Pistons vs. Knicks | NBA Playoff Preview & Analysis

The 2025 NBA Playoffs are officially set to tip off this Saturday with 4-games to kick us off. The Knicks host the Pistons in New York City for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. 

For additional information on picks, props, money lines and more on today's slate, take a look at our NBA Picks Page or our NBA Odds Page, here. 

The Eastern Conference Quarterfinals tip off on Saturday, live from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 

Pistons vs. Knicks | Series Information

Matchup Information

Games 1 & 2

• Location: Madison Square Garden; New York, New York
• Date: Saturday, April 19th, 2025 | Monday April 21st, 2025
• Tipoff: 6:10 PM EST | 7:40 PM EST

Games 3 & 4

• Location: Little Caesars Arena; Detroit, Michigan
• Date: Thursday, April 24th, 2025 | Sunday April 27th, 2025
• Tipoff: 7:10 PM EST | 1:10 PM EST

(6) Detroit Pistons vs. (3) New York Knicks | Regular Season Matchups

• Knicks (106) @ Pistons (115) – 4/10/25
• Pistons (124) @ Knicks (119) – 1/13/25
• Pistons (120) @ Knicks (111) – 12/07/24
• Knicks (128) @ Pistons (98) – 11/01/24

Key Players

(6) Detroit Pistons

• Cade Cunningham – 26.1 PPG | 6.1 RPG | 9.1 APG
• Malik Beasley – 16.3 PPG | 3.9 3PM | 41.6% 3P

(3) New York Knicks

• Jalen Brunson – 26.0 PPG | 2.9 RPG | 7.3 APG
• Karl-Anthony Towns – 24.4 PPG | 12.8 RPG | 3.1 APG

Betting Odds

To Win the Series:

• New York Knicks (-420)
• Detroit Pistons (+330)

Series Spread

• New York Knicks -2.5 (+140)
• Detroit Pistons +2.5 (-172)

Series Total Games

• Over 5.5 Games (-138)
• Under 5.5 Games (+112)

Odds via BetOnline, an industry leader in the sports betting world.

Pistons vs. Knicks | Analysis

Knicks vs. Pistons could turn into a classic.

The Bad Boy Pistons

The Bad Boy Pistons may be all the way back. This Detroit team has shown from the jump that they're going to be physical and make you play their brand of physical, Detroit Basketball. Cade Cunningham's led the charge for the Pistons, averaging 26.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 9.1 APG on his way to making his first All-Star appearance. 

With the injury to Jaden Ivey so early in the year, it looked like Detroit was going to need someone to step up and fill the hole left on offense; enter, Malik Beasley. Beasley's been on a different planet this year, sitting 2nd among the entire league in made 3s this season and doing it off the bench.

Beasley's been one of the biggest off-season additions for any team this year, immediately helping Detroit get back to the postseason for the first time since 2019. In addition to the shooting Detroit added in the summer, the hiring of Head Coach JB Bickerstaff fundamentally changed the culture here in Detroit.

Bickertstaff made it known in his introductory press conference, he's here to bring back the physicality that comes with Detroit basketball.

New York State of Mind

The Knicks have been through their shares of ups and downs this year, finishing the season with 51 wins; 1 more than they had last year. New York managed this despite their star PG, Jalen Brunson missing 17 games this season. Brunson's 26.0 PPG leads the Knicks for second straight year, shooting 49% from the field this year and 38% from beyond the arc.

The addition of Karl-Anthony Towns proved to be key to the Knicks success this year, with Towns averaging 24.4 PPG and leading the team in rebounding with 12.8 RPG. Mikal Bridges once again played all 82-games in the regular season, averaging 17.6 PPG on 50% from the field. His reduced role offensively led to a slight drop in points per game, but a significant boost in field goal percentage (50%).

After a season in which he played just 50 regular season games, OG Anunoby signed a huge deal and proceeded to play 74 games. Anunoby was the Knicks' third leading scorer, averaging 18.0 PPG and shooting 48% from the field and 37% from beyond the arc. Over his last 20 games of the season, Anunoby was averaging 22.9 PPG and still shooting 48% from the field.

Series Prediction & Best Bet in the Pistons/Knicks Quarter-Final

Detroit Pistons +1.5 Games – Alternate Series Spread (+140 via BetOnline)

Just hear me out, Detroit Basketball is back. The Pistons have made one of the biggest, single season turnarounds in NBA history. Last year, this same Pistons team lost 68 games and set the single-season record for consecutive losses; losing 28-straight games at their worst.

This year, behind the play of their All-Star PG, the Pistons won 44 games, finished with a top-12 offense and top-12 in net rating. Detroit's brand of basketball has been smash mouth, in your face type basketball and it's what the fans have so sorely been missing.

Detroit faced off with New York 4 different times this year, winning 3 of the 4 matchups and both games and Madison Square Garden. The Pistons offense ranks 6th on the road this year, averaging just under 117 PPG and shooting 48% from the field as a team.

On the other side of the ball, it's the Knicks that rank 26th in opponent 3-point percentage, 20th in points allowed in the paint and 22nd in opponent field goal percentage. New York's defense has picked it up in recent weeks, but with Brunson back on the court it might prove costly for the Knicks on that end of the floor.

In the 65 games with Brunson on the court, New Yorks allowing opponents an average of 112.9 PPG; in the 17-games Brunson was sidelined, that number drops to 107.0 PPG allowed.

This Pistons team is young, hungry and talented; that's why I'm rolling with Detroit to push this series to a Game 7.

Bonus: Pistons to Win the Series (+355)

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