New York Knicks vs Detroit Pistons Final Score & Over/Under Result — Jan 5, 2026

A defensive third quarter proved decisive as Detroit's offense overwhelmed New York in a lopsided 121-90 victory that came in well under the market total. Combined scoring dried up dramatically in the third, when both teams managed just 40 points together—the lowest-scoring frame of the night—but by then the Pistons had already seized control through two competitive halves. The first half saw both squads trade buckets evenly, combining for 118 points across two quarters, with Q1 providing the game's highest burst at 59 combined. The second half told a different story: Detroit outpaced New York 57-36 after halftime, with the third quarter's offensive drought ultimately favoring the home team's defensive schemes.

Cade Cunningham orchestrated the Pistons' offense with 29 points and 13 assists, while Javonte Green added 17 points and Jaden Ivey contributed 16. For New York, Jalen Brunson led with 25 points but found little support; Miles McBride added 17 points with 2 assists, and Mikal Bridges managed just 10 points. The Knicks entered having averaged 119.1 points per game over their last ten, but that offensive efficiency vanished against Detroit's recent defensive form (111.3 allowed per game). DAGGER leaned under on a 233.5 market total, and it cashed decisively: the combined 211 points fell 22.5 below the line, driven by the second-half shutdown that reset offensive expectations once the Pistons had built their cushion.