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_Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information._ The Knicks are on the brink

of disaster as they head back to Madison Square Garden, licking their wounds as they prepare for an elimination scenario in Game 5. The disaster starts with the lack of rotational depth for

the Knicks, which we’ve talked about ad nauseam ahead of this series, and ends with sporadic play from Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. Tom Thibodeau’s group has really struggled this

series after blowing a 17-point lead in the final minutes of the fourth quarter in Game 1. The Knicks have been against the wall since that moment, even trailing by 20 points in the third

quarter of Game 3 with a 3-0 series deficit staring them in the face. EXPLORE MORE Thanks to some rotation changes and defensive prowess, the Knicks staved off the insurmountable deficit by

rallying for a 106-100 win. But just because they won Game 3 doesn’t give me confidence that they can win at Madison Square Garden on Thursday in a potential elimination game. Since blowing

that 17-point lead in Game 1, the Knicks have been outscored by 28 points in this series. Not a whole lot has gone right for the Knicks, but the betting public is not respecting oddsmakers’

optimism about a turnaround at MSG. New York opened Game 5 as 5.5-point favorites at BetMGM and that number has cratered down to 4.5, with the moneyline opening at +185 odds and dropping to

+160. ------------------------- FOLLOW THE POST’S COVERAGE OF THE KNICKS IN THE 2025 NBA PLAYOFFS _Sports+ subscribers: Sign up for Inside the Knicks to get daily newsletter coverage and

join Expert Take for insider texts about the series._ ------------------------- They may be favored, but it’s hard to deny that the Knicks have not looked or played like the better team

here. Bettors of this column should have a bet sitting in the pending spot in their account that features the Pacers wining Game 1 and the series +240, and I suspect that bet will cash

Thursday. The Knicks lost both games at home earlier this series, and they should not be moderate-sized favorites in Game 5 here either. ------------------------- BETTING ON THE NBA?

------------------------- The Pacers are 6-1 on the road in these playoffs, as their style of play translates very well away from Indiana. Meanwhile, the Knicks are a terrible 3-5 at home in

the playoffs. We’ve seen this song and dance before. It’s been a good season, but the Knicks have some retooling to do this offseason. PICK: PACERS +4.5 (+102, ESPN BET) | PACERS MONEYLINE

(+160, DRAFTKINGS) WHY TRUST NEW YORK POST BETTING Erich Richter is a brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt but he has a black belt in MMA betting. During the football season he’s showcased massive

profits at The Post in the player prop market the last two seasons. While constantly betting long shots, his return on investment is 30.15 percent since 2022.