Game Details:
Matchup: Knicks vs Pistons
Date & Time: Thursday, May 1, 2025 | 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Betting Line: Knicks -8.5 | Over/Under: 216.5

Key Storylines

Knicks Eyeing Playoff Positioning

The Knicks enter tonight’s matchup with clear playoff aspirations. Sitting comfortably in the upper half of the Eastern Conference standings, they’ll look to close out the season strong and maintain home-court advantage for the first round. The team is coming off a solid stretch, having won six of their last eight games. With Jalen Brunson leading the charge and Julius Randle contributing consistent double-doubles, the Knicks are favored heavily on the road.

Pistons Playing for Pride

At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Pistons are mired in another rebuilding season. With one of the league’s worst records, Detroit is using these final games to evaluate young talent and build for the future. Jaden Ivey continues to show flashes of star potential, while Cade Cunningham leads the team offensively. Experience and development are now the priorities as the roster looks ahead to the draft.

Season Series

The Knicks have dominated the season series, winning both matchups by double digits. In their most recent meeting in March, New York rolled to a 112-94 win behind a 29-point performance from Brunson. Detroit shot just 41% from the field in that game and had no answers defensively.

Injury Report

• Knicks: Out – Mitchell Robinson (ankle), Bojan Bogdanovic (knee)
• Pistons: Out – Isaiah Stewart (shoulder), Kevin Knox (foot) | Questionable – James Wiseman (illness)

Betting Trends

• Against the Spread (ATS): Knicks: 39-30-1 ATS | Pistons: 27-43 ATS
• Total Trends:
  The total has gone UNDER in 6 of the last 8 Knicks games
  The total has gone OVER in 5 of the last 7 Pistons home games

Player Prop to Watch

Jalen Brunson – Points Total: 24.5
With no elite perimeter defenders on Detroit’s roster, Brunson has a great chance to eclipse this mark. He’s averaging 26.3 points over his last 10 games and has topped 24.5 in both prior meetings with Detroit this season.

Cade Cunningham – Assists Total: 7.5
Cunningham has become the Pistons’ primary playmaker and has hit this over in four of his last six games.

Prediction & Best Bets

• Spread: Knicks -8.5 → New York’s size, defense, and experience should be too much for Detroit.
• Total: Under 216.5 → The Knicks’ defense is top-5 in efficiency and can keep the Pistons under 100 points.
• Player Prop: Jalen Brunson Over 24.5 points → Has feasted on Detroit all season and should capitalize again.

Detroit’s youth and inconsistency are liabilities against a playoff-proven Knicks squad. With superior talent and motivation on their side, look for the Knicks to control the game from start to finish and cover the spread on the road.

Final Score Prediction: Knicks 113, Pistons 98