Does it get any better than playoff basketball at "the Mecca of Basketball"?
On Saturday night, the No. 3 seed Knicks embark on what they hope will be a lengthy playoff run, hosting the Pistons for Game 1 of their first-round series at a rocking Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks (51-31) are coming off their most successful regular season since winning 54 games in 2012-13. A transformative offseason saw New York acquire both Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns in a pair of blockbuster trades — all with an eye toward contending for a championship, which has eluded the franchise for the better part of its existence.
There have been a fair deal of growing pains — the Knicks are winless against the Cavaliers and Celtics, the top two teams in the Eastern Conference — but they'll first look to get by the Pistons. Cade Cunningham and company are merely looking for their first playoff win since 2007-08, with their 14-game playoff losing streak good for an unfortunate NBA record.
Detroit enters Game 1 with some momentum, too: The Pistons have won each of their last three head-to-head meetings with the Knicks, coming on the heels of a 16-game losing streak against New York.
Here's what you need to know about Saturday's matchup between the Knicks and the Pistons, including broadcast information and start time.
What channel is Knicks vs. Pistons on today?
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: Sling
Game 1 of Knicks vs. Pistons will air nationally on ESPN. The network's top NBA broadcast team of Mike Breen (play-by-play), Doris Burke (analyst), Richard Jefferson (analyst), and Lisa Salters (reporter) will call the action.
Fans looking to stream Knicks vs. Pistons can watch live on Sling, which will carry every NBA playoff game in 2025.
Sling is your home for playoff action. Catch NBA and NHL postseason games with a range of sports channels. including TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, ABC and more.
Knicks vs. Pistons start time
- Date: Saturday, April 19
- Time: 6 p.m. ET
Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs series between the Knicks and the Pistons is set to tip off at 6 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The Knicks are set for their third consecutive playoff appearance, a feat they've accomplished just once this century. New York won their first-round matchup in each of the last two years, only to lose in the conference semifinals on both occasions.
The Pistons return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019, when they earned a No. 8 seed and were swept in the first round. Detroit won 44 games this season, tied for the most wins in a regular season in the last 18 years.
This is the fourth playoff series between the two historic franchises, with the most recent series coming in 1992.
Knicks vs. Pistons radio station
- Radio station: SiriusXM
Fans can listen to the Knicks vs. Pistons broadcast live on SiriusXM.
New subscribers can enjoy SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
NBA Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2025
Here are the key dates to know for the NBA Playoffs and offseason. Some series start dates could move up depending on when previous series end.
| Event | Dates |
|---|---|
| Play-In Tournament | April 15-18 |
| First round begins | April 19 |
| Conference semifinals begin | May 5-6 |
| NBA Draft Lottery | May 12 |
| Western Conference finals begin | May 20 |
| Eastern Conference finals begin | May 21 |
| NBA Finals begin | June 5 |
| NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary) | June 22 |
| NBA Draft | June 25-26 |
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