We’re about to get a potential preview of the Eastern Conference Finals tonight, as the third-seeded New York Knicks take on the first-seeded Detroit Pistons. The two heavyweights have already locked horns twice this season, with the young and hungry Pistons dominating the Knicks both times.

Cade Cunningham and Co. defeated the Knicks, 121-90 and 118-80, on January 5th and February 6th, respectively. New York will be hoping to change that tonight in front of their home crowd. But not just because they want to get their redemption against the Pistons.

Instead, they are eyeing the second seed in the East, currently held by their fierce rivals, the Boston Celtics. This makes tonight’s clash less about their contest with the Pistons and more about the rivalry with the Cs. However, the question is, will they be able to get a win tonight?

New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons: Where to watch

Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026

Time : 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video and MSG

New York Knicks vs Detroit Pistons: Injury Reports

Both teams enter this game with relatively healthy rosters, adding another layer of excitement to this clash. But here are the few who will remain on the sidelines:

New York Knicks

For the New York Knicks, OG Anunoby and Miles McBride are the two players who might not suit up for this game because of toe and core muscle injuries, respectively. Of course, both of these could be massive blows, especially Anunoby’s, who is questionable for the game, which will affect New York’s odds against Detroit.

Detroit Pistons

Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons will miss only a single player as they enter this game with almost the entire roster available. Ronald Holland II will not be playing tonight due to personal reasons. That said, let’s move on to the predicted starting lineups for this massive battle in New York.

New York Knicks vs Detroit Pistons: Probable Lineups

This is how both teams could field their starting fives for their highly anticipated game:

New York Knicks

• PG: Jalen Brunson
• SG: Josh Hart
• SF: Mikal Bridges
• PF: OG Anunoby (probable)
• C: Karl-Anthony Towns

Detroit Pistons

• PG: Cade Cunningham
• SG: Duncan Robinson
• SF: Ausar Thompson
• PF: Tobias Harris
• C: Paul Reed

Prediction: Can the Knicks get their first win against the Pistons this season?

So, the stage is set for an exciting Round 3 between the Knicks and the Pistons. According to Polymarket, the New York Knicks are heavy favorites to win tonight, despite Detroit leading the season series 2-0.

The moneyline gives the Knicks a 62% win probability, which is significantly higher than the Pistons’ 39%. Nonetheless, even though bettors think that Jalen Brunson and New York will finally open their account against Detroit, a -3.5 spread indicates a close affair.

Despite this being predicted as a close game, it will be high-scoring, with the total tipped at around 222.5. So, we expect both teams to go hard on offense tonight, which makes sense given each team’s depth.

Overall, the market suggests the Knicks will avoid a third straight defeat against the Pistons this season. Even though they haven’t looked convincing against them, New York does enter this game coming off an emphatic 138-89 win over the 76ers before the All-Star break.

In addition to that, they have been relatively consistent at home, boasting a 21-7 record so far. However, this matchup will still rely heavily on Jalen Brunson. The Knicks’ point guard has been the backbone of his team, delivering when needed. So, if the Pistons find a way to contain him, they could turn the tables.