The Detroit Pistons (44-38) and New York Knicks (51-31) will meet for Game 1 of their first round NBA Playoff series this evening. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The game will broadcast live on ESPN.
The Knicks are 7-point favorites over the Pistons on the spread (Knicks -7), with the over/under set at 220.5 total points. New York is a -295 favorite to win outright, while Detroit is +230 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Pistons vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks for Saturday, April 19.
Pistons vs. Knicks Picks, Prediction
My Knicks vs. Pistons best bet is on Detroit to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at BetMGM. But as always, make sure to shop for the best line using our live NBA odds page.
My Pick: Pistons +7 (-110)
Pistons vs. Knicks Odds
| Pistons Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7 -110 | 220.5 -110o / -110u | +230 |
| Knicks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7 -110 | 220.5 -110o / -110u | -295 |
- Pistons vs. Knicks spread: Knicks -7
- Pistons vs. Knicks over/under: 220.5 total points
- Pistons vs. Knicks moneyline: Pistons +230, Knicks -295
- Pistons vs. Knicks best bet:Pistons +7 (-110)
Pistons vs. Knicks Game 1 Preview
Cade Cunningham is going to run wild in this matchup.
The Pistons can’t switch with Jalen Brunson; Cunningham backs him down, bursts around him, scores over him. It’s a total mismatch. They can’t go under the screen, Cunningham has become a reliable and high-efficiency pull-up shooter. They can’t blitz him, he’ll make the pass over the top to Jalen Duren.
The problem is that all the Knicks will be at the table with forks and knives as well. OG Anunoby has size and strength advantages on the Pistons’ wings. Mikal Bridges will be able to get clean looks off screens. And the Knicks’ interior help will open up corner threes for Malik Beasley and other shooters.
That said, for all the talk of the inexperience the Pistons are facing, New York has more on its plate. They have high expectations. This team was supposed to contend for a championships despite being thrown together at the last minute after the KAT trade.
I make this spread only Knicks -5.5. I’m taking Pistons +7 as my best bet, and sprinkling on Pistons moneyline and Pistons -3.5 alternate spread because of the trends that say teams that cover as underdogs tend to win outright, but I don’t like it as much as Milwaukee.
Still, I think the big story on all the newspaper sport sections when they hit the Manhattan news stands Sunday will be about Cade stepping into the spotlight.
Pistons vs. Knicks Betting Predictions
Jalen Duren Over 2.5 Assists (+130)
I was surprised when I went back and watched how good Jalen Duren is as a short-roll passer. He can catch cleanly and deliver both dump-offs to the dunker spot and kick-outs to the corner.
He’s a better passer than I thought, and against what I think will be aggressive double-teams against Cunningham, I think he’ll have opportunities for the extra pass.
Over 220.5 (-110)
I make this total 225 after playoff-based adjustments. Both teams will struggle to stop one another. The Knicks have no answer for Cunningham and give up too many corner threes.
The Pistons will let Karl-Anthony Towns shoot open threes and get bullied at times on the interior by the Knicks’ wings. I think this is an offensive series, so I’m starting out there.
Pistons vs. Knicks Best Bets
- Pistons +7 (-110)
- Over 220.5 (-110)
- Jalen Duren Over 2.5 Assists (+130)
Pistons vs. Knicks Parlay Picks
- Cade Cunningham 30+ Points
- Pistons Moneyline
Parlay Payout: +425
Knicks vs. Pistons Betting Trends
