For the Detroit Pistons, it was history-making. With their first home victory over the Knicks in 14 tries, they ended a 15-game NBA-record postseason losing streak with a hard-fought 100-94 victory against the New York Knicks in Game 2 of their playoff series. In front of a raucous home crowd, the Pistons held on to secure a gritty victory, their first playoff win since 2008. This triumph was hard-earned in a dramatic contest in which the Knicks recovered from a 15-point deficit to level the score.
Cade Cunningham had his best game of the season, putting up 33 points and 12 rebounds. His performance would prove to be the deciding factor in the Pistons’ unlikely victory. He wasn’t just a bystander when getting the ball — he demonstrably sliced open opponents’ backlines, creating chance after chance. The Knicks were unable to defend him without fouling him. Yet, the gritty Pistons battled to a 55-49 halftime advantage. Their pestering, aggressive, ball-pressure style was effective in their seed for a 12ft free throw delta. Detroit took 14 free throws to New York’s two.
Ready to be done with all of that in the fourth quarter, the Knicks came alive. They put together a sensational 16-4 run, finished off by Josh Hart’s dunk which brought the game knotted to 94. When it was crunch time, Dennis Schroder did what Dennis Schroder does best. He made a huge tiebreaking three-pointer with only 55 seconds remaining in regulation. This three turned the momentum back in favor of Detroit. It served to underline just how important clutch performances are when the pressure is turned up to eleven on that final track.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks in scoring with 37 points but could not secure the win for his team despite their valiant effort. The Pistons’ defense tightened in the closing moments, stifling New York’s attempts to reclaim the lead and ultimately sealing their first playoff victory since defeating the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals.
The significance of the Pistons’ victory is even greater considering the fact that the franchise had not made their way to the postseason since 2019. This victory wins a hard-fought battle and definitely brings an exciting wave of optimism for the franchise and its fans. They’re enthusiastically looking forward to Thursday night’s hosting of Game 3.
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