New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers Prediction, 12/23/2020 NBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers

Date: Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN

TV: MSG

Odds/Point Spread: New York (+8.5)

The Indiana Pacers (45-28 last season) host the New York Knicks (21-45 last year) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Wednesday. Indiana opens this contest as 8.5-point favorites. The total is set at 214.5.

New York enters this contest after finishing with a mark of 21-45 last year. The Knicks hit on 33.7% on shots from 3-point land (631 of 1,872) and 69.4% from the free throw line. They averaged 105.8 points per contest (29th in the NBA) while connecting on 44.7% from the field. They lost possession via turnover 14.3 times per game and as a team committed 22.2 fouls every game. As a basketball team, New York grabbed 46.5 boards per game and accumulated 1,456 dimes over the course of last season, which was 30th in the NBA in terms of passing. On defense, the Knicks were able to force 13.7 turnovers per contest and they drew 19.8 fouls. The Knicks defensively allowed an opponent FG percentage of 46.3% (2,631 of 5,678) and they surrendered 44.2 rebounds per game as a basketball team. They were 3rd in the NBA in allowing assists to the opposition with 1,605 surrendered last season. They gave up 38.1% from beyond the arc and they were ranked 18th in the NBA in PPG from their opponents (112.3).

The New York Knicks played the Atlanta Hawks and took home the win by a score of 136-131 in their last game. New York ended the game having earned a 53.2% field goal percentage (50 of 94) and made 11 of their 28 shots from beyond the perimeter. At the free throw line, the Knicks knocked down 25 of their 34 shots for a rate of 73.5%. With regard to hauling in rebounds, they collected 47 with 6 of them being on the offensive end. They also recorded 32 assists in the matchup as well as having 14 steals and 9 blocked shots. In terms of the defense, New York allowed the other team to shoot 45.3% from the floor on 48 out of 106. Atlanta recorded 26 assists and 6 steals for this contest. Additionally, the Hawks totaled 53 boards (15 offensive, 38 defensive) and had 3 rejections. Atlanta ended up going 80.8% from the free throw line by making 21 of 26 tries. They made 14 out of their 41 attempts from 3-point land.

Maurice Harkless is a player who was pivotal in this game. He finished with 14 points on 6 of 13 shooting. He was on the hardwood for 40:53 and also collected 6 rebounds. Harkless finished shooting 46.2% from the floor and also dished out 6 assists. Someone else that was a determining factor in this matchup for the Knicks was RJ Barrett. He pulled down 5 rebounds and also earned 4 assists. He ended up going 64.3% from the field for this game by shooting 9-of-14 (26 points). At the conclusion of this game, Barrett played 39:23.

Indiana had a win-loss record of 45-28 last year. The Pacers committed 19.8 fouls per contest while shooting 78.7% from the charity stripe. They earned an assist 25.9 times per contest (7th in the league) and they lost possession via turnover 13.2 times per game. Indiana had 7,989 points throughout last year (109.4 per game) and they grabbed 42.8 boards per contest. In terms of offensive execution, the Pacers connected on 47.6% from the field, which ranked 2nd in the NBA. The Pacers were ranked 3rd in basketball in PPG allowed with 107.5. The Indiana defense allowed 34.1% from downtown (837 of 2,455) and opponents converted on 78.8% of their shots from the charity stripe. They forced their opponents into 14.7 TO's per game and allowed teams to shoot 44.6% from the field (6th in the NBA). They allowed 23.1 dimes and 45.2 boards on a nightly basis, ranking them 6th and 16th in basketball.

In their last game, the Indiana Pacers went home defeated by a final of 99-87 when they played the Miami Heat. The Pacers snagged 29 defensive rebounds and 5 offensive rebounds for a total of 34 for the contest. They rejected 6 shots while earning 8 steals in this contest. The Heat were called for 12 personal fouls for the matchup which got the Pacers to the free throw line for a total of 11 tries. They were able to make 7 of those for a rate of 63.6%. Regarding shooting from distance, Indiana made 14 of their 37 tries (37.8%). When this game wrapped up, the Pacers shot 33 out of 80 from the floor which gave them a rate of 41.3%. The Pacers allowed the Heat to convert 40 of 91 tries from the floor which had them shooting 44.0% in this contest. They finished 26.7% from beyond the perimeter by going 8 out of 30 and walked away from this one shooting 11 of 14 at the free throw line (78.6%). Concerning how they rebounded, Indiana allowed Miami to snag 60 in all (17 on the offensive glass).

Victor Oladipo ended up having an impact for the Pacers for this game. He made 9 of 19 for the contest giving him a field goal percentage of 47.4%, which gave him 25 points. Oladipo totaled 8 rebounds in his 43:32 of playing time and had 5 assists for the contest. Someone else who was a determining factor for Indiana was Myles Turner. He left the arena with 22 points in 41:58 on the court by way of 9 out of 16 from the floor in this matchup. Turner walked away from this one going 56.3% from the floor and also totaling 2 assists and 14 total rebounds.

So what is Tonights Parlay prediction?

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take Indiana (-8.5) and over 214.5 points

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