NBA playoff bettors expect Knicks to fold in elimination Game 5 vs. Pacers
After watching the New York Knicks consistently struggle to get stops against the Indiana Pacers through the first four games of the Eastern Conference Finals, bettors are conceding defeat. They're done backing New York.
The Knicks are 4.5-point favorites for Game 5 on Thursday, but with elimination staring New York in the face, the betting public is fading the home team harder than it has for any game this series.
At BetMGM, 73 percent of bets and 74 percent of money on the spread is siding with Indiana. On the moneyline, 80 percent of bets and 74 percent of the money is on a Pacers win.
This is a stark change of heart from the beginning of the series when 67 percent of the handle had New York advancing. Now, bettors aren't just closing the door on a 3-1 comeback for the Knicks, they aren't even giving New York a chance to send the series to a Game 6.
That pessimism has trickled down into the prop market as well, where Jalen Brunson to score under 30.5 points is the most popular prop bet at BetMGM. Bettors also like Miles McBride to finish with under 1.5 3-pointers and Mikal Bridges to have under 25.5 points/rebounds/assists.
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