Pistons vs Knicks Player Props to Bet (Feb 19)

• With Detroit missing key interior size, Karl-Anthony Towns offers immense value to clear his rebounding total of 11.5
• Why Detroit’s Cade Cunningham is poised to exceed his point total
• We analyze the player prop market and recommend the best bets for Pistons at Knicks

The New York Knicks host the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons tonight. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 pm, ET, with national streaming coverage provided by Amazon Prime Video and local broadcasts on MSG.

While there no doubt is interest in the spread and total, our focus is strictly on finding the best value in the player prop market. The Pistons are without starting center Jalen Duren and backup big Isaiah Stewart due to league suspensions, which also impacts the props.

This preview breaks down the tactical mismatches and identifies the strongest value on the board for this heavy-hitting conference clash between the Knicks and Pistons.

Knicks vs Pistons Player Props & Odds

Odds courtesy of DraftKings and FanDuel as of February 19, 2026.

Smart money is already shaping the frontcourt markets. Karl-Anthony Towns’ scoring line shows variance across books; while the consensus is 18.5 points, DraftKings opened at 19.5, signaling potential bullishness on his offensive role against a depleted interior. On the glass, his rebounding total is a lofty 11.5, yet the under is juiced to -135, suggesting bookmakers respect the line but anticipate a battle.

For the Pistons, Cade Cunningham’s assist prop of 8.5 is seeing significant action toward the Under (-145). This heavy juice implies oddsmakers expect New York’s perimeter defense to cut off passing lanes, forcing Cunningham into a scorer’s mentality — a theory supported by his points line holding steady at 24.5. Additionally, Paul Reed is seeing inflated lines of 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds, a direct adjustment to the minutes he must absorb in the absence of Detroit’s starting center rotation.

Knicks vs Pistons Best Prop Bets

The Pick: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 Rebounds (+102 at DraftKings)

The narrative here is simple: Detroit has no size. With Duren and Stewart suspended, the Pistons are forced to play undersized rotations against one of the best rebounding teams in the NBA.

• Situational Trend: Towns has cleared this number in 80% of his last 5 games (4 out of 5), averaging 11.8 boards in that span.
• Home Cooking: He averages 12.2 rebounds per game at MSG this season, significantly higher than his road splits.
• Form: Over his last 10 games, Towns is tearing down 14.2 rebounds per contest. Getting this at plus-money is exceptional value.

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Pick #2: Cade Cunningham Under 8.5 Assists (-145 at BetMGM)

While Cunningham is an elite playmaker, the game script suggests he will need to score, not distribute. The Knicks allow just 24.6 assists per game (top tier in the NBA) and generally stay home on shooters, forcing ball-handlers to beat them one-on-one.

• Situational Trend: The heavy juice on the under aligns with the Pistons’ roster issues. Without his primary lob threats (Duren/Stewart), Cunningham’s pick-and-roll passing options are severely limited.

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Pick #3: Cade Cunningham Over 24.5 Points (-112 at FanDuel)

If he isn’t passing, he’s shooting. Cunningham has a 31.8% Usage Rate over his last five games and faces a Knicks backcourt missing their best perimeter defender off the bench (McBride).

• Situational Trend: Cunningham has scored 25+ points in 4 of his last 5 games, averaging 26.2 PPG. On the road, he remains aggressive, taking nearly 19 shots per game.

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Knicks vs Pistons Injury Report & Impact

The availability of key personnel is heavily skewing the lines for this matchup.

Knicks:

• OG Anunoby (PF): Questionable — Recovering from a toe injury. While listed as questionable, reports from Wednesday’s practice indicate he is “ready to play.” His presence would boost New York’s wing defense.
• Miles McBride (PG): Out — Sidelined with a core muscle injury requiring surgery.

Pistons:

• Suspensions: While the injury report is technically clean, the Pistons are without starting center Jalen Duren and backup big Isaiah Stewart due to league suspensions. This leaves a massive void in rim protection and rebounding.

Betting Impact: The potential return of Anunoby stabilizes the Knicks’ rotation, but the confirmed absence of Detroit’s bigs is the headline. The market has adjusted Paul Reed’s props upward, but perhaps not enough given he is the only viable center on the roster. If Anunoby sits, expect Josh Hart to see his rebounding prop of 7.5 take serious sharp money.

Knicks vs Pistons Odds, Spread, and Game Information

The NBA public betting market has firmed up with New York as a distinct favorite. The moneyline has moved from -156 to -180, reflecting confidence in the Knicks’ ability to handle the short-handed Pistons. The total has seen a slight tick upward to 222.5, suggesting respect for Detroit’s offensive pace despite New York’s slow tempo.

• Spread: Knicks -4.5 (-105) | Pistons +4.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: Knicks -180 | Pistons +150
• Total: Over/Under 222.5 (-109/-111)

Game Details:

• Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026
• Time: 7:30 PM EST
• Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
• Broadcast: MSG (Local), Amazon Prime Video (National)