Pistons vs Knicks Picks, Predictions & Odds 3-25 -2024 - NBA

One of the top teams in the Eastern Conference will host the worst team in the NBA when the New York Knicks welcome the Detroit Pistons to Madison Square Garden on Monday night.

New York has won five of its last six and is closing in on the ailing Cavaliers for the third seed in the East. Detroit owns the worst record in the league and has lost six straight heading into Monday’s game.

The gulf between these two teams is massive, but bettors will have to consider just how big that gap is when putting money on tonight’s Game. We’ll break down the NBA odds in our free NBA picks for Pistons vs. Knicks on March 25.

Pistons vs Knicks odds

Pistons vs Knicks predictions

The New York Knicks are a good basketball team, while the Detroit Pistons are awful. If you’re even considering betting on the moneyline, that’s all the analysis you need; chase the +900 or so that you can get on Detroit at your own risk.

However, when it comes to looking at the spread tonight, we have to look a little deeper. Overall, the Knicks are 12.8 points better than the Pistons on point differential, and New York is playing at home. Based on those numbers, the 16.5-point spread starts to look a little big, but reasonable.

However, looking at a spread that large in a professional game always makes me wary. That’s especially true when we consider this Knicks team isn’t at full strength right now, and while the Pistons are also missing some players, the loss of a couple of key starters could make it a lot harder for New York to blow anyone out.

The Knicks continue to ply without Julius Randle (24.0 points per game), who has a shoulder injury, as well as OG Anunoby (14.5 ppg) and Mitchell Robinson (6.2 ppg). Sure, Jalen Brunson (27.4 ppg) has almost enough talent to beat the Pistons on his own, but missing several contributors will make the game slightly more competitive.

We also have to look at how the Knicks like to play. New York plays at the slowest pace in the NBA, a style that has frustrated opponents — especially in combination with the excellent defense the Knicks have played for much of the second half of the season.

However, while that’s a recipe for wins, not blowouts. Of its last 23 games, New York has only won two of them by 17+ points.

Detroit can be blown out, especially now that it's dealing with a shortened rotation as well. Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren both missed Sunday’s Game while managing minor injuries and it’s unclear if either will play tonight. Ausar Thompson is out for the year with a blood clot. 

However, even the Pistons can stay in games. They’ve won three of their last 10, and on three other occasions, they’ve lost by 13 or fewer points.

Normally, that would be extremely faint praise, but it shows that this team can at least show up and compete, even if they'll never resemble a threat to a team like the Knicks. Let’s not forget: Detroit has played in New York twice this year, losing by single digits both times.

If this Knicks team was completely healthy, or if this was a playoff series, I’d take New York almost regardless of the spread, but given how the Knicks play and their slate of injuries, I’m taking the Pistons and the points. 

My best bet: Pistons +16.5 (-112 at FanDuel)

Pistons vs Knicks same-game parlay

The style the Knicks employ is why I like the Pistons to cover and it's also why I'm adding the Under to this SGP. 

To go along with that theme, I’m throwing in a bet on Jalen Brunson to go Under his scoring total of 30.5 points. Brunson has only scored 31+ points in three of his last nine full games and will likely get a few extra minutes off in a game that New York should be in control of.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Pistons vs Knicks spread and Over/Under analysis

The Knicks opened tonight’s game as 16.5-point favorites over the lowly Pistons. That number hasn’t changed much, though most books have gone to New York -16 as the main spread. Those books sticking at 16.5 points are generally offering discounts on the Knicks, who are available at -105 on that number.

The Knicks have been good for bettors this year, putting up a 36-31-3 mark against the spread. Surprisingly, Detroit has also held its own against the number, posting a 36-35 ATS record on the season.

I know the Knicks will win this game, and should do so comfortably, but this spread is just too large given what we’ve seen between these teams earlier this year. With New York struggling to put Detroit away in the first two meetings and suffering from some key injuries, I’m taking the Pistons to cover.

The total on tonight’s game opened at 209.5 points. That number has come up a bit, with various sites offering the Over/Under at anywhere from 210.5 to 211.5 as of midday Monday.

Detroit has been playing right to the number this year, going 35-35-1 on the Over/Under. The Knicks have been a slow, defensive team, and the Under has a 44-26 advantage when New York plays as a result.

With scoring talent out of the lineup on both sides and the Knicks content to sit on the ball and grind out a win, we can’t expect much scoring tonight.

It's worth noting both games these teams played earlier this year went Over tonight’s total, but the injuries on both sides should drop the scoring quite a bit, and the Knicks have shown they can play games that end with well below 100 points on both sides. I’m leaning toward the Under.

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Pistons vs Knicks betting trend to know

In their two prior meetings with the Knicks, the Pistons are 2-0 ATS this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Knicks.

Pistons vs Knicks game info

Pistons vs Knicks latest injuries

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