The New York Knicks head to Motown to tangle with the Detroit Pistons in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal on Thursday, with the series tied at 1-1.
New York’s offense struggled to keep pace in the Game 2 loss, but head coach Tom Thibodeau emphatically pointed to the lopsided tally in foul shots as a reason why his team fell behind.
The squeaky wheel often gets the grease and my Knicks vs. Pistons predictions believe the referees will be a little more whistle happy in Game 3. That has my NBA picks on Thursday, April 23, swinging to OG Anunoby and his points prop.
Who wil win Knicks vs Pistons Game 3?
The spread is very slim with this matchup basically set as a pick’em. The New York Knicks are 20-8 SU as road favorites this season and the outright odds slightly lean toward them with a 54.5% implied win probability for Game 3. I go with the Knicks to steal a road win against the Detroit Pistons.
Knicks vs Pistons prediction
My best bet: OG Anunoby Over 15.5 points (-115 at bet365)
OG Anunoby followed a 23-point performance in Game 1 with a 10-point dud in Game 2, finishing just 4-for-10 from the floor, missing all four of his 3-point attempts.
Anunoby made good on both free throws and was one of only three Knicks players to make their way to the stripe on Monday night — the basis of Tom Thibodeau’s complaints.
The 6-foot-7 small forward started the season getting to the line just over twice per game but upped his aggression in the back end of the schedule. Anunoby averaged 4.4 free-throw attempts in his final 24 appearances of the regular season and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the line in Game 1.
His scoring average jumped from 16 points to 22 points in that span, which admittedly was boosted by Jalen Brunson’s injury issues toward the end of the campaign. He’s topped 16 points or more in 19 of his last 25 games overall.
Anunoby has become one of the Knicks' more active attackers, upping his drive rates from 5.0 to 7.8 in those final two dozen contests. He played with that aggression in Game 1 but was much more passive in Game 2 — despite USA gymnast (and apparent OG muse) Suni Lee in attendance.
He took only 10 shots — compared to 18 in the series opener — and only three of those came from the foul line down (he made all three). Anunoby did a much better job getting inside in Game 1 with eight FGAs from the foul line inward (making four of those closer looks).
“No matter what, I’m always trying to be aggressive,” Anunoby told reporters when asked about his downtick in offensive activity.
That mindset could pay off in Game 3, especially if Thibodeau’s complaints fall on sympathetic ears. Anunoby’s attacking offense and ability to draw contact could send him to the line for bonus buckets with the refs trying to make amends.
Even without a potential uptick in attempts at the stripe, player projections are positive for OG. His scoring forecast ranges from 17 points to 18.6 tallies on Thursday, which sit above his scoring prop of 15.5 O/U.
Anunoby’s point total opened as high as 16.5 and is still there at some shops, while others are dealing Over 15.5 at -133. Given the projections, that result should be closer to -140. However, shopping the props you can find the Over 15.5 points at -115 at bet365.
Knicks vs Pistons same-game parlay
OG Anunoby 15+ points
Jalen Duren 10+ rebounds
Knicks moneyline
Anunoby will attack the paint for high percentage looks while also picking up points from the foul line, with projections north of 17 points.
Jalen Duren is a beast on the boards and forecasts call for at least 10 rebounds in Game 3.
The Knicks return serve in Game 3 as one of the better road teams in the league. They’re 20-8 SU when laying points as a visitor.
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 -1 (-110) | Detroit +1 (-110)
- Moneyline: New York -115 | Detroit -105
- Over/Under: Over 215.5 (-110) | Under 215.5 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Knicks vs Pistons spread and Over/Under analysis
- Bookies installed New York as a 1-point road favorite for Game 3 and that spread has held steady as we close in on gameday.
- The Over/Under total opened at 215.5 O/U and slipped down a tick to 214.5 points, with initial play on the Under.
- According to Covers Consensus, 53% of picks are taking Detroit as a slim home underdog while 58% of total picks are backing the Over.
Knicks vs Pistons trend
New York is 7-4 SU and 8-3 ATS in games with closing spreads of less than three points (-2.5 to +2.5) this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Pistons.
How to watch Knicks vs Pistons
| Location | Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI |
| Date | Thursday, 4-24-2025 |
| Tip-off | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | FanDuel Sports Network - Detroit, MSG |
Knicks vs Pistons latest injuries
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