NBA Picks: Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks, Game 5

Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith are shooting a combined 33 percent over their last seven games, which is important to consider when making your NBA picks on Thursday as the New York Knicks try to avoid elimination against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden.

Sports bettors will find that the Knicks are 4.5-point home favorites in the pro basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 179 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at Game 5 of this Eastern Conference semifinal series from a betting perspective, while offering up an against-the-spread pick along the way.

Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers are 2-3 on the road during the 2013 NBA playoffs, but they did earn a 102-95 victory over the New York Knicks as five-point underdogs in Game 1 on May 5.

NBA handicappers will find that the Pacers are 6-6 straight up and 8-4 against the spread as road underdogs of 3.5 to six points. 

New York Knicks

The New York Knicks have outscored the Indiana Pacers by a combined 63-34 margin in the fourth quarter in two games at Madison Square Garden in this best-of-seven series.

Over the last two-plus seasons, the Knicks are 20-9 against the spread as home favorites of 3.5 to six points, with the OVER going 18-11 in that situation. 

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the New York Knicks as one of their NBA playoff picks on Thursday, as the Indiana Pacers are 1-4 against the spread in their last five trips to the Big Apple.

NBA Pick: New York Knicks -4.5

Follow on Twitter: @JeffGrantSports