NBA Playoff Picks: New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers, Game 4

New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers
Tuesday, 5/14/13, 7:00 PM EST, TV: TNT
Opening Point Spread: Indiana -5
Current Betting Line: Indiana -5.5
Opening Total: 180.5
Current Total: 180
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Knicks Celtics NBA Playoffs Game 3 Preview — The New York Knicks have struggled on the offensive end during the 2013 NBA playoffs

New York will look to bounce back from its worst offensive showing of its Eastern Conference semifinal series with Indiana, as it suffered an 82-71 defeat as five-point road underdogs last Saturday, while going well UNDER the betting total of 183. “Offensively, we just didn’t have anything,” stated Knicks coach Mike Woodson. Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony has led the team in scoring in all nine of its postseason games, as he enters averaging 28.3 points per game in the 2013 NBA playoffs. New York is 8-5 ATS as road underdogs of six points or less, with the OVER going 7-6 in that situation.

The Knicks were 23-18 overall away from Madison Square Garden during the regular season, but they’ve dropped all three visits to Bankers Life Fieldhouse, which can’t be ignored when making your NBA expert picks. Sixth Man of the Year award winner J.R. Smith will need to up his production if the squad plans on pulling off an upset, as he played just 24:49 in Game 3 due to dealing with a high fever.

Indiana has won all four of its postseason home games by an average of 16.5 points, which is important to consider when looking over the NBA betting lines Tuesday night. “We don’t want to get relaxed,” commented Pacers forward Paul George. “We’ve got to come out and play.” He is averaging 18.3 points and 8.2 rebounds during the playoffs, while three other probable starters are scoring in double figures. Indiana is 8-3 ATS as home favorites of 3.5 to 6 points, with the OVER going 9-2 in that situation.

The Pacers are averaging 92.2 points and allowing 89.7 since the end of the regular season, as they continue to hammer opponents on the glass, holding a 47.6-to-37.4 edge in that particular category. In the previous six match-ups between these two rivals, the team that has led 2-1 has gone on to win the series.