Pistons vs Knicks NBA Playoffs Game 5 Picks and Predictions

FREE 15-UNIT HIGH STAKES HAMMER PARLAY OF THE WEEK: TAP HERE

A week ago, the Knicks let one slip — falling by six to the Pistons in Game 2 after Karl-Anthony Towns barely touched the ball in crunch time. But since then? Towns and Jalen Brunson have flipped the script.

Now, New York’s back at Madison Square Garden tonight with a golden chance to finish the job. Up 3-1 in this rough-and-tumble first-round series, the Knicks are looking to punch their ticket to Round 2 for the third straight year. Meanwhile, Detroit’s fighting to stay alive and force a Game 6 back home.

Towns has found his rhythm — after just 10 points and no free throws in that Game 2 loss, he exploded for 31 points in Game 3 and followed it with 27 more in Sunday’s nail-biter, including a monster go-ahead three with 47 seconds left to seal a 94-93 win.

Coach Thibs is letting Towns cook, calling him “a guard in a big man’s body” — and it’s showing. Towns is putting up a playoff career-best 22.8 PPG this series.

But make no mistake: this is still Brunson’s show. The Knicks star has topped 30 points in all four games, averaging 33.3 PPG after torching Philly for 35.5 per game last postseason. Brunson has them right where they want to be — up 3-1, just like last year — and they know the job’s not done. They’re hunting their first playoff series clinch at MSG since 1999.

The vibe of this series? Straight outta the ’90s — physical, low-scoring battles every night. Even Towns said it: “It’s old-school basketball.” And it’s making kids watching today finally see what tough playoff hoops look like.

As for Detroit, they let a massive chance slip away in Game 4. After rallying from 16 down and leading by 11 with under nine to play, the Pistons scored just two points in the final two minutes and got no help from the refs on a late Hardaway 3-point attempt.

The foul count’s been tight both ways — 83 free throws for New York, 98 for Detroit — and both sides are jawing about the officiating. But the bottom line: Detroit needs more out of Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris if they want a miracle tonight.

Cunningham’s been solid (46.4% shooting, 25 points last game) but Harris and Hardaway have been too streaky. Harris is ice-cold the past two games (8-of-24 shooting) and Hardaway, while better at home, has yet to deliver big at the Garden.

All the pressure’s on Detroit tonight. Knicks fans know it. Bettors know it. And New York smells blood.