New York Knicks vs Detroit Pistons Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 29/11/2023, 22:31  by Joseph King | Modified on 30/11/2023 at 02:20 in NBA Predictions

The fifth-place New York Knicks will look to continue their climb up through the Eastern Conference standings when they host the rock-bottom Detroit Pistons on Thursday. After a bumpy 2-4 start, the Knicks have since gone on a 8-3 run to move their record to 10-7 on the season. This puts them 3.5 games behind first-place Boston but just a half game ahead of the eighth-placed Cavs. The Knicks scored a 115-91 blowout win over a Hornets team without star player LaMelo Ball at MSG on Monday. They were powered by a 20-20 game from Julius Randle who dropped 25 points, grabbed 20 boards and dished out five assists. The Knicks’ rock solid defense was on full display as they held their opponent to under 100 points scored for the second time in their last three appearances. The hosts are allowing the fewest points in the NBA this season at just 105.1.

It’s going to be another long season for Pistons fans. Their team experienced a positive 2-1 start to the year but would then go on to lose their last 15 in a row. The result is a team sitting 15th in the Eastern Conference with a 2-16 record and with seemingly no end in sight for their current losing run. Detroit fell to a 133-107 defeat at home to the Lakers on Wednesday night, trailing by 14 points after the first 12 minutes and losing all four quarters of the game. They’ll now have to play the second leg of a back-to-back against arguably the best defense in the NBA. For all the struggles that the Pistons have had, they have at least been somewhat respectable on the defensive side of the ball. They rank 22nd in opponent points per game and rank 14th in opponent effective FG%. With the Knicks not being a particularly efficient shooting team (ranking 27th in effective FG%), this one has the makings of a low-scoring contest.