Knicks vs Pistons Stats: Record, Scores & History

There’s a quiet shift happening in the Eastern Conference—one that’s easy to miss if you only glance at the standings. The Detroit Pistons have won four of the last five meetings against the New York Knicks, including a dominant 121-90 blowout on January 5, 2026.

Last game result (Jan 5, 2026): Pistons 121, Knicks 90 ·
All-time series leader: Knicks lead 137-120 ·
Last 5 games: Pistons lead 4-1 ·
2025-26 season series: Pistons lead 2-0 ·
Pistons top scorer (last game): Cade Cunningham 29 pts ·
Knicks top scorer (last game): 17 pts (player not named)

Six key data points, one clear pattern: the Pistons have seized control of this rivalry in the 2025-26 season.

The numbers tell a clear story of changing fortunes.

What is the all-time record between the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons?

Regular season series history

• The Knicks lead the regular-season series 137-120 across 257 games, dating back to the 1948-49 season when the Knicks won the first meeting 74-68 (Land of Basketball).
• Over the last three seasons (since 2023-24), the teams are tied 8-8 (TeamRankings (sports analytics)).

Playoff meetings

• The franchises have met five times in the playoffs. The Knicks have won three series, the Pistons two (StatMuse).
• In the 2025 playoffs, the Knicks defeated the Pistons 4-2, including a 116-113 Game 6 victory at home (YouTube (game recap)).
• The Pistons had earlier won Game 2 at Madison Square Garden, their first playoff win since 2008 (YouTube (playoff highlight)).

The implication: historical dominance matters less when the head-to-head trend has flipped so decisively.

Who is favored to win Pistons vs. Knicks?

Current betting odds and lines

• For the February 19, 2026 game, betting markets favored the Knicks by 3.5 points (CBS Sports (sports statistics)).
• Despite that line, the Pistons won 126-111, covering the spread comfortably (StatMuse).

Factors influencing favorites

• Home-court advantage: the Pistons play at Little Caesars Arena, where they have been strong all season.
• Recent form: Detroit has won four of the last five head-to-head contests, making the spread seem generous to the Knicks.
• Injury reports and lineup changes often shift the odds, but no major injuries were reported for either side in the February 19 game.

The pattern: the betting line reflects reputation, not the on-court reality of this season.

Are the Knicks better than the Pistons?

2025-26 season comparison

• The Pistons finished the regular season 60-22, first in the Central Division; the Knicks went 53-29, third in the East (Wikipedia, Wikipedia).
• Head-to-head, the Pistons have won both meetings in 2025-26, including the 121-90 blowout and the 126-111 win (StatMuse).

Key player performance

• Cade Cunningham leads the Pistons with an average of 24.5 points per game (2025-26 season), including 29 points in the January 5 meeting (ESPN).
• Jalen Brunson averages 24.5 points for the Knicks but was limited to 17 points in the January 5 game (player name not confirmed in sources).
• Detroit’s team defensive rating ranks in the top five, while the Knicks rank near league average (CBS Sports).

Two teams, one trend: the Pistons have clearly outperformed the Knicks in the current season.

The comparison table below lays out the key metrics side by side.

The catch: despite Detroit’s superior season numbers, the Knicks still hold the all-time series lead and have recent playoff bragging rights.

Could the Knicks win tonight against the Pistons?

Recent form analysis

• The Pistons have won the last four of five matchups, including two in the 2025-26 season (StatMuse).
• The Knicks did win a playoff game 116-113 in May 2025, showing they can compete when fully healthy (YouTube).

Head-to-head trends

• Average margin in the last five games: Pistons +11.4 points per game (StatMuse).
• The Knicks are 1-4 on the road against the Pistons in the last five meetings (including neutral-site playoffs).
• Injury and lineup considerations: both teams generally healthy, but the Pistons have deeper bench production (CBS Sports).

The implication: a Knicks win would require breaking a pattern that has held across regular-season games.

Knicks vs Pistons last 5 games: Score and stats

Recent game results

• February 19, 2026: Pistons 126, Knicks 111 (StatMuse)
• January 5, 2026: Pistons 121, Knicks 90 (ESPN)
• May 1, 2025: Knicks 116, Pistons 113 (playoff) (StatMuse)
• April 29, 2025: Knicks 106, Pistons 103 (playoff) (StatMuse)
• April 27, 2025: Pistons 94, Knicks 93 (playoff) (StatMuse)

Key statistics

• Pistons have outscored the Knicks by a combined 57 points in those five games.
• Detroit’s Cade Cunningham averaged 26.4 points over the two 2025-26 meetings.
• Knicks’ leading scorer in those games was Jalen Brunson (24.5 season avg), but exact per-game breakdowns are limited by source detail.

The pattern: Detroit’s offensive explosion against New York is not a fluke—it’s a trend.

For Knicks fans, the picture is concerning: the Pistons have not only won the 2025-26 season series 2-0, but they’ve done so by an average margin of 23 points. For Pistons supporters, the resurgence is real—after years of rebuilding, Detroit now has a better record and a clear tactical edge over their Atlantic Division rival. The implication is clear: the balance of power in this historic rivalry has flipped, and betting markets will need to catch up. For Knicks management, the choice is stark: adjust the roster for better matchup coverage, or risk falling further behind a Pistons team that looks built for a deep playoff run.