Knicks Rally in Fourth to Top Pistons in Playoff Opener
The New York Knicks flipped the script in the final quarter of Game 1, turning an eight-point deficit into an emphatic 123-112 win over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday. Jalen Brunson lit up the scoreboard with 34 points and eight assists, while Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in a well-rounded performance with 23 points, 11 boards, and five assists.
Here’s a breakdown of the top five storylines from the Knicks’ impressive comeback:
1. Pistons Falter Under Pressure Late
Detroit appeared in control after an explosive third quarter, scoring 36 points on just 22 trips down the court. Despite being one of the youngest squads in the playoffs, they had a strong track record of protecting late leads—winning 40 of the last 41 games when leading by five or more entering the fourth.
That streak came to a screeching halt. A five-second inbound violation kicked off a chain reaction of mistakes, followed by a shot clock turnover and a missed fast-break dunk from Ausar Thompson. Even after a Schröder layup pushed the lead back to eight, the Knicks unleashed a 21-0 blitz that flipped the game on its head.
New York made the most of the Pistons’ miscues, scoring on 10 consecutive possessions, including back-to-back turnovers that Towns turned into fast-break points.
“This game is part of our growth,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “We’ll review what went wrong and adjust going forward.”
2. Towns Shines on Defense When It Counts
Though Towns had trouble defending in the third quarter—Cade Cunningham even soared past him for a slam—the big man made a major impact defensively in crunch time. In the fourth, Towns snatched two straight steals and contested several tough looks, helping hold Detroit to just 21 points in the final frame.
He ended the night with four steals and two blocks, a rare stat line in his long career, showing that he can step up when it matters most.
3. Knicks Exploit Size Advantage with Towns
Detroit’s defensive setup put Josh Hart in the sights of Jalen Duren, while Tobias Harris was left to guard Towns. The Knicks wasted no time taking advantage of that mismatch, with Towns going to work in the post.
Despite Harris edging Towns in first-half points, Towns ended up shooting 10-for-14 from the field and generated 17 points directly through post-ups or isolations. Whether it was bullying his way inside or sinking tough fadeaways, he proved unguardable in that matchup.
4. Foul Trouble Derails Thompson’s Defensive Impact
Detroit’s defensive game plan took a hit early, as Ausar Thompson picked up two fouls within the first three minutes. With their top perimeter defender limited, the Pistons had to rotate other guards onto Brunson—none of whom had much success.
Brunson, who had a cold first half, caught fire in the second—scoring 30 of his 34 points after the break while also dishing five assists without a turnover. His relentless offensive pressure was a key factor in the Knicks’ rally.
5. Cam Payne Provides a Spark Off the Bench
When the Pistons finally forced the ball out of Brunson’s hands in the fourth, Cam Payne stepped up. Catching a kick-out pass, Payne hit a confident step-back triple that energized the Garden and widened the gap.
The Knicks’ backup guard scored 14 points in under 15 minutes, going 5-for-7 from the field and 3-for-5 from deep. Despite playing behind one of the NBA’s most heavily used starting lineups, Payne’s ability to deliver in key moments showed just how valuable depth can be in the playoffs.
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Next Up:
Game 2 tips off Monday at 7:30 PM ET on TNT, as New York looks to carry their momentum forward, while Detroit hopes to clean up its execution and even the series.