Overview

• The New York Knicks, the No. 3 seed, host the No. 6 seed Detroit Pistons in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on April 19 at Madison Square Garden.
• The Knicks finished the regular season with a 51-31 record, their best since 2012-13, while Detroit secured its first playoff berth since 2019 after a significant turnaround.
• New York revamped its roster in the offseason, acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges to bolster depth and reduce reliance on star guard Jalen Brunson.
• Cade Cunningham, who averaged 30.8 points in four regular-season games against the Knicks, leads a Pistons squad eager to end their 14-game playoff losing streak dating back to 2009.
• Both teams enter the series fully healthy, with New York looking to assert its depth and experience while Detroit seeks to capitalize on its late-season momentum.