Knicks at Pistons
The Detroit Pistons lost their first game since shipping away star center Andre Drummond at the trade deadline. They'll look for their first victory in the post-Drummond era on Saturday when they open a two-game homestand against the New York Knicks.
The league's top rebounder (15.8) and Detroit's second-best scorer (17.8), Drummond was sent to Cleveland on Thursday after seven-plus seasons in Detroit. Without the big man for the first time, the Pistons were outrebounded by five and tied a season low with one blocked shot in a 108-101 loss at Oklahoma City on Friday. The Knicks have matched their longest winning streak of the season with three straight wins after a 105-103 victory over Orlando at home Thursday night. Julius Randle scored 22 points on 10-of-16 shooting to lead the way in the team's first game since trading away leading scorer Marcus Morris.
TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: MSG, FS Detroit
ABOUT THE KNICKS (16-36): Rookie RJ Barrett scored 12 points in 18 minutes Thursday in his return from a nine-game layoff due to a sprained ankle. "Everyone knows we have a job to do. We are still a team. We've still got to keep pushing," Barrett told reporters of a wild week that included the Morris trade and the firing of team president Steve Mills on Tuesday. "We've still got to play every day and do our jobs and we did that tonight." Randle is averaging 21 points on 59.4 percent shooting over his last two games.
ABOUT THE PISTONS (19-35): Power forward Christian Wood will be one of the primary beneficiaries of Drummond's exit, and he stood out with 27 points and 12 rebounds in his second start of the season Friday. Center Thon Maker also received a rare start and responded with 19 points at Oklahoma City, while guard Reggie Jackson - who reportedly could pursue a buyout with the team - stayed hot with 28 points on 11-of-18 shooting. "I haven't thought about it," Jackson, who has scored at least 20 points in three of four games this month, told reporters of the rumors. "I don't know who said that."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Knicks PG Elfrid Payton is averaging 15.7 points, 11.7 assists and 3.3 steals over his last three games.
2. Pistons PG Derrick Rose and SG Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk have both missed the last three games due to hip injuries.
3. Detroit won the last eight meetings overall and has taken seven in a row against New York at home.