For months, the Knicks were built up as contenders. For weeks, the Pistons were written off as a feel-good story.
Now they’re both in the same arena, chasing the same prize — and only one will survive the first round.
New York enters the playoffs with its most complete team in years: an All-Star duo, a rejuvenated big man rotation, and the battle scars of two straight postseason runs culminating in two straight second-round exits.
Meanwhile Detroit enters with house money in hand — but with a swagger that says they’re here to collect more than just experience.
Cade Cunningham has quickly become the NBA’s latest problem. Jalen Brunson has long since proven he’s the answer. And from OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns to Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson, this matchup will come down to who wins the edges — the matchups in the margins — and who blinks first when the game slows down in the final two minutes.
Two franchises. Two timelines. One series that promises more smoke than expected.
Here’s everything you need to know before the opening bell rings at Madison Square Garden.
TALE OF THE TAPE
This isn’t just another No. 3 vs. No 6 first-round playoff matchup. After all, six seeds have only pulled the Round 1 upset 22 times in NBA history. The Golden State Warriors were the last to pull it off in 2023, defeated the No. 3 seeded Sacramento Kings.
Traditionally, No. 3 seeds have their matchup in the bag. The Knicks can ill-afford to take the Pistons lightly.
NEW YORK KNICKS
Record: 51-31
Playoff History: Fourth trip in last five seasons; two consecutive second-round appearances.
Head Coach: Tom Thibodeau (578-420 overall; 38-47 playoffs)
Key Players: Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart
All-Stars: 2 (Brunson, Towns)
All-NBA/Defense: 4 — Brunson, Towns, Anunoby (All-Defense), Bridges (All-Defense)
Combined Playoff Experience: 471 games
Average Age: 27.6
Odds: -420 favorite
DETROIT PISTONS
Record: 44-38
Playoff History: First appearance since 2019, third since 2009.
Head Coach: J.B. Bickerstaff (299-328 overall; 7-15 playoffs)
Key Players: Cade Cunningham, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren, Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr.
All-Star Appearances: 7 (Cunningham, Harris)
All-NBA/Defense: Cunningham (projected)
Combined Playoff Experience: 243 games
Average Age: 25.5
Odds: +330 underdog
COACHING SHOWDOWN
There’s tons of experience to go around, but Thibodeau gets the edge.
The Knicks head coach enters his 10th playoff run carrying a 578-420 career record with a 38-47 record in the playoffs. Thibodeau has only advanced beyond the second round once in his career. After blockbuster trades brought Towns and Bridges to New York, the stakes couldn’t be higher, even if there’s a barricade awaiting in the second round against the Boston Celtics.
Meanwhile, Bickerstaff has orchestrated one of the NBA’s most remarkable turnarounds, guiding the Pistons from just 14 wins last season to 44 this year. The Cleveland Cavaliers moved on from him and hired Kenny Atkinson as head coach, but Bickerstaff remains a Coach of the Year candidate for resuscitating one of the NBA’s dormant franchises.
“They’ve had a great season. I think JB’s done a great job there,” Thibodeau said of Bickerstaff. “They added the really good veterans to complement the young players they have. A lot of their guys have made big steps. You look at the development of Duren and Stewart. The obvious one is Cunningham has played at a really high level. The added shooting has really helped. Shroeder was a really good pickup. Beasley has been unbelievable. Hardaway. They play both sides of the ball. And you have to be ready. Holland is a really good young player. Thompson is a terrific defender, athlete, runs the floor. They play hard.”
STAR POWER AND SUPPORTING CASTS
All eyes will be on two captains who can change a series on their own: New York’s Brunson and Detroit’s Cunningham.
Brunson, a 2025 Eastern Conference All-Star starter, averaged 26 points and 7.3 assists. Cunningham matched that intensity with 26.1 points, 9.1 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game.
“He’s had a terrific season. It’s not just [against] us, he’s done it against everybody. We understand that,” said Thibodeau. “Every game that you have a team is going to have certain strengths. You have to have the proper amount of respect. With great players you don’t guard them individually, you guard them collectively. So we have to understand what goes into that.”
Cunningham averaged 30.8 points and 8.3 assists on better than 50% shooting from both the field and three-point range in four games against the Knicks.
Brunson was equally effective — 28.3 points and eight assists on 51/42 shooting splits from the field and three — in those four matchups despite the Pistons using length and physicality at the point of attack on defense.
“You guys see it every night. It doesn’t surprise you. I try not to take it for granted and I appreciate all [Jalen] brings to our team and that he plays to win,” said Thibodeau. “His competitive spirit is spectacular. That’s all he wants to do and that’s all he’s ever been from when he was a little kid to where he is today. That’s what makes him who he is.”
