New York Knicks take 1-0 lead on Detroit Pistons 123-112: Breaking Bad Boys

The New York Knicks drew first blood in their round one series against the Detroit Pistons, winning 123-112 to open the postseason. The Knicks made a huge fourth-quarter run to claim victory.

But the game started with a back-and-forth battle throughout the first half. OG Anunoby and Tobias Harris led the way for their respective sides, while neither team could take a big lead.

The Pistons made a push in the third quarter, taking a lead and pushing it near double-digits repeatedly. But New York responded in the fourth quarter. Sparked by Cam Payne, the Knicks went on a 21-0 run that put the game out of reach.

Detroit wanted to be the new Bad Boys in this series, but New York played the bullies in game one. Let’s see how the Knicks took a series lead.

Notable Performances

The stars shine on the brightest stage

Jalen Brunson: 34 PTS (12/27 FG, 2/5 3PT, 8/10 FT), 8 AST, 2 REB, 1 TO in 40 mins

The first half was brutal for Jalen Brunson. The Captain got to his spots but couldn’t get anything to fall. But finding his spots was a good sign, and Brunson got better as the game wore on. He saved his best work for the fourth quarter, making play after play to put Detroit away.

There was a spell in the third quarter where Brunson’s defense came up short. Tim Hardaway got going early, and it built momentum for the Pistons. But Brunson defended well in the other three quarters. He drew some important offensive fouls.

Brunson rolled his ankle and went to the locker room briefly. But he played his best ball after returning.

Karl-Anthony Towns: 23 PTS (10/14 FG, 1/3 3PT, 2/2 FT), 5 AST, 11 REB, 4 STL, 2 BLK in 39 mins

The first half belonged to OG Anunoby, and the second half belonged to Jalen Brunson. But Karl-Anthony Towns was the most consistent scoring presence throughout the game. Towns put Detroit’s centers in foul trouble and was ruthless attacking the rim against smaller players.

But it’s not surprising to see KAT score efficiently. His defensive marks, adding up to six Stocks, are a pleasant new development. Towns was more aggressive defensively than we’ve seen all season, with active hands and more hedging and pressure. This may have been his best defense of the entire season.

Impacts as important as the stars’

Cam Payne: 14 PTS (5/7 FG, 3/5 3PT, 1/1 FT), 1 AST, 1 STL, 1 TO in 15 mins 

A moment can make a hero in the playoffs. Cam Payne’s eleven-point fourth quarter is the first memorable moment for the Knicks this postseason. 

New York was staggering, while the Pistons built an eight-point lead and threatened to pull away. But Payne knocked down a three and finished on a drive shortly after. He proceeded to make play after play, giving the Knicks a jolt and earning extra playing time.

Payne was a surprising hero of the night.

OG Anunoby: 23 PTS (8/18 FG, 3/8 3PT, 4/4 FT), 7 REB, 5 STL, 2 BLK, 2 TO in 44 mins

Stopping Cade Cunningham was New York’s most important mission heading into this series. OG Anunoby understood the assignment. While Cunningham put up 21 points and 12 assists, he shot a miserable 8 of 21 from the field and turned the ball over six times. That’s thanks to incredible work by Anunoby.

OG’s offense was nearly as impressive. He hit threes, drove for finishes, and pulled up for three-level scoring throughout the game. Anunoby gave the offense a crucial boost when Brunson was still cold.

Reduced roles but important contributions

Josh Hart: 13 PTS (6/10 FG, 1/1 3PT), 6 AST, 7 REB, 1 BLK, 2 TO in 30 mins

Thirty minutes is a reduction for Josh Hart, though he didn’t do anything wrong. Hart helped on the boards, scored efficiently, and added tertiary playmaking in transition. His fast-break presence helped seal the fourth quarter.

It wasn’t triple-double Josh this time, but he might have come close with more minutes. 

Mikal Bridges: 8 PTS (4/9 FG, 0/2 3PT), 2 AST, 2 REB, 2 BLK in 29 mins

Mikal Bridges never got into attack mode with consistency. He found moments to knock down silky smooth midrange jumpers, including a fourth quarter shot that stopped a brief push from Detroit. But Bridges played a supporting role throughout the game.

Mikal’s defense remained strong as ever, despite Malik Beasley shaking loose a few times. Bridges’ pressure on ball and ability to switch helped break up many a pick-and-roll set from Detroit.

More Notes

• Mitchell Robinson’s interior presence loomed large over his 18 minutes of action. Mitch grabbed boards, blocked shots, and hammered home dunks. I’d like to see more of the KAT-Mitch frontcourt.

• Nerves may have played a role in Deuce McBride’s poor shooting. He airballed a pair of threes and failed to score. But Deuce’s defense and passing helped make up for the lack of scoring.

• While Landry Shamet came off the bench first, he failed to make a meaningful impact and wound up with his minutes cut.

Closing Thoughts

There’s nothing like New York Knicks playoff basketball. Well before tip-off, the energy in the city was buzzing. There were Knicks’ watch parties all over, including right outside MSG. I couldn’t walk a block without seeing someone in Knicks’ gear. The Garden was on fire from the opening tip, and after the game, the energy spilled out into the city and continued long after the buzzer.

We’ve waited all season to see if the Knicks can take another step toward a title. Game One was an exciting and cathartic start to this postseason journey. Tom Thibodeau made smart adjustments. The defense locked down an NBA star, and the offense came up in the clutch.

Knicks fans couldn’t ask for a more promising start to the postseason. Now let’s hope they do it again on Monday. See you next time, Knicks’ fam!