Preview: NBA Showdown at Madison Square Garden Features League-Leading Pistons and Surging Knicks NEW YORK (Interstat) — The NBA’s best team visits one of its hottest venues Thursday night when the Detroit Pistons face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The Pistons (40-13), owners of the league’s top record, bring a formidable road challenge to a Knicks squad (36-20) that has won 10 of its last 12 games. Detroit has dominated the season series, winning the two previous meetings by an average of 34.5 points, including a 118-80 rout at home on Feb. 6. All eyes will be on Detroit’ All-Star guard Cade Cunningham, who enters on a torrid playmaking streak. Over his last 10 games, Cunningham is averaging 24.7 points and 9.2 assists, nearly recording a triple-double in a 113-95 win at Toronto last Wednesday with 28 points, seven rebounds and nine assists. His orchestration of the league’s highest-scoring offense has been the engine of Detroit’s success. New York counters with its own All-Star big man, Karl-Anthony Towns, who has been a rebounding force. Towns has posted a double-double in nine of his last 10 contests, averaging 15.7 points and 13.7 rebounds over that span. He was instrumental in the Knicks’ most recent outing, a 138-89 demolition of Philadelphia, contributing 21 points and 11 rebounds in just 26 minutes. The matchup pits Detroit’s potent offense against a stout New York defense that has held opponents under 100 points in three of its last five home games. The Knicks will seek to reverse the recent lopsided results and protect their home court, where they are 21-7 this season. Despite Detroit’s superior record and recent dominance in the series, New York has been installed as a 2.5-point pregame favorite by sportsbooks, with the total points over/under set at 222.5. The game is a critical Eastern Conference benchmark for both clubs. The Pistons aim to solidify their hold on the conference’s top seed, while the Knicks look to close the gap and continue their ascent in the standings. Following this matchup, Detroit continues a road trip in Chicago on Saturday. New York remains home to host Houston on Saturday before embarking on a four-game trip.