Knicks vs. Pistons prediction, odds, line: 2021 NBA picks, Dec. 29 best bets from model on 48-24 run

The New York Knicks travel to Detroit Pistons on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET. Both teams are below .500 after 32 games of the 2021-22 NBA season. Knicks are eight-point road favorites. Pistons are missing 12 players. SportsLine's proven model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,00 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons.

SportsLine's model has set its sights on Knicks vs. Pistons and has locked in its NBA picks and predictions. Knicks are 4-2 against the spread in the last six games. Detroit is 3-3 against a spread against Knicks in last 6 games, including 3 against spread vs New York Knicks.

Knicks are 4-2 against the spread in the last 6 games. Pistons are 3-3 against spread against Knicks in last six games, and they are also 3.3% against spreads in their last 5 games together. Knicks vs. the Pistons money line is Knicks -330, Pistons +260.

The Knicks are far superior to the Pistons on paper. The Pistons are dead-last in the NBA in offensive efficiency and defensive efficiency. New York has true strengths in crashing the offensive glass and protecting the ball. On defense, the Knicks allow only 44.0 percent shooting and 12.3 second-chance points per game.

Detroit's defense is solid against New York's offense. The Knicks have some offensive vulnerabilities. Detroit is No. 4 in the NBA in free throw attempts, averaging 22.1 per game. The Pistons are in top 10 in accuracy at 78.7 percent at the free-throw line.

SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total and projects 207 combined points for Knicks vs. Pistons. One side of the spread hits nearly 70 percent of time.