The New York Knicks triumphed over the Detroit Pistons in a thrilling finish, advancing to the next round of the NBA playoffs. With time running out, the moment of truth had come. The Pistons had no idea how to get a shot off, fumbling their opportunity to send the game into OT. Malik Beasley bobbled a potentially game-winning pass with only four-tenths of a second left to cap the Knicks’ win.
In this fierce series, the sixth-seed Pistons proved tough over the course of the game.… them after the great turnaround they pulled off in a losing effort during the regular season. Thus, they broke the NBA’s longest playoff losing streak in their very first postseason appearance since 2019. Their dreams came crashing down around them when they suffered their tenth straight home playoff defeat. This disappointing streak now goes all the way back to 2008.
The game saw the Pistons rally in the fourth quarter, going on a remarkable 20-2 run that allowed them to take a seven-point lead with just 2:35 left on the clock. Cade Cunningham had a strong showing for the Pistons, leading the way with 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Despite his efforts, Beasley struggled with his shooting, finishing the night with only seven points on 1-of-6 from beyond the arc.
And on the other side of the court, the Knicks proved their mettle. Mikal Bridges further entrenched himself as the most impactful trade acquisition last season with 25 points, and OG Anunoby chipped in 22 more. The Knicks held some of the biggest advantages in their win of the regular season. They coughed up an 11-point fourth quarter lead and a 15-point first half lead. They knocked down all the timely jump shots and stops on the defensive end to finish their way to the championship.
ESPN Analytics, at one point during the game, showed the Knicks as having just a 7% win probability. They stormed back down the stretch to retake command and secure the victory.
“He’s at his best when his best is needed and he’s done it all year,” – Tom Thibodeau
And the third-seeded Knicks have just pulled off the upset of the tournament! Now, they’re preparing to face the second-seeded Boston Celtics in their third round playoff series. The excitement for this matchup is already creating a frenzy as both teams hope to set the tone for their run through the postseason.
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