Knicks Score Update: Pistons Head to New York Missing Duren and Stewart in Feb. 19, 2026 Matchup

The Pistons meet the New York Knicks on Thursday night, Feb. 19, 2026, presenting an early post-All-Star test that will shape rotation choices and individual award narratives. Knicks Score coverage centers on Detroit’s announced absences: Isaiah Stewart remains under a seven-game suspension and will miss the next six games through March 1, and Jalen Duren finishes a two-game suspension by sitting out the Feb. 19 game.

Knicks Score: Confirmed facts and immediate lineup impacts

Verified details for the Feb. 19 matchup:

• The Pistons enter the game with a 40-13 record and the league’s best winning percentage at. 755.
• Isaiah Stewart is serving a seven-game suspension; the bulk of that suspension is scheduled to be served after the All-Star break. He will miss the next six games through March 1, including the Feb. 19 road game against the Knicks.
• Jalen Duren is completing a two-game suspension and will not play on Feb. 19.
• Paul Reed is slated to take on a larger role while the Pistons are without their usual frontcourt pair, having played extended minutes in recent wins and delivering notable defensive and finishing contributions.
• The team’s recent acquisition, Huerter, has seen limited minutes since joining on Feb. 4 but has produced scoring bursts in prior games against the Knicks and the Raptors.

These confirmed absences force immediate rotation adjustments and increase the minutes available to role players who have shown impact in recent contests.

Why the stretch matters for awards, depth and team incentives

This road game takes place amid a season-long push that has several Pistons players in award conversations. Cade Cunningham remains a leading MVP candidate entering the final portion of the schedule, with season averages around 25. 3 points, 9. 6 assists, 5. 6 rebounds and 1. 5 steals per game. Jalen Duren is positioned as a contender for Most Improved Player with season averages cited near 17. 7 points and 10. 4 rebounds and 24 double-doubles, though he will miss the Feb. 19 game. Isaiah Stewart is in contention for Defensive Player of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year honors, but his suspension and prior injuries mean he must play every remaining game upon his return on March 3 to remain eligible for award consideration.

The Pistons’ front office and coaching staff face short-term incentives to protect award eligibility while maintaining team performance: preserving Stewart’s path to end-of-season honors, managing Duren’s return, and keeping the club’s top record intact. For role players such as Paul Reed and newly acquired Huerter, this period is an opportunity to solidify rotation status and show the team can sustain its level without full personnel availability.

Outstanding questions and what remains unclear

• Exact minute-by-minute rotation adjustments for Feb. 19 are not confirmed; how the coaching staff distributes frontcourt minutes is unknown.
• Specific game-time availability beyond the Feb. 19 contest for other Pistons players is not detailed.
• How much offensive role and defensive assignment responsibility Huerter and Paul Reed will take on during this stretch has not been finalized.
• The precise timing and workload for Stewart and Duren when they return — and how that will affect chemistry — remains to be seen.

Likely near-term scenarios and triggers

• Stability through depth: Paul Reed stays in an expanded role for multiple games and maintains the team’s defensive identity, keeping the Pistons’ record strong. Trigger: Reed delivers consistent two-way impact in consecutive contests.
• Huerter carves out rotation minutes: The newcomer earns regular playing time by providing efficient scoring in limited stints. Trigger: multiple effective offensive outings in the next few games.
• Short-term dip, long-term recovery: The Pistons drop a small number of games while missing Duren and Stewart but regain momentum when both return. Trigger: split results during the six-game absence window followed by wins after March 3 return.
• Award eligibility risk: Stewart’s suspension and prior time missed leave his award cases contingent on unbroken availability after return; he must play every remaining game beginning March 3 to remain eligible. Trigger: any further missed games after March 3 would jeopardize award qualification.

Importance: This Feb. 19 matchup is more than a single regular-season contest. It will test the Pistons’ depth while influencing postseason seeding dynamics and individual award races that have tracked closely with team success. How Detroit manages minutes and roles over the next week will signal whether the team can preserve both its standing at the top of the league and the award trajectories of key players.