posted April 16, 2008 at 14:38 EST in NBA Betting Trends

WHO: New York Knicks (23-58 SU, 37-42-1 ATS) at Indiana Pacers (35-46 SU, 38-40-2 ATS)

WHERE: Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

WHEN: Wednesday, April 16 at 7 PM ET

BetUS NBA betting odds: Indiana -7, Total 219

In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA betting trends:

* IND has won and covered six of the last seven meetings

* Four of the last six meetings have gone OVER the total

* IND has won 16 of the last 20 meetings SU as the home team

* IND has covered 11 of the last 18 meetings as the home team

* Six of the last eight meetings in Indianapolis have gone OVER the total

New York has averaged 30 defensive rebounds per game and 42.5 caroms overall. The Knicks have been one of the easiest teams in the NBA to score against, allowing 47.4% shooting. Also:

* NY has lost 19 of its last 24 games SU

* NY has covered five of its last six road games

* NY has lost seven of its last eight road games SU

* NY has played six of its last seven road games OVER the total

Indiana has exhibited good ball movement, averaging 22.6 assists per game. The Pacers rank third in the league with 9.2 three-pointers per contest. Also:

* IND has won four of its last six games SU

* IND has covered six of its last nine home games

* IND has won nine of its last 11 home games SU

* IND has played four of its last five home games UNDER the total

This is the season finale in what has been a disappointing season for both teams. To a lot of sharp people, all of this was not altogether unexpected; the Knicks were not going to get a big boost from the acquisition of self-centered Zach Randolph, and Isiah Thomas poisons every situation, while Indiana was going to have problems on defense with players like Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy in the lineup.

The Knicks may or may not have covered the other night, depending on what line you had, or whether the game was dealt to you at all, after the announcement that Boston's All-Star players would be sitting. They lost a six-point decision, but the fans were happy, as Madison Square Garden concessionaires gave away food and booze.

One factor impacting this game is that Wilson Chandler, who had definitely supplied some energy down the stretch for the Knicks, and had averaged 18 points over his previous four outings, went down with a sprained knee against the Celtics and is not available.

The ironies are everywhere. Donnie Walsh is leaving the Pacers to take over as the president of basketball operations for the Knicks, effective after this game. Meanwhile, Isiah Thomas, who Walsh hired as head coach of the Pacers in 2000, will go back to Indianapolis to coach what may be his final NBA game.

The Pacers have closed out the season with some effort; after all, they were battling for a playoff spot until a couple of days ago. Indiana has hit 27 three-pointers in the last two games, and has been pretty potent at home lately; after starting out 11-18 SU at Conseco, they are 9-2 in their last 11 home games. And as bad as Indiana has played on the defensive end, the Knicks have been worse all year.

We'll lay the points with Indiana, the seven-point favorite in the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds, and look for Isiah Thomas to go out a loser in what would be an appropriate finish.

JAY'S PLAY: INDIANA

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(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com is a freelance writer and handicapper who not only can make his shots from the top of the key, but also contributes with gusto to the BetUS Locker Room)