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Detroit Pistons vs. New York Knicks Series Predictions and Best Bets

by Spencer Toth - 4/15/2025

Detroit Pistons vs New York Knicks series predictions and best bets Jalen Brunson

The New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons square off in the first round of what promises to be an exhilarating series. The Knicks were bounced in the second round in back-to-back seasons after winning only one playoff series since 2000 before that streak. New York has reasonable title aspirations this season, and they will be hoping a win over the Pistons will be the first step in a lengthy playoff run.

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Across the court, the Pistons have already exceeded any preseason expectations. The Pistons were +2000 to make the playoffs before the season and +10000 to finish with a top six seed. They set the record for the longest NBA losing streak last season, but this is a completely different team now. Cade Cunningham is developing into a truly dominant guard, and the rest of the Pistons starters look poised for long NBA careers. These teams have been forced to cling to success for half a century, and this pair of fan bases will be desperate for tangible success. Which of these budding franchises will take the next step towards an NBA championship? Let’s dive in. 

New York Knicks:

The New York Knicks finished 51-31 in the regular season for their most victories since 2013. Like many Tom Thibodeau teams, the Knicks have lacked depth compared to most of the other contenders, but the quality of their starting five cannot be overlooked. Jalen Brunson is a true superstar capable of leading this team on a deep playoff run. His agility with the ball, combined with a truly lethal left hand, makes him impossible to slow down, and he leads the team with 26 PPG and 7.3 assists. He is the front-runner for Clutch Player of the Year, and there are very few players in the league on Brunson’s level in close games.

The Knicks swung for the fences in the offseason, picking up Karl-Anthony Towns to pair with Brunson in New York. Towns cost a pretty penny to pry away from Minnesota, but his arrival has been an instant success. Towns has commanded the glass with 12.8 rebounds per game, and his 24.4 PPG is a great second option alongside Brunson. His pick and roll game on the perimeter allows him to consistently get free from deep, and it is looking like Towns was the missing piece New York has been craving. The star talent doesn’t end there, as Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby are incredible two-way players. Bridges hasn’t missed a game since high school and is third in the league in minutes this season. Tom Thibodeau’s favorite player. Anunoby is one of the best defenders in the league, but he can also punish the opposition if he is left open behind the arc. Rounding out the starting five is the Knicks glue guy, Josh Hart. Hart averages 13.6 PPG with 9.6 rebounds and 7.5 assists, but what he does for this team still cannot be reflected on the statsheet. Hart has a never-ending gas tank and is always willing to put his body on the line. He will hustle for every loose ball, leads the NBA in minutes (37.6), and will likely play nearly 48 minutes a game in the postseason.

The Knicks starting five is well-rounded, healthy, and poised for a deep run. Miles McBride, Mitchell Robinson, and Precious Achiuwa will see some action on the court, but there is no denying the Knicks playoff hopes rest firmly on the shoulders of their starters. 

Detroit Pistons:

The Detroit Pistons are unrecognizable compared to their abysmal team last year. The Pistons went 14-68 last season, including losing an NBA record 28 games in a row. They were looking ahead at the draft but got dropped to the 5th pick after getting unlucky with the lottery. Things weren’t looking good for Detroit, but all of that has changed. Cunningham has developed into a viable primary option, and their deep rotation has allowed them to beat up on the bottom feeders this season. 

The Pistons finished 6th in the Eastern Conference with a 44-38 record and have a bright future in front of them. Cade Cunningham is the odds-on favorite to win Most Improved Player with 26.1 PPG and 9.1 assists this season. His ability to command the point guard position has given the Pistons stability they haven’t had in years. His three-point shooting still needs work, but he is quickly developing into a consistent scorer from the other two levels.

Unlike the Knicks, the Pistons are a lot less top-heavy with their minutes and points. They have 11 players averaging 14 or more minutes per game. And while that rotation will probably get shortened in the playoffs, Detroit will still rely on their bench to succeed. Jaden Ivey broke his leg early in the season, which has allowed other Pistons to shine as the second option in Detroit. Malik Beasley is a sharpshooter, posting a 41.6% clip from deep while finishing one short of the most three pointers this season. Tobias Harris has seen his career rejuvenated since leaving the 76ers, while Jalen Duren is a strong big man to patrol the paint. The Pistons are far less top-heavy than other playoff contenders, and it will be interesting to see how they handle tight games. They don’t have a surplus of scorers to lean on and will need to rely on strong defense in the closing stages to find success. That hasn't been a recipe for success for many recent champions, but the Pistons will ultimately be viewing this year as a huge success regardless of their postseason results. 

Knicks vs Pistons Prediction

This will be a fun series featuring fresh faces for NBA fans, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be a competitive one. New York has the raw talent advantage, more playoff experience, and a well-rounded starting five. The Knicks will see a first-round exit as a massive failure after the progress they have made this season, and their star talent should be able to carry them to victory over the Pistons. The Pistons did win the season series 3-1 this year, but that snapped a 16-game win streak for the Knicks over Detroit.

One of the crucial matchups in this series will be how the Knicks choose to defend Cade Cunningham. Brunson is the natural matchup as both players play point guard, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, or even Josh Hart assigned to Cunningham. Brunson is a true superstar on the offensive end, but his defense still needs work. While how the Knicks handle Cunningham and the Pistons offense will certainly play a role, the Pistons ability to slow down Brunson, Towns, and the stacked roster of Knicks shooters will determine this series. 

The Knicks have the 5th best offensive rating this season, despite losing Brunson for more than a month at the tail end of the season. New York’s bench scoring may not be elite, but they truly have the most well-rounded starting five in the league. Josh Hart’s 13.6 PPG is the lowest among the starters, but his 5.9 assists are the second most behind Brunson, as he still plays a massive role in the New York offense. Detroit is an average defensive team that will need to play its best basketball of the season to stop the Knicks offense. New York will open up the series in front of a very loud MSG crowd, and I expect them to start strong after being given the privilege of resting their players for the last week. Once the Knicks take a 2-0 series lead over Detroit, the Pistons will be unable to mount a comeback. This is a series that has the potential to go deep, but I simply don’t know how the Pistons slow down a motivated Knicks team in the fourth quarter. 

Prediction: New York Knicks in 5 Games

Best Bets:

The New York Knicks are coming into this series as -400 favorites to advance, while the Pistons are coming back at +340. While I expect the Knicks to win, laying this kind of juice with a team that is one injury away from being in serious trouble is not something we can do.

New York caught the injury bug last season in the playoffs, and Tom Thibodeau’s heavy regular season workload always has the potential to catch up to them. Instead, we will look at the -1.5 game spread at -150 odds. New York will not want this one to go to seven games and will look to take care of business early. I don’t see them going any worse than 3-2 in the first five games, and I honestly expect them to win this one in five games when they split the series 1-1 in Detroit. The -150 odds give us much more money in our pockets with a win, as laying -400 is almost always a poor choice when betting on futures. However, while the -1.5 series spread is certainly a safer option, the best bet you can make is to swing for the fences with a correct series score of 4-1 Knicks at +240 odds. The Knicks are -300 moneyline favorites in game one and will likely be similar in games two and five. That implies New York has around a 50% chance of going a perfect 3-0 at home, and the 4-1 series score is nearly a layup if that is the case. You can play it safe with the Knicks to advance or with the series spread, but a majority of your wager should be on the Knicks to win in five games with the chance at a huge reward. 

Top Pick: New York Knicks to Win in 5 Games +240

Pick: New York Knicks (-1.5 Games) -150

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