Defending NBA champions the New York Knicks will enter their fourth game of the season looking for their first win against the Detroit Pistons, who have begun the season 3-0, on Tuesday. And while Detroit has produced victories against the Boston Celtics, the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers, they enter this matchup with multiple injury concerns.

Jalen Duren is still out with a right hamstring strain, with Ausar Thompson also listed as questionable on the official injury report due to a right ankle sprain. They are joined by Isaiah Joe, who is questionable due to right hip contusion. Detroit will also be without Ugonna Onyenso, with fellow G League stars Elijah Harkless and Isaac Jones listed as questionable for this game.

The Knicks on the other hand only have Jose Alvarado on the injury list, who has been listed as ‘out’ due to a left ankle sprain. The Knicks, therefore, will be looking to notch up their first win of the season after giving up a 10-point fourth quarter lead against the Orlando Magic on Sunday.

Duren, who signed a $200 million contract extension shortly before the season, is expected to miss at least two weeks with a right hamstring strain suffered against the Miami Heat on Friday.
In his absence, Paul Reed is expected to handle a larger role at center. Reed recorded eight points, eight rebounds and three blocks in 26 minutes against Philadelphia.

However, he may struggle to produce the same kind of interior dominance against a team which has Karl-Anthony Towns at center. Regardless, Detroit will once again be looking at Cade Cunningham, who had 26 points, eight rebounds and eight assists against the 76ers.

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Cunningham has also committed 16 turnovers in three games thus far. However, the Pistons won each of their three regular-season meetings with the Knicks last season, with Cunningham himself averaging 27.3 points and 11 assists in those matchups.

New York, meanwhile, are the first defending NBA champions to begin a season 0-3 since the 2011-12 Dallas Mavericks, and another loss would mean they become the first defending champions to lose their first four games since the 1969-70 Boston Celtics.