The New York Knicks may be the team currently in a playoff position, but it’s the Detroit Pistons that have been better, lately.  The Knicks will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak when they head to Detroit on Saturday to face a Pistons team that has won two of it’s last three games.

New York is a slim 1.5-point favourite to win on the NBA odds with a total of 201.5.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

This will be the third and final regular season meeting between these teams this season.  The Knicks have come out on top in both previous games, winning 109-90 in Detroit on Feb. 28 and 114-104 in New York on March 4.

New York’s win in Detroit in February was just the second win in their last nine trips to the Motor City.  The Knicks are 10-15 on the road this season.  They’re 27-21-1 against the spread and they’ve covered in four of their last five road games.  New York’s No. 1 ranked defence combined with their poor offensive output has led them to being an Under team in five straight games and eight of their last nine.

The Pistons are better at home than on the road this year, although that still doesn’t say much.  Detroit has won nine of 23 home games.  They’re 25-20-3 ATS and have covered in eight of their last 12 games.  The Pistons have hit the Over in four of their last six games.

New York Knicks

New York is still clinging to a playoff spot, but they’ve lost three straight games and are coming off two ugly results.  They blew an 18-point lead in their 102-101 loss to Minnesota on Wednesday, before holding Dallas to under 100 points and still losing 99-86 on Friday.  Alec Burks was one of the lone bright spots for the Knicks against Dallas.  He had a team-high 20 points on Friday and has averaged 17.4 points and 4.4 rebounds through his last five games.  RJ Barrett could be another player to watch in this game.  The Canadian is averaging 17.3 points per game and had 21 points apiece in each of the two previous games against Detroit this season.

This team is clearly led by Julius Randle.  The first-time All-Star averages team highs in points per game (22.8), rebounds (10.8) and assists (5.9).  He put up a combined 52 points in the two earlier Detroit games this year and he leads a Knicks team that is ranked No. 1 in the NBA in average points allowed (104.4), field goal percentage allowed (44.2 per cent) and 3-point percentage allowed (33.6 per cent).

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons may only have a 14-34 record this season, but they’ve recently proven they can hang with most teams in the league by winning two of their last three games.  Detroit is coming into this game off a 120-91 blowout win over Washington on Thursday.  Josh Jackson had a game-high 31 points and seven different Detroit players finished with double-digit points.  The Pistons added some depth players at the trade deadline, picking up Hamidou Diallo from the OKC Thunder and Canadian Cory Joseph from the Sacramento Kings.  Diallo scored 19 points in each of his last two games, although he missed the Washington game with a groin injury.  He is expected to play against the Knicks.  In five games with the Pistons, Joseph has averaged 11 points and 5.4 assists off the bench.

One of the bigger surprises around the entire league has been the emergence of Jerami Grant this season.  Grant is averaging a team-high 22.5 points per game, which is nearly double his average from last season.  Potentially the frontrunner for Most Improved Player of the Year, Grant put up 21 points and eight rebounds in the one game he played against New York this season.  He should also get some help, as Detroit is expected to have rookie point guard Killian Hayes back in the lineup.  Hayes has been out since January with a hip injury.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Knicks vs. Pistons?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Knicks Team Leaders

NY

Points	Julius Randle 24.11
Assists	Julius Randle 6.01
Rebounds	Julius Randle 10.2
FG%	Norvel Pelle 71.4
Steals	Mitchell Robinson 1.13
Blocks	Nerlens Noel 2.2

DET

Points	Jerami Grant 22.31
Assists	Cory Joseph 5.53
Rebounds	Mason Plumlee 9.27
FG%	Tyler Cook 68
Steals	Cory Joseph 1.16
Blocks	Isaiah Stewart 1.26

NY

Points	Derrick Rose 19.4
Assists	Derrick Rose 5
Rebounds	Julius Randle 11.6
FG%	Taj Gibson 60
Steals	Taj Gibson 1.6
Blocks	Taj Gibson 1

DET

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Pistons Team Leaders

NY

Points	Julius Randle 24.11
Assists	Julius Randle 6.01
Rebounds	Julius Randle 10.2
FG%	Norvel Pelle 71.4
Steals	Mitchell Robinson 1.13
Blocks	Nerlens Noel 2.2

DET

Points	Jerami Grant 22.31
Assists	Cory Joseph 5.53
Rebounds	Mason Plumlee 9.27
FG%	Tyler Cook 68
Steals	Cory Joseph 1.16
Blocks	Isaiah Stewart 1.26

NY

Points	Derrick Rose 19.4
Assists	Derrick Rose 5
Rebounds	Julius Randle 11.6
FG%	Taj Gibson 60
Steals	Taj Gibson 1.6
Blocks	Taj Gibson 1

DET

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

Injuries

New York

Nerlens Noel (C)

Prob Fri Ankle - 28 / 05 / 21

Nerlens Noel (C)

Ques Wed Ankle - 24 / 05 / 21

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Prob Thurs Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21

Derrick Rose (PG)

Prob Sat Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21

Immanuel Quickley (SG)

Ques Thurs Ankle - 06 / 05 / 21

Alec Burks (SG)

Prob Thurs Knee - 06 / 05 / 21

Alec Burks (SG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 04 / 05 / 21

Norvel Pelle (C)

