Knicks look to end winless skid as Pistons roll into New York without injured Jalen Duren

The NBA season is only about a week old, but some teams are already searching for answers. Slow starts can often be explained by injuries or the challenge of building chemistry with a new group. Sometimes, though, a team simply struggles to find its footing. The Pistons have raced out to a hot start, while the Knicks are still searching for answers after a rough opening week.

The Detroit Pistons enter the game with a 3-0 record, including road wins over the Heat and 76ers. They also rallied from a big deficit to beat the Celtics in their season opener.

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All three opponents are expected to contend for playoff spots, making Detroit’s hot start even more encouraging for last season’s No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

CARMELO ANTHONY THINKS KNICKS ARE THE 'TEAM TO BEAT' AS LONG AS THEY DO THIS FOLLOWING NBA TITLE WIN

Detroit Pistons C Jalen Duren dunks the ball vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game 1 in their second-round series of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. (Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images)

Winning on the road in the NBA is always tough as well. I am interested to see how this team responds to Jalen Duren being out. He missed the game against Philadelphia and likely will be out for a couple of weeks. Ausar Thompson is also hobbled with an ankle injury. Those two are probably their best defensive options. This team really revolves around how well Cade Cunningham plays, and he has scored 21.3 points per game and dished out eight assists per game.

The New York Knicks could hardly have imagined a worse start to the season. They lost their opener on the night they raised their championship banner and received their rings.

The team also endured a public relations fiasco after employees were told they would receive championship rings, only to learn the message was part of a phishing test. And shortly before the season began, the Knicks said they would no longer continue contract discussions with Karl-Anthony Towns.

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The New York Knicks look toward their new banner after receiving championship rings during a ring ceremony and banner raising to celebrate the team's NBA Championship win before a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2026, in New York City. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

A bad start could be somewhat expected, considering the team has essentially celebrated for the past four months. Winning a championship does that for a squad. 

The Knicks aren't built to try and win in the regular season; they just want to get into the postseason and look to dominate from there. It might not be that easy, though. They may not be able to just flip a switch. It's way too early to worry about that, and the losses have, for the most part, been close.

Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks reacts during the third quarter of a preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 12, 2026, in New York City. (Getty Images)

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In the three games the Knicks have played, they lost to the 76ers by six, then to the Celtics by four, and then returned home to lose by nine to the Magic. New York needs to get off the skid, and tonight may very well be that time to do it. The Pistons will not lay down for the Knicks, but I do think a group of professionals like the Knicks will take care of business tonight. Give me the Knicks to cover the -3.5.

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