Josh Hart played just 30 minutes in Game 1 after getting into early trouble. He went scoreless in his foul-plagued first half before erupting for 13 points after halftime and finishing with a plus-20 margin. This number has dipped to 11.5 at MGM, but I would still play half a unit Over 12.5 at a cheap price. Hart should play more minutes Monday -- he played monster minutes in last year's postseason -- and he will have space to operate. Detroit is using rim defender Jalen Duren on him as the Pistons can't afford to leave any other Knick open on the perimeter.

OG Anunoby took his game to another level when Jalen Brunson missed time at the end of the regular season because of injury. At one point, he had a 15-game stretch in which he averaged 24.6 points. In Game 1 against the Pistons, Anunoby still scored 23 points, despite Brunson scoring 34 points. One of the keys was that Anunoby played 44 minutes. During the regular season, Anunoby averaged 18.6 points and shot 51.3% from the field at home. With him possibly pushing to play 40 minutes again, I think he hits this over.

We project Mikal Bridges for 18.2 points and are getting buy low value on his 8 points (just 9 FGAs in 29 min) in Game 1. He was significantly outplayed by the duo of Malik Beasley and Tobias Harris but I see Bridges responding well in Game 2. The last time he scored 8 points (at CLE on April 2) he bounced back with 20 the next game. Back on March 6 he only put up 6 vs. the Lakers and he responded with 22 the next day vs. the Clippers. For the season, he averaged +3.3 more at home (19.3) vs the road and scored 16+ points in 28 of 42 home games (66.7%) and was 13-4 down the stretch of the regular season.

Ausar Thompson recorded 16 points + rebounds in Game 1 and his athleticism is one of the advantages that Detroit has this series. He’s cashed this line in 9 of his last 12 games (9-3), and he has notably better splits on the road, hitting this number 53% of the time compared to just 44% at home. We have him projected for 17 points + rebounds tonight.

Mikal Bridges is one to bounce back. He had just 8 points on 9 FG attempts in 29 minutes. The last time he scored 8 points (at CLE on April 2) he bounced back with 20 the next game. We should take advantage of this lower line while we can, as he does average +3.3 at home (19.3) than on the road. The Sportsline Model has him projected for 18 points.

Here we go as the venerable NBA Playoffs zig-zag gets its first test this postseason at MSG tonight. The Pistons are the carrier, after having the Knicks on the slab into the first few minutes of the 4th Q on Saturday before everything went pear-shaped in a 21-0 NY blitz, with oddities such as a five-second inbounds call in backcourt and a blown dunk by Ausar Thompson. Until then, Detroit looked well on its way to a minor upset and third straight win over the Knicks this season. The Pistons did some good things, including nearly 47% accuracy from deep, and 25 points from Tobias Harris. A similar effort, save the barren stretch in the 4th Q, gives Detroit a chance. Play Pistons

Jaylen Brunson is a scoring machine and worked through some of the kinks in Game 1 after missing so much time late in the regular season. The Pistons struggle to defend him in general and especially now with KAT in peak form inside. Brunson averages 28/G vs them this year shooting 42% from 3 and 51% from the field. Detroit's youth shows on D. Brunson loves the playoffs going over this in 9 of last 12 postseason games (averaging 34/G in that span). Tibs will ride his starters hard and the Pistons should keep this close enough. The last 6 playoff games at The Garden Brunson has scored 34, 17 (basically injured), 44, 29, 43, 40.

Game 1 went as expected. Figured the Pistons would fill it up early as they have vs NYK, but youth and inexperience would show late at The Garde and Jalen Brunson and KAT would take over a game played in the 230s. Playoffs are different and Pistons D is a problem; have now allowed 119+ in 6 of last 9 games. I doubt the Pistons have the extreme scoring slump again in this one and I don't foresee another 21-0 NYK run. I don't expect the Knicks to hold down Cade Cunningham for a second straight game, getting some of the playoff debut nerves and jitters out of the way. Last 12 meetings (including playoffs) have produced 221+ points.