New York aims to win back-to-back games for the first time in two weeks.
The Knicks are entering a Monday’s game off a win, something that has happened just twice in the first 12 days of the 2025 calendar year, coincidentally only ahead of matchups against the OKC Thunder.
This opponent is quite different, however, as New York defeated the Bucks on Sunday and will go against the visiting Detroit Pistons inside the comfort of MSG for what could be their first consecutive wins since they put dub-and-dub together for the last time in Dec. 30-Jan. 1.
The Eastern Conference matchup sees the Knicks enter play at 19-9 in conference games while the Pistons boast a balanced 14-14 in such games. Adding hope to New York’s chances on Monday, even playing on the second leg of a back-to-back slate, is the fact that the hosts are 13-6 inside MSG to Detroit’s 10-10 record on road games.
Also, New York trounced Detroit 128-98 in their first meeting of the season… but then proceeded to crumble at the hands of the Motowners, dropping an early-December matchup 120-111.
Starters & Injury Reports
Do I need to tell you who the Knicks will field at this point in the season? The starting five is a lock barring Jalen Brunson’s presence on it depending on how he feels following Sunday’s scare, but other than that our five is hella chalk.
Since they lost Jaden Ivey for the season, Detroit has used a bit of a mixture of starting five units. Count on Cade Cunningham to lead the team along with, most probably, a foursome comprised of OAKAAK Tim Hardaway, Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris, and Ausar Thompson.
As I’m writing this in the wee hours (hello from across the pond), the Knicks haven’t even submitted their injury report yet. Detroit has done so, though, and they’re listing no starter in it barring Ivey, who, yeah, not happening.
Prediction
ESPN.com favors the Knicks to win by nearly 60%, which is more than fair but also describes this trap game to perfection.
It’s time for New York to make some sort of statement, win two games in a row for the first time since the squad sandwiched New Year’s Eve with victories on Dec. 30 and Jan. 1, and start a winning run ahead of the trip to Philadelphia on Wednesday. Knicks by 7.
Game Details
Date: Monday, January 13, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
TV: MSG, FDSDET
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