DETROIT >> The Detroit Pistons (44-38) will begin the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks in a No. 3-vs.-No. 6 matchup. The Knicks will have home-court advantage as a higher seed, having finished the regular season with a 51-31 record.

Game 1 is slated for 6 p.m. Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

The best-of-seven matchup will be the Pistons’ first playoff series since 2019, and several young players on the team will experience the postseason for the first time.

The Knicks, meanwhile, are entering the postseason with an experienced roster and are favored to win the series.

“I think J.B. (Bickerstaff) has done a terrific job; I thought he did a terrific job in Cleveland,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said.

“I think they have a lot of young players, and they’ve gotten better, and that usually happens with experience. And I think they added really good veterans that have complemented their young players really well. So, they’ve been consistent from the start of the season throughout, and they’re strong on both sides of the ball.”

Plenty will influence which team advances to the next round, but here are five notable factors from the Knicks’ perspective.

Knicks could be entering the playoffs in turmoil

Although the Knicks are entering the series as heavy favorites, they are in a slump heading into the postseason. New York has dropped three of its final four games, including a 115-106 loss to the Pistons on Thursday. Several factors have played into the Knicks’ recent slippage, and all is not good in the Big Apple.

They have experienced a decline in nearly every statistical category, especially on the offensive end. The Knicks have produced a top-10 offense for much of the season, with an offensive rating of 117.3 while scoring 115.8 points per game. However, over the previous four games, New York’s offense has plunged to No. 17, with a rating of 112.9 while scoring an average of 109.5 points.

Before defeating the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday to end their three-game losing streak, New York blew a 23-point lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, who were resting most of their core players. After the game, Thibodeau gave a glimpse into the Knicks’ frustration, stating that the team must “fix their issues fast.”

Jalen Brunson is a postseason savant

Several factors have contributed to the Knicks’ struggles at the end of the season. However, one of the biggest reasons was the absence of All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson. After sustaining an ankle injury against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 6, Brunson missed 15 games and spent his last four games played trying to re-integrate himself back into the game.

Brunson might not be 100% healthy following the long layoff entering Game 1. However, his postseason track record demonstrates that he will be a challenging defensive assignment for the Pistons. Since his playoff debut as a Knick in 2023, Brunson has averaged 30.3 points per game, producing the third-highest scoring average in the league.

In Thibodeau’s core rotation, Brunson was one of two players (Mikal Bridges is the other) who played in all four games of New York’s season series against Detroit, and scored 30 points or more three times. He averaged 28.3 points on 51.2% shooting, including 41.9% shooting from deep against the Pistons.

Mitchell Robinson could give the Knicks an additional boost

Every time the Pistons faced the Knicks, injuries to various players have forced Thibodeau to use different lineups. However, the continued absence of Mitchell Robinson could provide New York with an extra advantage in their first-round series. Robinson missed the first three games against the Pistons while recovering from offseason ankle surgery and was inactive in their regular-season finale on April 10. The big man has the potential to be the primary X-factor who can shift the series in New York’s favor due to his rebounding. In 17 games played this season, Robinson has averaged 5.9 boards while maintaining his position as one of the league’s best offensive rebounders with an average of 3.1. If Robinson maintains his ability to secure offensive rebounds, it will prevent the Pistons from getting out and running in transition, which has become one of their offense’s strongest aspects. The Pistons finished the regular season losing six of their final eight games, and rebounding played a significant role in their struggles. Over the last eight games, Detroit allowed its opponents to average 13 offensive rebounds while losing the battle on the glass by 6.2 boards.

Cunningham is emerging as a ‘Knick Killer’

Throughout their history, the Knicks have encountered numerous players who have consistently excelled against them, from Reggie Miller to Trae Young. This season, with the Pistons achieving a 3-1 regular-season record against New York, Cade Cunningham is starting to emerge as the latest “Knick Killer.”

The All-Star currently has the 10th-highest scoring average against the Knicks this season, registering 30.8 points per game with 56.3% shooting from the field and 52.0% on 3-point attempts. It is also worth noting Cunningham dominated New York with his scoring while keeping his teammates involved, averaging 8.3 assists across four games.

Malik Beasley vs. the Knicks

Perhaps the end of the regular season was a testament that Malik Beasley has rediscovered his shot. He scored a team-high 24 points in the loss against the Milwaukee Bucks while nailing seven 3-point field goals on Sunday.

Beasley needs to maintain his shooting, given that he has played a massive role in Detroit’s success against New York. The Knicks had a tough time trying to contain Beasley, who produced the second-highest scoring average at 15.8 points per game while shooting 55.6% on 3-pointers.