The Detroit Pistons will host the New York Knicks in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET. The series is tied 1-1 after Detroit won Game 2 by a score of 100-94.
New York is the 3-seed in the Eastern Conference after going 51-31 in the regular season. Detroit finished sixth in the conference with a 44-38 record. These teams have played six times this season, with New York winning four. Game 2 saw a shift as Detroit used rebounding and defense to hold off a late Knicks push.
Pistons Preview – Looking to Grab Control at Home
The Pistons used a strong fourth quarter to win Game 2 and even the series. Cade Cunningham scored 33 points and added 12 rebounds, while Jalen Duren had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Detroit controlled the boards with a 48-34 edge and grabbed 12 offensive rebounds that led to 13 second-chance points.
Detroit’s defense made adjustments from Game 1, focusing on Jalen Brunson and limiting Karl-Anthony Towns. The Pistons forced others to beat them and stayed disciplined in their rotations. Dennis Schroder hit a late 3-pointer that helped close out Game 2. Tobias Harris added 15 points and 13 rebounds and played a key role on both ends of the floor.
The Pistons finished the regular season 22-19 at home. They are 45-39 overall and 43-39-2 against the spread. Detroit has also been strong in second quarters and team total overs, which have been good spots for bettors. Isaiah Stewart remains day-to-day, and Jaden Ivey is still out with a leg injury. A balanced effort will be key for Game 3.
Knicks Preview – Need More Than Just Brunson
The Knicks dropped Game 2 despite 37 points from Jalen Brunson. He took 27 of the team’s 81 shots and said afterward he needs to involve others more. The team finished with just 15 assists, their lowest mark this season. Karl-Anthony Towns only had 10 points and went scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Mikal Bridges chipped in 19 points and Josh Hart and OG Anunoby combined for 20. But New York’s offense stalled late, and they could not take advantage of open looks. The Knicks gave up too many rebounds and could not generate second-chance points. Coach Tom Thibodeau said the team needs to fix rebounding and get Towns more touches in transition.
New York has gone 24-17 on the road and 41-42-1 ATS this season. The team is ranked 9th in points per game (115.6) and 5th in field goal percentage (48.6%). Defensively, they are middle of the pack. They’ve struggled to cover the spread in recent matchups with Detroit, going 4-6 in the last 10 games ATS. Brunson continues to carry the scoring load, but others must step up.
Betting Prediction
Oddsmakers have the Knicks favored by 1 point on the road with the total set at 213.5. New York is -112 on the moneyline while Detroit is +107. The series has been close, with both games being decided late. Trends point to Detroit performing well at home and hitting overs in early quarters.
Expect New York to make changes that involve Towns more and put pressure on the Pistons’ defense. Detroit’s rebounding and toughness will keep the game close again. With the series tied, this is a swing game. New York gets enough from its starters to pull ahead late and cover the short spread in a tight finish.
Pick: New York Knicks -1
