After finishing third in the Eastern Conference this season, the New York Knicks drew one of their worst-possible matchups in the Pistons. Detroit owned the regular season matchups against the Knicks, winning the final three games against New York.
The Knicks’ struggles with the Pistons were evident in the first two games of this best-of-seven series. Both games were tied at some point during the fourth quarter, and the winner of each used a late run to secure the victory.
With an evenly matched series like this one, which team can bettors expect to win on Thursday during the third game of this series? We’ll cover that and provide our three favorite player prop bets for this Eastern Conference first-round matchup in Detroit.
New York Knicks PG Jalen Brunson OVER 38.5 Pts + Reb + Ast
New York guard Jalen Brunson had another incredible regular season, averaging 26.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 7.3 assists. He’s ranked eighth in the NBA in both points and assists, showing how effective he is on the offensive end.
He’s been even stronger on the road this season. His stats have increased when he’s playing away from Madison Square Garden, a good sign for the team’s trip to Detroit on Thursday.
Brunson has been a beast against Detroit, too. In five of his team’s six games against the Pistons, the 6-foot-2 guard has finished with at least 42 combined points, rebounds, and assists. After back-to-back big games in New York, bettors should expect him to do the same in Detroit and cover this combo prop bet.
Detroit Pistons PG Cade Cunningham OVER 28.5 Points
Detroit point guard Cade Cunningham was recognized as one of three finalists for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. He’s earned that distinction after posting career-best averages with 26.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 9.1 assists during the regular season.
He’s had some of his best work against the Knicks this year. In six games, he’s posted 29 or more points four times, including a 33-point outburst in Monday’s 100-94 victory. Expect him to continue his scoring spree against New York as he’ll cover this player prop bet.
New York Knicks C Karl-Anthony Towns UNDER 11.5 Rebounds
For only the fifth time in his 10-year career, Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns is in the playoffs. In his previous trips to the postseason, the veteran has increased his regular-season rebounding totals to lead his team in this category.
That hasn’t been the case this season. In five games against the Pistons, Towns has exceeded 11 rebounds just once. Detroit’s Jalen Duren has kept the seven-footer at bay in their matchups, something bettors should expect him to do again on Thursday to keep him from covering this player prop bet.
Best Bet: OVER 214.5 Points
Even oddsmakers are struggling to identify which team wins this pivotal matchup. The Knicks are favored by a single point ahead of Thursday’s clash. New York can ill-afford to lose this game at Detroit, avoiding a 2-1 deficit before Game 4.
On the opposite side, the youthful Pistons are in the playoffs for the first time since 2019. The lack of experience compared to the Knicks can present a problem despite their strong regular season. For that reason, I believe New York wins a close game against Detroit on Thursday.
The best bet from this contest is to take the over on the 214.5 combined points total. Four of the six games between these two teams have finished with a final score above this mark, giving bettors confidence that the final combined scores will be above 215 points.
