October 26, 2026 at 1:22 AM UTC

Pregame Analysis

Knicks Seek Late-Game Fixes as Short-Handed Pistons Arrive Firing Threes

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New York's stars should bounce back at home against a Detroit team missing Jalen Duren.

The Knicks' 0-2 start is less about talent than about finishing. They lost to the 76ers and Celtics because they could not get stops late. That is a fixable problem, but it is also the first thing to watch against a Pistons team that is shooting more than it did a year ago. The home-opener loss also saw Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges all struggle. A rebound from that trio is the most likely swing factor on Tuesday.

Detroit's biggest issue is up front. Jalen Duren has been ruled out for about two weeks with a hamstring injury suffered against Miami, and Ausar Thompson was also hurt in that game with his status uncertain. Losing Duren hurts the Pistons' frontcourt and their defense, which should give Towns more room to operate and make it harder for Detroit to protect the rim. The Pistons are also hoisting 39 threes per game through two games, up from 30.9 last season, when they ranked 29th in the league. That volume can keep them close if the shots fall, but it also makes their offense more volatile on the road.

New York's guard depth is a smaller concern. Jose Alvarado was ruled out Sunday with an ankle issue, and any lingering absence would thin the backcourt. Dalton Knecht, newly signed to a two-way deal, is expected to get G League reps with West Chester and should not be a factor.

I expect the Knicks to tighten up late at home and lean on their stars against a depleted Detroit frontline. The Pistons' three-point volume keeps this competitive, but New York gets the win.

Prediction: Knicks 111, Pistons 104.

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