The reining NBA champs are back in action this Tuesday night on NBC and Peacock, facing off against the Detroit Pistons in a primetime matchup that looks to serve as a measuring stick for both teams in the early days of the 2026-2027 season.
How to Watch
Watch NBA on NBC on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
After winning the NBA Championship, the Knicks were at the top of the mountain last season, but they’ve gotten off to a sluggish start this year. On the other side of the court, the Pistons have started strong. They’re looking to keep the momentum going from an impressive 2025-2026 campaign, and keep the winning ways rolling by knocking off last year’s champs.
How do I watch Pistons vs. Knicks on Tuesday, Oct. 27?
The NBA game between the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks airs Tuesday, October 27 at at 8 p.m. ET, live on NBC and Peacock. Check your local listings to see if it’s on NBC in your local market. The game also streams live on Peacock.
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Pistons vs. Knicks tip-off time on Tuesday, October 27
The Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks are set to tip-off at 8 p.m. ET, live from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Pistons vs. Knicks preview, players to watch
This is a tale of two very different beginnings to the season. Jalen Brunson‘s Knicks are the defending NBA champions, but they’re 0-3 so far. Meanwhile, Cade Cunningham‘s Pistons are undefeated to start the 2026-2027 campaign, after entering last season’s NBA Playoffs as the top seed in the Eastern Conference and falling early. The season is long, and three games is definitely not an indicator of how the whole year’s going to go, but right now, New York needs a win.
So, who besides Brunson needs to step up to get a win for the Knicks? On paper, Detroit is outrebounding New York, but the Knicks have Karl-Anthony Towns averaging 12 rebounds a game so far this season, quite a bit more than any single Pistons player. If he can set himself up to command the paint and keep control of the game in the trenches, the Knicks could finally break their losing streak.
The Pistons, meanwhile, are trying to work without their injured All-Star center, Jalen Duren, which has put Paul Reed front and center. Cunningham leads the team in points, assists, blocks, and steals, but he can’t do everything. He’ll look to Reed to keep big men like Towns and OG Anunoby in check, and if Reed can find a way, the Pistons could keep winning.
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Who’s on the broadcast team for Pistons vs. Knicks?
NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico will call the action for Pistons vs. Knicks, with analysis from Jamal Crawford, and courtside reporting from Jordan Cornette.