Detroit Pistons vs. New York Knicks 2019-20 season preview

Series prediction

Game 1: Nov. 6, 7 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena
Game 2: Feb. 8, 7 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena
Game 3: March 8, 7:30 p.m. at Madison Square Garden
Game 4: April 14, 7:30 p.m. at Madison Square Garden

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Looking at how the Knicks games fit into the Pistons schedule, there’s no reason for them no to play to dominate this matchup. The first meeting is sandwiched by off days between two road games. The second meeting is the second night of a back-to-back, which begins in Oklahoma City. So the Pistons could concede the first game with load management as a third game in four days is against Charlotte.

The third game of the series is the second game of a back-to-back that is at home against the Jazz, a very difficult opponent. That game is the first at the Garden this season and also opens a critical three-game road trip with stops in Philadelphia and Toronto before a brutal seven-game stretch against projected playoff teams and Western Conference powers.

Detroit closes the season, yet again, at the Garden. Last year the Pistons used it to clinch the eighth seed in the East. It could prove meaningful again with playoff seeding on the line. It’s also the third meeting in the series where it’s the second game of a back-to-back.

Prediction: Pistons win 3-1

One of the four meetings is going to trip Detroit up at some point due to the back-to-backs, travel, load management, etc. But winning the series is most important, taking care of business against an expected-cellar dweller.

This is the 19th preview in Piston Powered’s season preview series, taking a look at how the Pistons stack up against all 29 NBA teams. Here are the previews to date.

Atlanta Hawks
Brooklyn Nets
Boston Celtics
Charlotte Hornets
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Dallas Mavericks
Denver Nuggets
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Clippers
Memphis Grizzlies
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
New Orleans Pelicans