Pacers vs. Knicks Summer League Prediction: Indiana Backed to Close Out Vegas With a Win
The Pacers and Knicks meet in a Summer League consolation-bracket fifth game Friday at Thomas & Mack Center. Here's the pick, the odds, and why Jalen Slawson's hot week gives Indiana the edge.
Neither the Indiana Pacers nor the New York Knicks are playing for a Summer League title Friday, but pride and roster evaluation are plenty enough to fuel a fifth-game grudge match at Thomas & Mack Center.
Quick take:
- Pick: Pacers moneyline
- Why: Indiana’s frontcourt punch with Jalen Slawson and Rienk Mast has been more consistent than a Knicks roster still searching for a second scorer beyond Pacome Dadiet
- The number to watch: Slawson’s 26-point outburst against Philadelphia — the single best individual performance either roster has produced in Las Vegas
This is Summer League basketball, so file away the usual disclaimer: both rosters look almost nothing like the teams that will suit up in the regular season, and this particular game carries extra context. It’s a consolation-bracket fifth game, meaning neither the Pacers nor the Knicks qualified for Saturday’s playoff round in the Las Vegas field — this is strictly about developmental reps and finishing the week on a positive note.
Both teams arrive at 1-3 through four games, and both have had their moments mixed with rough patches. Indiana opened with a gritty 99-93 win over Cleveland before alternating tough losses, while New York has been the definition of streaky, following a win over Detroit with a 10-point defeat to Golden State on Thursday night.
Why the Line Favors Indiana
Market sentiment has consistently leaned toward the Pacers in this matchup, with implied probability models putting Indiana in the 60-65% range to come away with the win. That tracks with what’s shown up on the floor: Indiana’s roster has more established scoring punch top to bottom, even while dealing with the same summer-league inconsistency every team in Las Vegas battles through July.
The number would have opened tighter than that split suggests. This is Summer League, where turnovers, hot shooting streaks, and unfamiliar lineups can swing a final score by 15 points in either direction. But bettors looking for value should note the Knicks have had real trouble creating consistent offense outside of Dadiet and Tyler Nickel off the bench, while Indiana’s frontcourt duo of Jalen Slawson and Rienk Mast has provided steadier two-way production.
The Numbers Side by Side
| Pacers | Knicks | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 1-3 | 1-3 |
| Last game result | L 114-98 (Timberwolves) | L 87-77 (Warriors) |
| Leading scorer | Jalen Slawson (26 pts vs 76ers) | Pacome Dadiet (20 pts vs Nets) |
| Bench spark | Yuki Kawamura, Taevion Kinsey | Tyler Nickel (18 pts vs Nets) |
Slawson and Mast Carry the Frontcourt Load
Jalen Slawson has been the story of Indiana’s week. The Furman product, who the Pacers gave a qualifying offer to this offseason in hopes of retaining him on a two-way deal, dropped a game-high 26 points on 8-of-16 shooting against Philadelphia, adding five rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block. He followed that with 20 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in the loss to Minnesota — proof his big game wasn’t a one-off.
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Rienk Mast has complemented him well, chipping in efficient interior scoring, while point guard Braden Smith has run the offense with mixed shooting results but solid distribution.
Slawson has scored in double figures in every game Indiana has played this week, a level of consistency the Knicks simply haven’t matched from any single player.
New York’s issue has been finding a second consistent option. Pacome Dadiet flashed real scoring touch with 20 points against Brooklyn, and Tyler Nickel gave the Knicks a spark off the bench with 18 points in that same game, but neither has strung together the kind of multi-game run Slawson is riding right now. Jack Kayil, New York’s top draft pick who secured last-minute permission to play in Las Vegas, scored a team-high 19 points against Detroit but has been quieter since.
That inconsistency matters in a short sample. When a Summer League roster can lean on one player who shows up every single game, it tends to smooth out the wild variance that defines these July matchups. Right now, that player is Slawson, not anyone wearing a Knicks uniform.
Prediction and Best Bet
Both teams are looking to end their Las Vegas trip on a high note rather than a third straight loss, and both coaching staffs will lean on frontcourt minutes to find that answer. Indiana’s edge in interior scoring and its more proven go-to option in Slawson give it the slight but real advantage here.
| Tue, Oct 20 • 7:00 PM | Spread | Money | Total |
| Philadelphia 76ers |  +5.5 (-110) |  +166 | O 233.5 (-110) |
| New York Knicks | -5.5 (-115) | -185 | U 231.5 (-110) |
The pick:
- Prediction: Pacers 94, Knicks 88
- Best Bet: Pacers moneyline
Fade the Knicks’ recent form and back the Pacers to close out their Summer League slate with a much-needed win.
For bettors looking to get in on NBA Summer League action, checking a DraftKings promo code or a FanDuel promo code before kickoff is worth the extra few minutes. Bettors who prefer daily fantasy formats over straight sides and totals can also check out the latest PrizePicks promo code for player-prop-style plays on this game and others across the Summer League slate. Those newer to legal betting markets altogether might also want to review how prediction markets work as an alternative way to get exposure to NBA outcomes. And if the arena floor action isn’t quite enough action for one night, a look at the latest McLuck promo code or Wow Vegas promo code rounds out the options for casual play alongside the game.