The New York Knicks have picked things up after a tough loss to the Boston Celtics on Opening Night, putting forth three great performances to take two of those games and level their record at 2-2.
Now, a letdown spot on the road against the Detroit Pistons beckons, and with their struggles in defending the post this one could be a tricky proposition as they look to get over .500 for the first time this year.
Let’s dig into some Knicks vs. Pistons predictions and hand out some NBA picks for Friday, November 1.
Knicks vs Pistons prediction
My best bet
Pistons +6.5 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
The Detroit Pistons have a clear offensive focus, and that is to get the ball into the paint. Jaden Ivey and Cade Cunningham have shown a great ability to get past their men and open up chances at the rim, and the duo of Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart down low have been tough for opponents to contain on the glass.
This is a going to really test the mettle of the New York Knicks, who sit in the Bottom 5 of the league in rim defense according to Cleaning the Glass, even if you remove their tough showing on defense against Boston.
New York’s defensive rating may sit seventh in the NBA over its last three games, suggesting that its performance in the opener was an isolated incident, but it’s come as the result of excellence in defending the 3-point shot.
The Knicks were the top rebounding team in the NBA a year ago, and while they’ve maintained a high level in that area, they’re still a long way off the Pistons’ second-place ranking to begin the year. With little depth to speak of in the frontcourt behind Karl-Anthony Towns due to injuries and the departure of Isaiah Hartenstein over the offseason, this one could become tricky.
Detroit should hold an edge on offense, and on the other side of the floor ranks 13th in defending the triple – something that should be very useful against a Knicks team that’s once again relied upon the outside shot to win games.
This is a pretty generous line given the great matchup for the Pistons, especially at home, and they’ve now covered in three straight despite sitting at 1-4 on the year.
This team was never supposed to be historically bad a year ago, and now with Tobias Harris in the picture and some of their young talent beginning to blossom, they should be a respected side – at least in a game like this.
Knicks vs Pistons same-game parlay
Pistons +6.5
Jalen Duren double-double
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 made threes
Jalen Duren may have just two double-doubles this season, but he was tracking towards one last time out against the Philadelphia 76ers before fouling out on six points and six rebounds after just 10 minutes. Against a Knicks team that should look to shoot over the top of this defense, I don’t see that being an issue on Friday.
I’ll also point out that this matchup was incredibly kind to Duren a year ago when he went for two double-doubles in two games versus New York, amassing a total of 28 rebounds.
As the Knicks struggle to contain Duren inside, and look to avoid him and Stewart with the ball in their hands, they should look to the outside shot to win this game. As their frontcourt has instilled fear in opposing teams, Detroit has allowed 40.8% of shots to come from 3-point range, ranking as one of the 10 highest marks in the league.
I expect that to mean more volume from beyond the arc for Karl-Anthony Towns as the Knicks look to stretch the floor and attempt to beat Detroit’s size with a mismatch on the perimeter, and the big man is coming off his best shooting night of the season in going 4-for-5 against the Miami Heat.
Assuming he launches four or five times, I like our chances with a man who shot near a career-best at 41.6% from deep last season.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Knicks vs Pistons odds
Knicks vs Pistons live odds
Knicks vs Pistons opening odds
- Spread: New York -7 | Detroit +7
- Moneyline: New York -275 | Detroit +220
- Over/Under: Over 218.5 | Under 218.5
Odds courtesy of bet365
Knicks vs Pistons spread and Over/Under analysis
- Detroit has received a steady influx of cash, moving instantly to seven-point underdogs at bet365 before dropping down another half-point late on Thursday.
- The Pistons have now gone 3-0 against the spread in their last three, cashing by a total of 21 points.
- The total initially moved down a point before shooting back up around 219 early Friday, but has since seen a steep drop. There’s been a bit of recent buy-back on Friday afternoon after this number went as low as 216.
- The Under has now hit in four of Detroit’s last five games, while New York’s played to the Under in two of its last three.
Knicks vs Pistons trend
The Pistons have hit the Under in 30 of their last 45 games (+13.50 Units / 27% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Pistons.
How to watch Knicks vs Pistons
| Location: | Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI |
| Date: | Friday, 11-1-2024 |
| Tip-off: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | MSG, FDSN Detroit |
Knicks vs Pistons latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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