Sunday night saw the 0-2 New York Knicks trying to pick up their first win against the winless Orlando Magic in a battle at MSG. Orlando, without 2024 all-star Paolo Banchero, who was out after suffering a low-grade right high ankle sprain, went on a 40-27 fourth-quarter run to overcome New York, 111-102. Now, the 2026 NBA Champion Knicks are starting the 2026-2027 season off 0-3 as concerns and questions arise. On Tuesday, New York will head to Detroit for a matchup against the 3-0 Pistons. Can the Knicks win their first game of the season, or will more panic start to set in for the defending champions?
The Knicks’ shooting played a part in Sunday’s loss to the Magic. As a whole, they shot 40 percent from the floor and 27 percent from beyond the arc. New York was out-rebounded by four rebounds and shot 71 percent from the free-throw line compared to Orlando’s 81 percent. Mikal Bridges once again struggled, finishing with six points on three of seven shooting. Bridges, Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, and Karl-Anthony Towns could not find a shot from deep, combining four for 23 from three. Even though Brunson finished with 28 points and Towns recorded a double-double, it still wasn’t enough. As the defending NBA Champions, the Knicks need to find that groove quickly.
Detroit comes into this matchup undefeated, beating the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers, three teams that are considered favorites to win the Eastern Conference. During the Pistons’ win over the Sixers on Sunday night, two-time all-star Cade Cunningham finished with 26 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and two blocks. Even without Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson, and Isaiah Joe, Detroit still found a way to win over a 76ers team that only played eight guys. The ball will continue to run through Cunningham’s hands, but three-point threat Duncan Robinson and rising star Daniss Jenkins can still hurt any team with their offensive play.
Last season, Detroit mopped the floor with New York, dominating the Knicks by 20 points in each matchup. That’s why New York’s defense will need to play the best they have all season. Even with the offense struggling against Orlando, it’s important to see Towns, Hart, Andre Drummond, and OG Anunoby make the big plays that will translate to easy buckets on the other end. The defense must pressure Cunningham on every shot attempt and stop Robinson from making too many three-point shots. New York cannot see another 20-point blowout by the Pistons and sink their way to a 0-4 record. If the Knicks cannot find their defensive stride, this game could be all but over in a hurry.
New York should have stepped up and gotten the win over Orlando, especially with the Magic not having Banchero. It should have been a solid win to get under their belts and truly focus on the season getting underway; however, the Knicks now head into this matchup against the Pistons on Tuesday night with a lot at stake so early in the new year. I do not feel confident in the Knicks going into this game. From past performances against Detroit and seeing the Pistons be a 60-win team last season, New York looks like true underdogs on the road. They’ll need a big-time performance from the starting five and the bench if they want to stop Detroit from being undefeated. Yet, I do not see that happening, as I have the Pistons taking a 115-98 win.
