I think it’s safe to say that the Pistons have silenced all of their doubters following a 3-0 start to the new season. A lot of people questioned whether or not the 60-win season from a year ago was a fluke, and it turns out it probably wasn’t. Detroit has another opportunity to add to its win total with a trip to MSG on Tuesday in what promises to be an intriguing clash with the winless Knicks. The loss of Jalen Duren didn’t hurt the Pistons against Philly, but that was only because Joel Embiid didn’t play in that game. Two more players are on the injury report ahead of Tuesday’s game -- Isaiah Joe and Ausar Thompson. Both are questionable to play, and the presence of Thompson is critical for a positive result.
Is it time for the Knicks to finally start playing like the team that ran through the East and won their first title in 53 years? After three games played, they rank dead last in the NBA in scoring with just 101.7 ppg -- with most of their offensive metrics being in the bottom 10. I’m still a believer in this team, though, as there is just too much talent on the roster for things not to start clicking. Jalen Brunson just had his highest-scoring game with 28 in the loss to Orlando, but that one hurt -- especially since the Magic were without Paolo Banchero and also lost Jalen Suggs to a knee injury in the fourth quarter. Late-game execution cost the Knicks, but I’m hoping that loss ignites something moving forward.
This has been a tough matchup for New York, at least in the regular season with the Pistons winning six straight meetings. However, with Duren already out and Thompson potentially joining him on the sidelines, this is a really solid opportunity for the defending champs to turn their luck around. Detroit is the last unbeaten team in the East; I think it’s finally time someone took the Pistons down. I’m taking the Knicks to cover.
Pistons vs Knicks prediction: New York-3.5 (+108) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.
