New York @ Detroit picks

The Detroit Pistons opened up as the underdog, but the line has moved in favor of the home team, and I’m happy to take the Pistons as outright winners. The Pistons went 26-12 straight up as the favorites this season, including 14-7 as the home favorites. The New York Knicks won just four of 13 games as the road dog and four of 17 as the underdog at any venue.I expect the Pistons to come out with a wild sense of urgency here. They know that they could be leading this series, and they know that a loss tonight means they’ll have to win three straight to extend their season. With two of the next three games after this one scheduled at Madison Square Garden, Game 4 is a must-win, and it will guarantee at least one more home game. I’m backing Detroit to take care of business and even up the series.

Detroit Piston Malik Beasley got whatever he wanted from inside and outside the arc in Game 3, which resulted in his second 20+ scoring night of this series. However, the Pistons haven’t been able to contain OG Anunoby from getting to his spots, and the New York Knicks forward has enjoyed plenty of wide-open looks from downtown against the Pistons' defense. Detroit's defense has been overly focused on stopping Jalen Brunson and Towns, and as a result, Anunoby has scored 18+ points in six of his previous nine, and I like him to clear his scoring prop on Sunday.

I expect the New York Knicks to give the big man from Kentucky the green light to fire away against a Detroit Pistons perimeter defense that surrendered 36% from long range during the regular season and 34% during this series. Karl-Anthony Towns made 42% of his five attempts from beyond the arc during the Knicks' first 82 games, but is making only 38% during the postseason. Friday’s massive night should give Towns the confidence to land at least two from long range on Sunday against Detroit.

Malik Beasley has largely underwhelmed during this series, making only nine of his mostly wide-open 30 long-range attempts. The looks have been there, but since his Game 1, six of 12 long-range outburst, Beasley has gone an uncharacteristic three for 18 from beyond the arc. Draining the triple is how Beasley remains in the rotation, and we should expect the Detroit Pistons to try to get their sixth man as many early opportunities as possible. Beasley has knocked down 4+ triples in three of his previous five, and I expect a bounce-back night from the veteran chucker.