The New York Knicks visit the Detroit Pistons on Friday in a matchup billed as a possible Eastern Conference finals preview. Detroit leads the East with a 37-13 record, while the Knicks sit at 33-18, tied for second. Jalen Brunson comes off a 42-point outing but faces a tough defensive test.
Friday's NBA slate features six games, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET with the Knicks at Pistons. The Pistons, riding a strong season, host New York in Detroit's Little Caesars Arena. Cade Cunningham shone in Thursday's loss to the Wizards, posting 30 points, eight assists and eight rebounds despite the defeat. With center Jalen Duren questionable due to a knee injury, Cunningham could shoulder a heavy load against the Knicks.
Brunson exploded for 42 points in double overtime against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, but that performance required 27 shots over 47 minutes. Prior to that, he scored no more than 26 points in four straight games, averaging 23.3 points per game in January. The Pistons rank fourth in scoring defense, allowing 110.3 points per game, and projection models forecast Brunson under his 26.5-point total.
Recent trades add intrigue across the league. The Indiana Pacers acquired Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson, though Zubac is not yet available. The Clippers also moved James Harden before the deadline, increasing Kawhi Leonard's playmaking duties—he's projected over 4.5 assists against the Sacramento Kings, who allow 120.5 points per game.
In Milwaukee, Myles Turner, now with the Bucks, eyes over 14.5 points versus his former Pacers team, with Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined. Brook Lopez, starting for the Clippers post-Zubac trade, targets over 9.5 points against Sacramento. For Miami's Bam Adebayo, models predict under 10.5 rebounds facing the rebounding-strong Boston Celtics.
These props and DFS picks highlight value amid post-deadline adjustments, with experts like Mike McClure emphasizing matchups and injuries.