But the series may hinge on secondary battles. Harris, Beasley, and Hardaway give Detroit veteran leadership and scoring. For New York, Towns, Anunoby, and Bridges bring All-NBA and All-Defense credentials, with depth unmatched by Detroit.
EXPERIENCE MATTERS
The Knicks hold a considerable playoff experience advantage.
After all, this is the Pistons’ first time in the playoffs since 2019. The Knicks, meanwhile, are on their fourth run in their last five years. This might be Year 1 of this iteration of the Knicks, but individually, New York has several key players boasting a wealth of playoff experience:
- Bridges and PJ Tucker competed against each other in the 2021 NBA Finals. Tucker won his first title alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo that season
- Brunson and Towns each made Western Conference Finals appearances. Towns rose his level of play in the conference finals last season before the Wolves traded him to the Knicks
- Anunoby was injured during the Toronto Raptors’ NBA title run but has playoff experience. Cameron Payne and Landry Shamet have a wealth of playoff experience, too.
- And Delon Wright started playoff games for the Miami Heat last season
“I like the experience that we do have. We have good veterans that have been through things,” said Thibodeau. “They’ve done a good job helping our younger guys understand what goes into it.”
Meanwhile, the Pistons are in their first rodeo. Tucker alone nearly has more playoff experience (104 games) than Detroit’s two-most seasoned vets: Harris (62) and Dennis Schroder (68). Hardaway was part of the Dallas Mavericks team that made an NBA Finals appearance last year, but playoff experience in Detroit is minimal.
“It’s a completely different basketball game. Until you’re in it, it’s hard to understand it,” Bickerstaff said. “We’ve been through this before. I say this to our coaches, at some point in time, we were all kids and didn’t listen to our parents, and we didn’t figure it out until we experienced it on our own. That’s what the playoffs are like. We can tell guys what to expect, but until they experience it themselves, you don’t understand just how different it is.”
THE CRITICAL MATCHUPS
The playoffs are all about matchups. There are two in the first round to keep an eye on.
Anunoby vs. Cunningham
After Cunningham torched the Knicks averaging nearly 31 points per game, expect defensive stopper Anunoby to step in.
Anunoby knows the responsibility but emphasizes teamwork:
“It’ll be a whole-team effort,” he said. “Just collectively, try to make it as difficult as possible on him.”
Towns vs. Pistons’ Frontline (Duren and Stewart):
Towns will face relentless physicality from Detroit’s enforcers, Isaiah Stewart and Duren. Towns, notorious for foul trouble, understands the challenge clearly: “Everybody has a plan until they get punched,” he said. “Just execute at a high level offensively and defensively.”
X-FACTORS
Knicks: Mitchell Robinson — The Knicks’ defensive anchor missed every regular-season Pistons matchup due to injury. His return propelled the Knicks’ defense into the NBA’s top-10.
“Yeah, it’s going to be a dirty series. We’re going to get out there and fight,” he said. “That’s the biggest part about it. Physicality with Detroit and us. It’s something we just have to bring.”
Pistons: Thompson — Detroit’s emerging defensive irritant will be tasked with slowing down Brunson, something few have managed.
Thompson’s growth as a defensive stopper could shift series momentum.
ADVANTAGES AND STRATEGIES
The Pistons rely heavily on toughness and brute force. Tucker said there’s only one way through a team that plays with that level of fight: “There’s no way to match the physicality other than to match it,” he said. “We know what it’s going to be. Guys gotta step up to the challenge.”
The Knicks counter with sheer talent depth. Thibodeau’s team boasts multiple options beyond Brunson, Towns, and Anunoby. Detroit lacks this level of scoring versatility, especially without injured guard Jaden Ivey.
“Yeah for sure we’re here to help [Jalen]. We know that’s the thing with why we’re brought here,” said Bridges. “It should make things so much easier for him.”
Detroit plays fast, ranked 11th in pace. New York prefers a deliberate half-court game, ranked 26th in pace. Whichever team controls tempo will have a significant advantage.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Knicks are favored for a reason: The Pistons are playing with house money. Detroit might have a 3-1 record against New York in four regular-season meetings, but the Knicks have the better pieces. It’s a matter of whether or not the pieces have learned to fit alongside one another this season.
The Knicks should be able to win this series in six, maybe even five games if they can steal Game 3 on the road in Detroit.
Anything less than a decisive victory over Detroit could spell change for one of the most expensive rosters in all of basketball.
