New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons Game 3 Prediction, NBA Playoff Odds
The Pistons snapped an epic 15-game losing streak in playoff action and pulled even with New York at one game apiece with Monday’s 100-94 Game 2 victory at Madison Square Garden and will now be looking to record their first postseason win on home hardwood since May 2008. Monday’s defeat snapped a two-game win streak for the Knicks, who have struggled to produce consistent results on the road while losing nine of their past 16.
The Knicks arrive in the Motor City pegged as slim 1.5-point road favourites on the Thursday NBA odds and remain perched as lofty -250 favourites on the NBA playoff series prices. The Pistons sport -102 odds on the NBA moneyline and lag as +200 underdogs to claim their first playoff series victory in 17 years. The total is listed at 214.5.
Knicks vs. Pistons NBA Betting Odds
While consistent playoff success has eluded the Pistons for the better part of two decades, the club has held the upper hand in recent dates with the Knicks, going 4-1 over their past five including a decisive 115-106 home victory just two weeks ago. Detroit’s recent steady head-to-head performance has flipped the script on a brutal run against the New York that saw the club lose each of their previous 16 contests versus the Knicks.
Stingy defence has paid dividends for the Pistons, who have won 14 of 15 when limiting opponents to fewer than 110 points. However, the Pistons have also regularly endured defensive meltdowns, allowing an average of 123.6 points per game over their eight most recent defeats. The good news for Pistons betting fans comes in the form of the Knicks’ recent offensive woes. New York has averaged just 110.8 points over their past six games and have averaged just 95.6 points per game while compiling a brutal 7-23 playoff road record since May 2000.
New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson once again turned in a standout performance for the Knicks in Game 2, piling up a game-high 37 points and seven assists after racking up 34 points and eight helpers in the club’s Game 1 victory. Brunson has now scored at least 30 points in nine of his past 13 playoff game appearances and should not be overlooked on Thursday’s NBA player props as a -110 bet to record OVER 36.5 points+assists.
However, things did not go so well for Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby. Both Towns and Anunoby tallied just 10 points each in Game 2 on combined 9-for-21 shooting. That marked a big step back for the duo, who each scored 23 points in Game 1.
Detroit Pistons
Cade Cunningham led the attack for the Pistons in Game 2, scoring 33 points and adding 12 rebounds to record his second double-double in three games. The former first overall pick has now averaged 31.6 points over his past seven games and has averaged just over 30 points in his past six home dates. However, the Pistons desperately need production from the rest of their starters, who averaged just eight points apiece in Game 2 while shooting a combined 36.7 per cent from the field.
Tobias Harris stepped up with a solid defensive performance, pulling down 13 rebounds to go with his 15 points to record a double-double for the first time since early March. In addition, Dennis Schroder and Malik Beasley have been steady off the bench. Beasley scored 20 points in Game 1, and Schroder followed up with 20 points in 29 minutes of action in Game 2 including a three-pointer in the dying seconds that sealed the victory.
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