Knicks Beat Unbeaten Pistons 111-97 for First Win, Head to Chicago on Back-to-Back

The New York Knicks finally won a game in their title defense, and they did it against the team that had their number. Karl-Anthony Towns put up 27 points and 20 rebounds Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden as New York beat the previously unbeaten Detroit Pistons 111-97. The win moved the defending champions to 1-3. As the Associated Press noted, it kept them from becoming only the second defending champion in NBA history to start 0-4.

It did not start well. Detroit led 38-25 after one quarter, with Paul Reed doing most of the damage while starting for the injured Jalen Duren. Reed had 16 points by halftime and finished with 22. After that the Knicks clamped down. AFP reported that New York held the Pistons to 25 points across the second and third quarters combined, turning a one-point halftime edge into a 25-point lead going into the fourth. Jalen Brunson went 1-for-9 in the first half but hit his first three shots of the third quarter, starting an 11-0 run that broke the game open. He finished with 23 points on 5-of-18 shooting and seven assists. Mikal Bridges made his first four 3-pointers of the season and scored 12.

The result also ends an ugly run against Detroit. The Pistons had won the last six regular-season meetings and swept all three last season by an average of 30 points, ESPN reported. Before Tuesday, the Knicks had been outscored by 26 points in second halves through three games. Mike Brown said his team's physicality on Detroit's shooters was much better than in the previous game, and ESPN reported that Brown pushed Towns at halftime to do more against Reed. Brunson told ESPN the team had to "just continue to hit singles" until it found its rhythm. The night was also chippy: ESPN's highlights included Towns and Reed getting into it.

What it means for Chicago

There is no time to dwell on it. The Knicks play the second night of a back-to-back Wednesday at the Chicago Bulls, and Chicago did not play Tuesday. Both teams are 1-3. New York's three losses came by a combined 19 points: 106-100 to Philadelphia, 107-103 at Boston and 111-102 to Orlando. Chicago's numbers are worse. According to Basketball Reference, the Bulls are allowing 129.5 points per game, last in the league, and play at the fastest pace in the NBA. They come in off a 134-99 loss at Boston. Fubo News lists Jose Alvarado as day-to-day with an ankle injury after he sat out against Detroit. Chicago is without Nic Claxton (hamstring).

Across the 12 venues on our board, the Knicks are clear favorites despite the travel. Novig has New York at -257 on the moneyline and Chicago at +251. On the spread, Novig lists the Knicks as 7.5-point favorites at +102. The best Knicks number anywhere is DraftKings at -6.5 (-118), so the market is split between 6.5 and 7.5. Novig's total is 232.5, with the over at +104. Pinnacle has the best over price at 232 (-109), which is about what you would expect with the league's fastest team involved. Sportsbook hold on the moneyline runs from 2.9% to 5.1%.

The question for Wednesday is whether the Knicks' improvement in the second half against Detroit carries over to a road game on short rest.