The New York Knicks are the defending NBA champions, but you wouldn’t know it from their record right now. They’re sitting at a shocking 0-3 to start the 2026-27 season, making them just the third defending champion in league history to begin the following year winless through three games. Talk about a brutal start to defending your title.
A Champion’s Nightmare Start
While the Knicks are reeling, their opponents for Tuesday, the Detroit Pistons, are off to a red-hot 3-0 start. This isn’t just a bad week for New York, though, it’s a continuation of a weird trend. Last year, the Pistons were the *only* Eastern Conference team the Knicks couldn’t beat, sweeping them 3-0. And it gets worse: Detroit has actually won each of the last six regular season matchups against the reigning champs. That’s a serious mental hurdle the Knicks have to overcome if they want to get their first win of the season. The game tips off at 8 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden, and you know the energy will be wild.
The Numbers Favor the Over, Even With Duren Out
When it comes to the betting lines, the Knicks are a 4.5-point favorite against the Pistons, with the over/under set at 218.5 points. The SportsLine Projection Model, which has racked up nearly $19,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks since 2018, is heavily leaning on the total going OVER 218.5. This model is seriously good, hitting on a 26-10 (72%) run on top-rated spread picks coming into Week 2. Looking at the historical data, it’s easy to see why. The last four regular season matchups between these two teams at Madison Square Garden have all gone over the total. In fact, seven of their last eight meetings overall have seen the total eclipsed, with five of those seven going over by double digits and all by at least six points. Detroit’s also seen the Over hit in two of their three games this season. Plus, the Pistons will be without Jalen Duren, who is out with a hamstring injury, and that absence should certainly help the Knicks put some points on the scoreboard.
Can the defending champions finally get on the board and snap their six-game losing streak to the Pistons? Or will Detroit continue their surprising undefeated run and extend their dominance over New York? Tuesday night’s game is setting up to be a must-watch, even if it’s just to see if the champs can figure it out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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