NEW YORK – Playoff basketball returns to Madison Square Garden today as the New York Knicks face the Detroit Pistons in Game 1 of their first-round series. New York enters the matchup favored, boasting a strong regular season record of 51-31. They finished second in the Atlantic Division.
The Pistons team, despite a challenging 44-38 record, made significant strides this season, marking a notable improvement from the previous year. Their return to the postseason follows a lengthy drought.
The series features compelling individual matchups. Jalen Brunson leads the Knicks offense, averaging over 26 points per game in the regular season. He is supported by Karl-Anthony Towns, who anchored the boards. For Detroit, Cade Cunningham drives their attack, showing progress in scoring and playmaking.
Oddsmakers position the Knicks as clear favorites to advance. This aligns with widespread expert predictions collected from numerous sports outlets. Only a few analysts believe Detroit can pull off the upset.
New York holds a considerable edge in playoff experience and overall roster depth. While the Pistons have fought hard to reach this point, their postseason history includes an NBA-record playoff losing streak, a burden the current squad aims to shed.
Injuries could play a role in the series outcome. Fans can monitor the full injury report for both teams heading into Game 1 and beyond.
The series opens in New York before shifting to Detroit for Games 3 and 4. Game 2 is scheduled for April 21, Game 3 on April 24, and Game 4 on April 27. If needed, later games are set for April 29 (Game 5), May 1 (Game 6), and May 3 (Game 7).
Fans looking to attend future matchups can find Knicks tickets through verified ticket marketplaces.
The opening contest is today at 6:00 PM at Madison Square Garden. You can follow live updates here as the series begins. A preview of the game is also available.
Experts have offered their predictions for the series winner, with the majority picking New York to move on.
