 points and grabbing 8.3 rebounds per game. Indiana is 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS when playing with three or more days rest.

The Pacers have to like their chances in advancing to the conference finals, considering the team that has won Game 1 in six previous playoff meetings between these two franchise has advanced to the next round. Indiana will likely get back to pounding the glass after getting out-rebounded in Game 2, as it led the league in total rebounds in averaging 46.9 per game during the regular season.