Detroit Pistons vs. New York Knicks Game 1 Prediction, Playoff Odds
The Pistons wrapped up their campaign by getting swept in a home-and-home series with Milwaukee, capped by last Sunday’s 140-133 road loss to the Bucks. The Knicks narrowly claimed third place in the Eastern Conference on the strength of a schedule-ending 113-105 win in Brooklyn, which also halted a three-game slide that featured a 115-106 loss in Detroit on April 10.
The Knicks lead the way as 7.5-point home favourites on the Saturday NBA odds and are also perched as heavy -450 chalk on the NBA playoff series prices. The Pistons trail as +230 underdogs on the NBA moneyline and the total is pegged at 220.5.
Pistons vs. Knicks NBA Betting Odds
The Pistons have had New York’s number this season, winning their final three meetings with the Knicks and halting a lengthy 16-game head-to-head losing streak that started in February 2020. However, the Pistons have come up short in two of three previous playoff matchups with New York, with each of those defeats coming in first-round five-game series’ that went the distance, most recently in 1992. In addition, playoff success has eluded Detroit in recent years, with the Pistons falling to defeat in 16 straight playoff game appearances since 2008 and have also won just four of their past 17 playoff road games.
While the Knicks struggled down the stretch, they closed out the regular season ranked ninth on both offence and defence. New York remained a shaky bet, going just 21-19-1 against the spread at home but covered in seven of their final nine at MSG. Now set to see playoff action for a third straight year, the Knicks claimed the series win in each of their past two first round matchups and have gone 7-2 in their past nine home playoff games.
Detroit Pistons
Winners of 44 games, the Pistons are coming off their most successful campaign since 2016. Cade Cunningham has led the rejuvenated Pistons attack, which averaged 115.5 points per game this season. The former first overall pick set team highs with 26.1 points and 9.1 assists per game. And in addition to averaging 33.4 points over the final five games of the regular season, Cunningham tallied 36 points in each of his past two appearances versus New York and is a solid +250 bet on the NBA player props to score the Pistons’ first field goal on Saturday.
Jalen Duren has been a steady presence in the paint, leading the club with 10.3 rebounds per game and has recorded double-doubles in six of eight outings including an 18-point, 13-board performance last week versus the Knicks.
New York Knicks
The trio of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby has powered the Knicks offence this season. Brunson led the squad with 26 points and 7.3 assists per game and scored at least 30 points three times and tallied a pair of double-doubles versus Detroit. Brunson was also a force in last season’s postseason, averaging 32.4 points and 7.5 helpers including 41.7 points per game over the final four games of last year’s first-round series win over Philadelphia.
Towns is coming off a sensational debut season in the Big Apple, leading the team with 12.8 boards per game. However, Towns mustered just 21 points in his past three home games but recorded double-doubles in each of his three appearances versus Detroit.
OG Anunoby set a torrid pace down the stretch, averaging 27.5 points per game over a 10-game stretch before cooling off in his final two regular season appearances. Overall, Anunoby set a career high with 18 points per game and will be expected to bring some championship experience to this club after winning an NBA title with Toronto in 2019.
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