The NBA is back from the All-Star break, but NBA fans checking ticket sites might need another breather.
Ahead of the Detroit Pistons’ visit to Madison Square Garden, prices listed on TickPick hovered around $283 for entry. That figure caught attention fast, especially when compared to Detroit’s March 10 matchup against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center, where seats reportedly start at $23.
The gap had NBA fans doing double takes.
@TGTatum4_3 posted, “Who’s paying that much to see the Knicks?”
Who’s paying that much to see the Knicks
— Tony G (@TGTatum4_3) February 18, 2026
@TripleCrownD shot back, “They’re paying to see the Pistons.”
@BBBM5nnz added, “Honestly, even if the Knicks were a**, the price would be the same.”
Context matters. The Pistons entered the break atop the Eastern Conference at 40-13, making them one of the league’s hottest teams. Still, NBA fans know Madison Square Garden pricing often has less to do with records and more to do with location and brand.
“Twitter finna have a field day with this”: NBA fans react to Pistons’ Lunar New Year post
While preparing for the Knicks showdown, Detroit also shared a Lunar New Year greeting for fans overseas. That gesture brought another wave of NBA fans into the conversation.
Some responses were supportive. Others were cautious.
@jordanumbers wrote, “Oh hell yeah yall betta not have a bad game, twitter finna have a field day w this.”
@matoniee added, “Why does Audar look like he’s being held at gunpoint?”
@imhabibx replied positively, “May your grind be strong, your wins be fast, and your blessings run wild this Year of the Horse.”
Between steep ticket prices and social media scrutiny, NBA fans are keeping tabs on everything — not just what happens between the lines.