Prob Wed Ankle - 04 / 05 / 21

Nerlens Noel (C)

Prob Wed Ankle - 03 / 05 / 21

Taj Gibson (PF)

Ques Sat Eye - 21 / 04 / 21

Detroit

Deividas Sirvydis (SF)

Doub Sun Leg - 15 / 05 / 21

Sekou Doumbouya (PF)

Out Sun Personal - 14 / 05 / 21

Isaiah Stewart (PF)

Out Sun Personal - 13 / 05 / 21

Mason Plumlee (PF)

Out Fri Rest - 13 / 05 / 21

Frank Jackson (PG)

Doub Sun Ankle - 10 / 05 / 21

Jerami Grant (SF)

Out Sun Knee - 09 / 05 / 21

Mason Plumlee (PF)

Out Sun Rest - 09 / 05 / 21

Wayne Ellington (SG)

Out Sun Calf - 09 / 05 / 21

Cory Joseph (PG)

Ques Sun Ankle - 09 / 05 / 21

Wayne Ellington (SG)

Ques Sat Calf - 07 / 05 / 21

Injuries

New York

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Nerlens Noel (C)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 28 / 05 / 21	1-2	1-2	+ -
Noel is bothered by a right ankle injury, but it is anticipated that he will face the Hawks in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Nerlens Noel (C)	Ques Wed	Ankle - 24 / 05 / 21	1-3	1-3	+ -
Noel is bothered by a right ankle injury, it is unknown if he will face the Hawks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Prob Thurs	Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21	4-5	2-7	+ -
Bullock is battling a right ankle sprain, but it is anticipated that he will dress for Thursday's clash with the Spurs.
Derrick Rose (PG)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21	4-5	2-7	+ -
Rose missed the last contest due to to a left ankle sprain, but it is anticipated that he will face the Hornets on Saturday.
Immanuel Quickley (SG)	Ques Thurs	Ankle - 06 / 05 / 21	5-7	4-8	+ -
Quickley has missed the last three games due to a left ankle sprain, and it is unclear if he will be available Thursday versus the Spurs.
Alec Burks (SG)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 06 / 05 / 21	5-7	4-8	+ -
Burks has sat out the previous three games with a left knee contusion, but it is projected that he will suit up Thursday versus the Spurs.
Alec Burks (SG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 04 / 05 / 21	6-7	5-8	+ -
Burks was removed from the previous game with an ankle sprain, but it is likely that he will play against the Nuggets on Wednesday.
Norvel Pelle (C)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 04 / 05 / 21	6-7	5-8	+ -
Pelle is battling a right ankle sprain, but it is anticipated that he will suit up for Wednesday's battle with the Nuggets.
Nerlens Noel (C)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 03 / 05 / 21	6-7	5-8	+ -
Noel missed the last game with a sprained left ankle, but it is likely that he will be available Wednesday versus the Nuggets.
Taj Gibson (PF)	Ques Sat	Eye - 21 / 04 / 21	10-8	8-10	+ -
Gibson exited the last game with a lacerated right eyelid, and it is unknown if he will line up against the Raptors on Saturday.

Detroit

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Deividas Sirvydis (SF)	Doub Sun	Leg - 15 / 05 / 21	0-1	0-1	+ -
Sirvydis was forced from the previous game with a left leg injury, leaving his status in doubt for Sunday's showdown with the Heat.
Sekou Doumbouya (PF)	Out Sun	Personal - 14 / 05 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Doumbouya missed the last game while tending to a personal matter, and he will not lace up against the Heat on Sunday.
Isaiah Stewart (PF)	Out Sun	Personal - 13 / 05 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Stewart was held out of the previous game while tending to a personal matter, and he will not be active against the Heat on Sunday.
Mason Plumlee (PF)	Out Fri	Rest - 13 / 05 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Plumlee will not suit up against the Nuggets on Friday as he will be given a day of rest.
Frank Jackson (PG)	Doub Sun	Ankle - 10 / 05 / 21	0-3	0-3	+ -
Jackson has missed the last two contests with a right ankle injury, and it unlikely that he will take the court to battle the Heat on Sunday.
Jerami Grant (SF)	Out Sun	Knee - 09 / 05 / 21	0-4	1-3	+ -
Grant has missed the previous three games due to a sore right knee, and he will not dress for Sunday's contest against the Heat.
Mason Plumlee (PF)	Out Sun	Rest - 09 / 05 / 21	0-4	1-3	+ -
Plumlee will not be in the lineup on Sunday against the Bulls, as he will be given a day of rest.
Wayne Ellington (SG)	Out Sun	Calf - 09 / 05 / 21	0-4	1-3	+ -
Ellington has sat out the last three contests with calf soreness, and he will not lace up for Sunday's matchup against the Heat.
Cory Joseph (PG)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 09 / 05 / 21	0-4	1-3	+ -
Joseph has been absent from the last three contests due to an ankle injury, and it is up in the air if he will be active for Sunday's game against the Heat.
Wayne Ellington (SG)	Ques Sat	Calf - 07 / 05 / 21	1-4	1-4	+ -
Ellington is dealing with a calf injury, and it is unknown if he will face the 76ers on Saturday.