NBA Matchups: January 5

NYK @ DET | CHI @ BOS | ATL @ TOR | PHX @ HOU | CHA @ OKC | DEN @ PHI | GSW @ LAC | UTA @ POR

New York Knicks at Detroit Pistons (back end)

Team Totals: Knicks 117.8, Pistons 114.8

Injury Report: Josh Hart (O, ankle), Pistons on a B2B

Knicks projected starters: Jalen Brunson, Deuce McBride, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns

Pistons projected starters: Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart, Paul Reed

Brown quotes: Said the 76ers were very good at beating their blitz, said they couldn’t contain Maxey and struggled with Edgecombe, said they are missing Josh Hart and that’s part of the reason their pace isn’t great, said they need better front-side actions on offense, said guys just need to figure out how to bring a little more to the table, said they went with more Deuce because they wanted better spacing.

Bickerstaff quotes: Said Jenkins was unbelievable and he’s a testament to how they trust their whole team.

Stats and Notes: 

*The Pistons are on a B2B, and they should be short-handed without Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren, and Caris LeVert. We’ll see if they go big again like they did yesterday, and they had great paint defense against the Cavs in a big win. For the Knicks on defense, they are really going to pack the paint in this one to leave the Detroit shooters open. Their defense has fallen off lately at just 28th in their last nine games. The Pistons didn’t have to travel too far from Cleveland, so they should have some life in their legs for this home game.

Great matchups: Ausar Thompson (foul risk, though), Mikal Bridges

Good matchups: Cade Cunningham (expecting Mikal on him), Karl-Anthony Towns

Bad matchups: Jalen Brunson

​​Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics