Knicks vs Pistons miscues to spark 21-0 run in Game 1 win
NEW YORK — For most of Saturday night, during the Knicks vs Pistons Game 1 showdown at Madison Square Garden, it looked like the Detroit Pistons were about to steal the show. The young team, riding the momentum of their breakout season, defended Jalen Brunson well, shot the lights out from deep, and carried an eight-point lead into the fourth quarter. For 36 minutes, they had every reason to believe they were about to snap their 17-year playoff win drought.
Then everything fell apart.
In a matter of minutes, the Knicks roared back, turning the Pistons’ mistakes into a 21-0 sprint that completely flipped the game. New York rode the wave all the way to a 123-112 victory, grabbing a 1-0 lead in the first-round series and sending the Garden crowd into a frenzy.
“Things flipped so fast,” Jalen Brunson said afterward, still shaking his head at how quickly the momentum shifted. “Once we got rolling defensively, everything else clicked.”
Detroit’s Nightmare Start to the Fourth
The final quarter began in disastrous fashion for the Pistons. Cameron Payne, usually a bench spark, pressed full-court and forced a rare five-second inbound violation right out of the gate. Detroit followed that with a 24-second shot clock violation on their next possession.
It only got worse from there. Young wing Ausar Thompson had a breakaway dunk — a chance to calm the storm — but badly missed it. It felt like the life drained out of Detroit in that moment.
“You could feel the energy shift,” Payne said. “Once we got those first few stops, the crowd got louder, we got hyped, and we just kept going.”
Karl-Anthony Towns, who was dominant all night with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and four steals, poured in five quick points during the Knicks’ run. Payne himself scored 11 of his 14 points in the fourth, helping New York blow the game wide open.
Brunson’s Shoe Change and Late Surge
Brunson’s night was a tale of two halves. Through three quarters, he was ice cold, hitting just 2-of-13 shots. Worse, he appeared to tweak his ankle late in the third, briefly leaving the bench to get it checked.
When he returned, he had swapped his bright lime-green sneakers for a more muted off-white pair. Coincidence or not, the change seemed to spark something. Brunson came alive in the fourth, hitting 5-of-7 shots, scoring 12 points, and dishing out three assists.
“Nah, it wasn’t the shoes,” Brunson chuckled when asked about the switch. “It was about locking in. We knew we had to dig deep.”
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau had his own take.
“Maybe he grabbed his cape,” Thibodeau said with a grin, alluding to Brunson’s reputation as a closer.
Whatever it was, it worked. Brunson once again showed why he’s one of the league’s most dangerous players when the pressure is highest.
Detroit’s Painful Lesson
For the Pistons, the night will sting. After tripling their win total from last season, Detroit was hoping to make a statement. And for most of the game, they did.
They defended well, hit more than half their threes through three quarters, and controlled the tempo. Cade Cunningham found his rhythm after a rocky start, finishing with 21 points and 12 assists — though his six turnovers, many during New York’s run, proved costly.
Tobias Harris, too, had a redemption night, scoring 22 points in the first half after being held scoreless against the Knicks in last year’s playoffs with the Sixers.
“For most of the night, we played our game,” Harris said. “We stayed composed. We just have to finish better.”
Injuries Start to Bite
The Pistons’ problems weren’t just mental. They also lost enforcer Isaiah Stewart to what looked like a knee injury. Stewart exited midway through the game and didn’t return, a huge blow to Detroit’s interior toughness.
Coach JB Bickerstaff didn’t have much of an update after the game.
“We’ll see how he responds overnight,” he said.
Without Stewart’s presence in the paint, the Knicks dominated the boards late and controlled second-chance points.
Source: Knicks use Pistons’ miscues to spark 21-0 run in Game 1 win
Brunson’s Tale of Two Halves
Looking at the stat sheet, the change in Brunson’s game was dramatic.
- First Half: 4-for-15 shooting (27%), 18 points created
- Second Half: 8-for-12 shooting (67%), 44 points created
In short, he went from struggling to unstoppable in the span of a quarter.
“He’s got a different level of focus,” Towns said. “When it’s time to close, he’s as good as anyone in the league.”
One Win Down, but Series Just Getting Started
The Knicks celebrated the win, but they know better than to get carried away.
“It’s one game,” Towns said bluntly. “You need four to move on.”
The Pistons, for their part, weren’t hanging their heads either. Despite the brutal collapse, they’ve shown they can go toe-to-toe with New York, beating them three times in four regular-season meetings.
“We’ve got to respond,” Cunningham said. “That’s what playoff teams do.”
Looking Ahead to Game 2
Game 2 looms large on Monday night at the Garden. Can the Knicks ride their wave of momentum and tighten their grip on the series? Or will the Pistons shake off their fourth-quarter nightmare and punch back?
If Saturday was any indication, playoff basketball — true playoff basketball — is just getting started.
Because in the postseason, it’s not just about who’s better. It’s about who handles the moment better.
And in Game 1, when it mattered most, the Knicks showed they were ready for the moment.
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