The New York Knicks visit the Detroit Pistons on Friday night in a matchup between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. Detroit leads the East at 37-13, while New York sits second at 34-18 with eight straight wins.
The Pistons enter the game after a surprising 126-117 home loss to the Washington Wizards on Thursday, where they were 14.5-point favorites. Despite the setback, Detroit remains atop the conference standings. The Knicks, meanwhile, secured a 134-127 double-overtime victory over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, extending their winning streak to eight games and giving them a rest advantage.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The Pistons are 3.5-point favorites according to DraftKings Sportsbook, with an over/under of 219.5 points. Moneyline odds list Detroit at -164 and New York at +138. The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates games 10,000 times, leans toward the over, projecting a combined 227 points and highlighting Cade Cunningham for 24.5 points and Jalen Brunson for 23.9 points.
Injuries could play a role: New York's Karl-Anthony Towns is doubtful with an eye injury, while Detroit's Jalen Duren is questionable with a knee issue after exiting Thursday's game early. Both teams made minor moves at the trade deadline, with the Knicks adding Jose Alvarado and the Pistons acquiring Kevin Huerter.
This contest serves as a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview, pitting two title contenders against each other. The Pistons boast the league's fourth-ranked scoring defense at 110.3 points allowed per game, while the Knicks have momentum on their side.
