The No. 6 seed Detroit Pistons are looking to even their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the No. 3 seed New York Knicks in Game 4 on Sunday afternoon. The series stands at 2-1 in favor of the Knicks. Detroit managed to split the first two games at Madison Square Garden, securing a Game 2 victory after a Game 1 loss. However, New York reclaimed the series lead with a road win in Game 3 in Detroit on Thursday. In the third game, the Knicks established a 13-point lead by halftime and successfully held off a late rally attempt by the Pistons. The series is set to return to New York for Game 5 on Tuesday night.
Game 4 is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, taking place at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. According to the latest odds available on FanDuel Sportsbook, the Pistons are listed as 2-point favorites for this matchup, with the over/under for the total combined points set at 217. Detroit holds a money line of -133.
Why Detroit Might Cover the Spread
Detroit has already demonstrated their ability to bounce back from a loss in this series, following up their Game 1 defeat with a 100-94 win in Game 2. Despite being 6.5-point underdogs in that second game, Cade Cunningham delivered a strong performance with 33 points and 12 rebounds, achieving a double-double. Forward Tobias Harris also recorded a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds, as did center Jalen Duren with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
In Game 3, Cunningham tied for the team`s highest scoring total, putting up 24 points on 10-of-25 shooting. Guard Tim Hardaway Jr. matched that scoring output with 24 points, including seven successful 3-pointers. The Pistons will be determined to tie the series on Sunday and have a recent history of covering the spread against New York in four of their last six meetings.
Why New York Might Cover the Spread
New York has successfully covered the spread in both games they have won so far in this series, including their 123-112 victory in Game 1. The Knicks secured that first game with a decisive 21-0 run in the fourth quarter, largely fueled by Jalen Brunson, who finished with 34 points and eight assists. Brunson has maintained his offensive momentum throughout the series, scoring 37 points in Game 2 and adding 30 points in Game 3.
Forward Karl-Anthony Towns, who has faced considerable scrutiny, had a strong outing in Game 3 with 31 points and eight rebounds. Small forwards OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges also contributed significantly, combining for 42 points and nine rebounds. This highlights a balanced offensive effort from New York. The Knicks have a favorable record against the spread recently, covering in nine of their last 13 games.
Expert Model Insights
A sophisticated computer model, which has simulated the matchup between the Knicks and Pistons 10,000 times, indicates that the total score is likely to stay Under 217 points, projecting approximately 215 points. The model also identifies one specific side of the point spread as offering better value.
