The New York Knicks (51-31) will host the Detroit Pistons (44-38) to kick off the Eastern Conference first round in the NBA playoffs. The Knicks and Pistons had a tied regular-season series at 0-0. New York boasts a 34-18 record against Eastern Conference opponents and is known for its strong defense, allowing only 111.7 points per game with a 47.4% opponent shooting percentage. On the other hand, the Pistons hold a 29-23 record against Eastern Conference teams, scoring 115.5 points per game and maintaining a slight scoring margin of 1.9 points over opponents.
Key performers to watch include Karl-Anthony Towns for the Knicks, averaging 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds, and Cade Cunningham for the Pistons, averaging 26.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 9.1 assists. In their last 10 games, the Knicks have a 6-4 record, scoring 110.7 points per game, while the Pistons have a 4-6 record, averaging 116.6 points. Both teams have injury concerns with Ariel Hukporti out for the Knicks and Jaden Ivey sidelined for the Pistons.