New York Knicks at Detroit Pistons odds, picks and prediction

The New York Knicks (24-25) travel to the Motor City Saturday for an 8 p.m. ET game against the Detroit Pistons (14-34) at Little Caesars Arena. Below, we analyze the Knicks-Pistons odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.

New York has slid to seventh in the Eastern Conference after losing three in a row (0-3 against the spread), including a 99-96 beatdown at home Friday by the Dallas Mavericks. Prior to this skid, the Knicks won three straight and are now 4-4 straight up in their last eight games (3-4-1 ATS).

Detroit boat raced the Washington Wizards 120-91 as a 1-point home favorite Thursday for its second win in the past three games. The Pistons are just 3-5 straight up in their last eight games but covered the spread in five of those contests.

The Knicks are 2-0 straight up and ATS in the season series with the Pistons—winning both games by double digits—heading into their final regular-season meeting.

Knicks at Pistons: Odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:50 p.m. ET.

Money line: Knicks -125 (bet $125 to win $100) | Pistons +105 (bet $100 to win $105)
Against the spread/ATS: Knicks -1.5 (-115) | Pistons +1.5 (-105)
Over/Under: 201.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Knicks at Pistons: Key injuries

Knicks

C Mitchell Robinson (foot) out
SG RJ Barrett (ankle) probable

Pistons

C Jahlil Okafor (knee) out

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Knicks at Pistons: Odds, lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Knicks 102, Pistons 96

Money line (ML)

This is a game the KNICKS (-125) need as they fight for playoff positioning in the East and have back-to-back road games against the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics coming up next week.

That being said, this is clearly a “trap game” for New York, which explains this game’s pricing.

The Knicks hammered the Pistons earlier this season and nearly 90% of the money bet is on New York (according to Pregame.com), yet bookmakers are making the Knicks’ money line cheaper.

It makes sense given how poorly New York has played recently, but the Knicks have been a great bet this season against bad teams.

According to CleaningTheGlass.com, which removes garbage time stats, New York is 15-7 overall with the third-best ATS margin (plus-5.1 points) vs. teams in the bottom-10 of points per 100 possessions differential.

“LEAN” KNICKS (-125) for a half-unit.

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Against the spread (ATS)

PASS since New York’s money line is only 10 cents on the dollar more expensive than Knicks -1.5 (-115).

Over/Under (O/U)

This Knicks-Pistons game should be a “rock fight” as Detroit and New York are tied for 23rd in offensive rating.

Also, bookmakers know how bad New York’s offense is and how locked in defensively the Knicks are under first-year head coach Tom Thibodeau.

Still, New York is 18-31 O/U for the season and has played to the Under in eight of its last nine games.

BET UNDER 201.5 (-110) for 1 unit.

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