After one of the most successful All-Star breaks in recent memory, the NBA is back to regular season action Thursday night.
Tipping off the home stretch of the season is an Eastern Conference heavyweight matchup: the first-place Detroit Pistons (40-13) head to New York to take on the third-place Knicks (35-20, six games back) at Madison Square Garden.
The Pistons will be without Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart, who are both serving their suspensions for their roles in last week’s brawl with the Charlotte Hornets. This will be the final game of Duren’s two-game suspension, so he will be available to return for Detroit’s next game against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday. Stewart, however, still has five more games to go after he was suspended for seven games, the worst punishment from the scuffle because he left the bench and entered the floor to pursue Miles Bridges.
On the other side, the Knicks will have everyone from their 15-man roster available except for OG Anunoby who has been dealing with an avulsion in his right toenail. He’s listed as probable as of the NBA’s latest injury report.
New York also made an addition right before All-Star weekend by signing Jeremy Sochan, who was waived by the San Antonio Spurs. He’s available to make his Knicks debut.
Here’s what you need to know about Thursday night’s game between the Knicks and Pistons:
End Q2: Pistons 58, Knicks 48
The Pistons may be missing their top two centers, All-Star Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart (both to suspension), but they’re taking it to the Knicks.
Detroit closed the second quarter on a 7-0 run to open a 10-point lead in Madison Square Garden. The Knicks committed far too many turnovers and continued to struggle with their perimeter shooting in the second; New York has now missed 16 consecutive 3 pointers after it made its first of the game and is shooting just 6.3% from beyond the arc.
Cade Cunningham is continuing to control the offense for Detroit. He’s pushing the ball out in transition, finding his spots and dishing passes to his teammates to the tune of 24 points and 4 assists on 9-of-19 shooting.
New York, meanwhile, will need to scheme ways for Karl-Anthony Towns to become more active and engaged on offense. Towns is just 1-of-3 for 2 points with 5 rebounds. Towns is having a tough time finding his spots and at times has appeared disengaged.
Knicks 3-point shooting woes continue
New York made its first 3 pointer of the game, just seconds into the night. Since then, the Knicks have missed 14 consecutive 3s to shoot just 7.1% from beyond the arc, midway through the second quarter.
Karl-Anthony Towns with a quiet quarter
The Knicks big man has faced criticism over the past several weeks for a lack of intensity and intentional play. Towns had just 1 shot attempt in the first quarter, though he did look to distribute with two assists.
Still, for the Knicks to be elite, they will need more offensive production out of Towns.
End Q1: Pistons 28, Knicks 26
The Pistons battled back.
Detroit clamped up its defense and pestered New York into contested shots, which led to chances for Cade Cunningham to operate the offense in open space. Cunningham was the catalyst for Detroit, dropping a game-high 14 points in the first quarter on 5-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
That was the difference in the first quarter, as Detroit was able to hit its open 3s, while the Knicks struggled to find bottom on theirs; the Pistons converted 3 pointers at 40%, while New York went just 1-of-8 (12.5%) in the period.
Jalen Brunson led the way for New York with 9 points.
Late in the first, new acquisition Jeremy Sochan made his Knicks debut, after the team signed him following his buyout with the Spurs.
Knicks vs. Pistons is underway
Jalen Brunson laced his first shot post-All-Star break, a stepback 3, and the Pistons missed their first four shots of the game as we’re underway in the Garden.
Detroit has started just 1-of-8 from the field, as New York has opened an early 9-2 lead just minutes into the game.
Knicks vs. Pistons starting lineups
Detroit Pistons
Cade Cunningham
Duncan Robinson
Ausar Thompson
Tobias Harris
Paul Reed
New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson
OG Anunoby
Mikal Bridges
Josh Hart
Karl-Anthony Towns
Knicks vs. Pistons injury report
(Updated 5:00 p.m. ET)
Knicks: OG Anunoby (right toenail avulsion; probable), Miles McBride (pelvic, core muscle surgery; out), Pacome Dadiet (G League assignment; questionable), Trey Jemison III (G League – two-way; questionable), Dillon Jones (G League – two-way; questionable), Kevin McCullar Jr. (G League – two-way; questionable)
Pistons: Jalen Duren (league suspension; out), Isaiah Stewart (league suspension; out), Bobi Klintman (G League assignment; out), Wendell Moore Jr. (G League – two-way; out)
How to watch Pistons vs. Knicks: TV channel, live stream
Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Madison Square Garden (New York)
TV Channel: MSG Networks
Live stream: Amazon Prime
Pistons vs. Knicks odds
Spread: Knicks by 4.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 222.5 (O/U -110)
Moneyline: Knicks -185
Knicks next five games
Feb. 21 vs. Houston Rockets
Feb. 22 at Chicago Bulls
Feb. 24 at Cleveland Cavaliers
Feb. 27 at Milwaukee Bucks
March 1 vs. San Antonio Spurs
Pistons next five games
Feb. 21 at Chicago Bulls
Feb. 23 vs. San Antonio Spurs
Feb. 25 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Feb. 27 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
March 1 at Orlando Magic
