3:40 pm
March 27

Knicks @ Pistons

Who will WIN this matchup?

New York Knicks (32-42)

@ Detroit Pistons (20-54)

 

Current odds:

New York Knicks: (-196)

Detroit Pistons: (+159)

 

• The line for this game is Knicks by 4.5 points.

• New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has been forced to rely on younger players this week. So far, it’s working out quite well. The Knicks (32-42) have won two straight, including a stirring comeback against the Miami Heat on Friday. They’ll now travel to Detroit to face the Pistons (20-54) on Sunday afternoon. New York was down 17 points in the fourth quarter but outscored the host Heat 38-15 in the final 12 minutes of a 111-103 victory. Second-year guard Immanuel Quickley led the rally by scoring 20 of his 23 points in the fourth.

• The Knicks, who defeated Charlotte on Wednesday, kept their faint playoff hopes alive with the back-to-back triumphs. They’ve done it without leading scorer Julius Randle, who has missed the last three games with a sore right quad. His replacement, second-year forward Obi Toppin, has averaged 14.3 points and 8.7 rebounds in his absence.

• New York defeated Detroit twice in December, 105-91 at home and 94-85 on the road. In the latter, Alec Burks scored 34 points off the bench for the Knicks.

• The Pistons have lost seven of their last nine games. They were defeated at home by Washington, 100-97, on Friday.

• Like the Knicks, the Pistons could be without their leading scorer on Sunday. Jerami Grant sustained a calf strain in the first quarter against the Wizards and did not return. His backup, Marvin Bagley III, topped the Pistons with 25 points and Cade Cunningham had 22 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.

• Like the Knicks, the Pistons erased a 17-point deficit on Friday. However, they were unable to finish off the rally.

• Detroit outscored Washington 54-32 in the paint but made just 6 of 32 3-point attempts. “You’re not going to beat too many teams being 18 percent from three,” Casey said. “We had some great looks. (It was) one of those games offensively.”

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
New York Knicks
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