Key Points
- Pistons Try to Force a Game Seven Against Higher-Seed Knicks
- Detroit Has Not Won a Playoff Series Since 2008
- Five Points Separate Knicks and Pistons Through First Five Games of NBA Playoff Series
In many ways this is the Game Six most basketball observers didn't think would be played in these NBA Playoffs.
The New York Knicks were favored in this series, based on experience and a two-headed superstar leadership. The Detroit Pistons had not won a playoff game in nearly a generation.
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Yet here we are on Thursday evening with a Game 6 in downtown Detroit
The team is attempting to win a home playoff game for the first time since 2008. When it last happened, current Pistons' star Jalen Duren was just four years old.
The oddsmakers at DraftKings Sportsbook price the Pistons as slight favorites in Game 6 of this first round NBA Playoff series.
The Pistons would need to win three straight to knock off the Knicks and advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
In this playoff game preview we make our picks for game and player prop bets. Here you will the best opportunities for this NYK vs DET matchup.
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New York vs Detroit Playoff Series Picks
Cade Cunningham Under 27.5 Points: -125
Cade Cunningham’s game blends modern versatility with old-school poise. Like former Piston Grant Hill, he has a smooth, deliberate tempo and elite court vision.
Cade's size and control evoke comparisons to Luka Dončić, while his mid-range pacing and passing resemble a young Brandon Roy.
Cunningham also carries shades of Penny Hardaway, using his 6'6" frame to create mismatches and manipulate defenses
Unlike explosive guards, Cade excels with craft, patience, and IQ—akin to how Andre Miller or Manu Ginóbili dissected defenses. Though still evolving, Cunningham’s all-around skill set positions him as a unique blend of past and present elite NBA playmakers.
This series, Cunningham has shown stretches of maturation into an elite NBA superstar. But, he also tends to disappear for stretches, and turnovers can be his biggest flaw. In four of the five games in this series, Cunningham has scored 25 points or less.
BET:
$125 on Cunningham to score less than 27.5 points, to win $100. You will get your stake back as well.
Most Points First Quarter, Karl-Anthony Towns: +550
If you didn't know how special KAT is before this first round series, you should now. In the two games played at Little Caesars Arena in this NBA Playoff series, Towns us averaging 29 points, 20.5 field goal attempts, and 4.5 three-point shots made.
The Pistons have had no answer for the Knicks' center so far.
BET:
$100 for Karl-Anthony Towns to record the most points in the first quarter. Win $550 if he does.
Jalen Duren First Field Goal Attempt Result a Field Goal Made: -115
Field goal percentage (FG%) in basketball significantly increases as players take shots closer to the basket.
This trend is evident in NBA statistics: during the 2023–24 and 2024-25 seasons, centers and forwards who frequent the post position averaged a FG% of 55.8%, the highest among all positions, largely due to their proximity to the rim.
Historically, shots taken within 0–5 feet of the basket have a league-wide FG% of approximately 57%, while shots beyond five feet see a marked decline in accuracy.
Jalen Duren, the young forward for the Detroit Pistons, exemplifies this principle through his shot selection and efficiency. In the 2023–24 season, Duren attempted a significant portion of his shots near the basket, with an average shot distance of 3.9 feet.
He excelled in the restricted area, converting 72.7% of his attempts, and achieved an impressive 93.4% FG% on dunks
His shot distribution reflects a strategic focus on high-percentage opportunities: 68.1% of his field goal attempts originated from the restricted area, and 56.6% of his layup attempts were successful.
Duren's approach underscores the value of shot selection in maximizing scoring efficiency
By concentrating his efforts near the rim, he not only capitalizes on higher-percentage shots but also contributes effectively to his team's offensive performance.
His playing style serves as a model for leveraging proximity to the basket to enhance FG%, highlighting the importance of strategic positioning and shot choice in basketball.
BET:
Wager $115 on Duren's first field goal being successful, and if your wager is correct, you win $100.
Knicks vs Pistons Playoff History
For all the years these two franchises have competed in the NBA, the Pistons and Knicks have matched up few times in the postseason. The 2025 NBA Playoffs are just the fourth time the Knicks and Pistons have met under these circumstances.
Each of the three previous playoff meetings between these two teams occurred during the Isiah Thomas "Bad Boys" era:
- 1992: Knicks 3-2 over Pistons in First Round
- 1990: Pistons 4-1 over Knicks in Eastern Conference Semifinals
- 1984: Knicks 3-2 over Pistons in First Round
In 1990, when the Pistons brushed aside Patrick Ewing and the Knicks in the second round, Detroit went on to win its second consecutive NBA Finals.
How to Watch NBA Playoffs, Thursday, May 1
Both of the games to be played tonight in the National Basketball Association Playoffs are Game 6:
- New York Knicks at Detroit Pistons, 7:30 PM EDT: TNT, TRU, MAX (Knicks lead 3 games to 2)
- Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Clippers, 10 PM EDT: TNT, TRU, MAX (Nuggets lead 3 games to 2)
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