New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons Preview: How, Who to Watch as Homestand Ends
Motor City basketball is sputtering.
The Detroit Pistons come into a Thursday night showdown against the New York Knicks as losers of 15 straight games, their rebuild hitting drastically dire levels after missing out on Victor Wembanyama at last spring's NBA Draft Lottery. It's the second-longest streak in franchise history and long when limited to a single season.
Now, they face a Knicks group riding the momentum of clinching a wild card berth in the NBA In-Season Tournament's knockout round. New York clinched the spot afforded to the top-finishing group runner-up with a 115-91 triumph over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night.
Thursday will be the second half of a back-to-back for the woebegone Pistons, who previously dropped a 133-107 decision to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. It'll also be the first of three get-togethers with the Knicks, who visit Detroit in late February. The Knicks carry a 12-game winning streak in their series with the Pistons entering Thursday night, which includes a four-game sweep of last season's annual set.
What: Detroit Pistons (2-16) @ New York Knicks (10-7)
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
When/Watch: Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG
Who's Favored: NYK -13.5
Barrett drives against the Pistons in a 2021 game
Raj Mehta, USA TODAY SPORTS
Keep An Eye On: RJ Barrett
A return to form for both Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle has helped cover it up, but it feels like Barrett hasn't been the same since he was forced to miss three November games with migraines. Over his past five, Barrett has shot just over 33 percent from the field and has not posted a 20-point game after earning four in his first seven. Facing off against a reeling Pistons squad gives him a relatively consequence-free opportunity to get his groove back.
Piston to Watch: Jaden Ivey
The Knicks were widely connected to Ivey in the lead-up to the 2022 draft but they opted to trade their first-round pick in an effort to build a Jalen Brunson project. Ivey has recently been reinstated into the Pistons' starting five, replacing the combination of Killian Hayes and former New York draft washout Kevin Knox. Ivey has gotten off to a rocky start so far this season, playing eight fewer minutes a game and averaging four full points less. He'll likely want to put on a show for his current ... and, at one point, would-be ... employers.
They Said It
“I feel like I bring a lot to the game, even when it doesn’t show in the stats. I think (Friday's win over Miami) really showed it. I don’t think my stats were great, but I feel like I can impact the game without scoring. I feel like definitely one of the (best) backup bigs in the NBA.”-Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein (h/t Stefan Bondy, New York Post)
Prediction
Thursday marks another game for the Knicks to take care of business, as their win over the Hornets allowed them to improve to 8-0 against teams with active losing records this season. There's no reason to believe that can't continue against the Pistons, so long as they take care of them quickly, quietly, and efficiently. The biggest threat to the Knicks may be the road ahead: they'll become the Pistons' first victims in nearly a month if they get caught looking at other fun opportunities like Friday's showdown with the Toronto Raptors in Ontario or the In-Season Tournament Semifinal against Milwaukee.
