Buckle up, because we’ve got an absolutely wild Eastern Conference showdown on deck tonight. If you told me three months ago that I’d be hyping up a January game in Detroit as a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview, I would have told you to lay off the eggnog. But here we are. Let’s dive into our Knicks vs Pistons predictions, and we’ll discuss the best player prop bets for Monday.
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Knicks vs Pistons Predictions and Player Props Today – Monday, Jan. 5
The New York Knicks (23-12) are heading to the Motor City to take on the surprise juggernaut of the East—the Detroit Pistons (26-9).
Yeah, you read that right. Detroit. Twenty-six wins. The Pistons are sitting at the top of the conference like they own the place. It’s one of the most insane turnarounds I’ve ever seen, but injuries are starting to pile up for both squads. This game is going to be a fascinating stress test for both rosters, and with key pieces missing, the value is hiding in the player props.
New York enters this game on a bit of a slide, having dropped three straight, including a tough 119-116 loss to the 76ers on Saturday. Jalen Brunson (25.9 PPG) continues to be the a beast, but the offense has stagnated slightly without consistent secondary scoring. With Hart out, the Knicks lose their best rebounding guard, which is a problem against a physical Detroit team—even without Duren.
However, this is a “get right” spot. They’ve had a day of rest, and they are facing a Pistons team missing its starting center. That screams Karl-Anthony Towns game.
Detroit has been the story of the season. They are coming off a gritty 112-109 win in Cleveland, proving they can win tough road games. Cade Cunningham (25.6 PPG, 7.4 APG) has made the leap to legitimate superstardom. But the injuries are mounting. Winning without Duren and Harris puts a ton of pressure on their young depth. Their defense, usually stout, will be vulnerable in the paint tonight.
Check out some of the popular Knicks vs Pistons player props for tonight’s game on Underdog:
Knicks vs Pistons Injury Report
Detroit Pistons:
- Jalen Duren (Center) – OUT (Ankle): This is the massive blow. Duren anchors their defense and cleans the glass like he’s Windex. Without him, expect Isaiah Stewart and Paul Reed to split minutes at the 5. Stewart is very good defensively in the pain, but he commits a fair share of fouls, and KAT presents a tough matchup, playing outside of the paint frequently.
- Tobias Harris (Forward) – OUT (Hip): The veteran stabilizer is gone tonight. His minutes will likely be absorbed by the young guns—Ausar Thompson and rookie Ron Holland. More athleticism? Sure. But less veteran savvy in crunch time.
- Caris LeVert (Guard/Forward) – DOUBTFUL (Knee): Another key rotation piece likely sidelined. This puts even more scoring burden on Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.
New York Knicks:
- Josh Hart (Forward) – OUT (Ankle): The energizer bunny is down. Hart does all the dirty work—rebounding, defending up a position, pushing the break. His absence means Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby will have to log last year’s Thibs-level heavy minutes. Miles McBride and Jordan Clarkson could see extra burn too.
Knicks vs Pistons Odds & How To Watch
- Date: Monday, January 5, 2026
- Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. ET
- TV: Peacock
- Venue: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
- Odds: Knicks -1 | O/U 232.5
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Knicks vs Pistons Top Pick
There are plenty of Knicks vs Pistons player props to choose from for Monday. Let’s dive into my top pick for tonight’s Knicks vs Pistons game!
NBA Player Prop Bet: Karl-Anthony Towns Higher Than 20.5 Points
This line feels disrespectful for a player of KAT’s caliber in this specific matchup. I’m jumping on this before the market corrects itself.
- The Matchup: No Jalen Duren. That means Towns is matched up against Isaiah Stewart (undersized) or Paul Reed (foul-prone). KAT can shoot over Stewart and drive past Reed. It’s barbecue chicken.
- The Usage: Towns has a solid 26% usage rate this season. Without Josh Hart (who eats up possessions with transition pushes and offensive rebounds), the offense will funnel even more through the Brunson/Towns two-man game.
- The Trends: Towns averages 23.5 points per 36 minutes when Josh Hart is off the floor. The “sporadic” scoring narrative has kept this line low, but the opportunity tonight is massive. He should feast in the pick-and-pop and post-up game.
Good luck!
