We’re excited to head to Detroit for game three of the Knicks-Pistons first-round playoff series! With everything tied up, the Knicks find themselves in a bit of a tough spot after losing their home-court advantage. But don't count them out just yet- these games have been really close! This matchup promises to be thrilling as the Pistons look to seize control of the series!
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Isaiah Stewart Questionable
This is shaping up to be the game of the night! The Pistons are bringing the energy back home in a tied playoff series, celebrating their first win since 2008. That’s right- it's been a long wait since Flo Rida and T-Pain were ruling the charts with "Low". If their last playoff victory were a person, they'd be old enough to drive and almost ready to vote! So get ready for the Detroit crowd to be absolutely electric tonight as they take the court!
For the Knicks, losing one at home is never easy, but it’s definitely not the end of the road for them. They showed their strength in game one with a solid 11-point win against the Pistons and kept it close, only losing by 6 in game two. They’ve been impressive on both sides of the ball, and Brunson has truly shone in this series, scoring 34 and 37 points. OG and Towns have been working hard as well, but if the Knicks want to stay competitive, they could really use a little extra from Hart and Bridges.
As for the Pistons, quite a few players have stepped up to the challenge! We saw Schroder have a fantastic night in game two, while Harris really delivered in game one. The star of the show, though, remains Cade. He’s been the playmaker, a solid defender, and their best scorer all rolled into one. It’s through Cade that Detroit has a real shot in this series. That said, I’m still leaning toward the Knicks in this matchup. With their veteran experience and a starting lineup brimming with star power, they've managed to keep dominance over Detroit for most of the game, even if game two was a tough, gritty contest. As exciting as the Pistons' journey has been, they’re still in the growth phase. The Knicks possess the experience and talent to just edge out Detroit in these close contests.
As long as this doesn't turn into another slow game filled with fouls, the Knicks' scoring potential will likely be the key factor in tonight's game. If they can keep the ball moving, hit their threes, and keep the scoring pressure up, they should take this game.
Money line: NKY (-115) / DET (-105)
Total Points: 213.5
Spread: -1 NKY (-110) / +1 DET (-110)
The Knicks really seem to be the more talented team in this matchup. While I’d love to see the Pistons grab a home-court victory tonight, I have a feeling it might be a tough ask. Game two was a bit quirky, featuring a slower pace and Detroit managing to get 15 more shots at the free throw line. They definitely play with physicality and have the home court advantage, but I'm hopeful that the Knicks will shoot better than they did in game two. It’s definitely a tough choice to root against the exciting young team, but the Knicks are seasoned playoff team, and I believe that will shine through tonight.
Even though the last game was a low scoring game I believe we're in for an bump in the shooting numbers! Both teams struggled scoring, shooting below 30% from three, and there were a whopping 46 fouls called, which really slowed down the game. If the refs can keep their involvement to a minimum this time, I'm hopeful we’ll see a much higher score- closer to the tally of game one that soared past the 213.5 point mark!
These one-point spreads often feel a bit pointless. Nevertheless, the Knicks seem to be the stronger pick against the spread tonight for all the reasons listed in the moneyline section.
Harris has truly stepped up in both games, scoring an impressive 25 points in game one and 15 in game two! With a consistent number of attempts per game, he has a fantastic opportunity to shine tonight. At just 14.5 points, the over is quite tempting, especially with this game tipping off in Detroit!
Cade’s assist numbers have varied quite a bit between the two games. In game one, he impressively notched 12 assists, but in game two, that number dropped to just 3. Given the way the shooting has been a bit streaky for Detroit and their heavy reliance on ISO plays, I think Cade might miss reaching the 9 assists mark tonight.
Brunson has really been the heart of this offense lately! He shone in game two, leading the team with an impressive 37 points, even after a brief injury scare. However, as we look ahead to this game in Detroit, I feel a little hesitant about Brunson's offensive firepower. Considering how much he’s been depending on getting to the free-throw line for his points, if the referees aren't calling for him, he might struggle to reach that 29-point mark.
Towns has been a standout on the boards all season, leading the Knicks in rebounding. However, Detroit has posed a bit of a challenge, as Towns has fallen below this mark in both games played so far. The 11.5 mark feels a tad high. The under looks promising tonight, especially with the Knicks playing on the road!