Knicks ride wild fourth-quarter run to take Game 1…
This felt like final spring.
Defense. Grit. Tenacity — adjectives that haven’t been used a lot about these Knicks.
In their playoff opener Saturday, the Knicks embodied the injury-depleted staff of a 12 months in the past.
Cameron Payne of the New York Knicks celebrates during the sport in opposition to the Detroit Pistons during Round 1 Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2025 at Madison Square Garden. NBAE by way of Getty Images
They took a proper hand and received back up, flooring the Pistons with a scintillating fourth quarter after it regarded like they could fall behind early on this opening-round playoff sequence.
Karl-Anthony Towns had a sturdy Knicks postseason debut. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Instead, a rousing 21-0 run paved the way in which to an encouraging 123-112 Game 1 victory at a rocking Garden.
Jalen Brunson shook off a shaky begin to rating 34 factors, 12 within the last stanza, together with eight assists.
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Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in 23 factors, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals and two blocks in his playoff debut as a Knick, and OG Anunoby additionally had 23 factors and 7 rebounds.
Defense turned the sport for the Knicks, who held the Pistons to 21 factors within the fourth quarter and compelled 21 turnovers altogether.
New York Knicks ahead OG Anunoby hits a 3-point shot over Detroit Pistons ahead Tobias Harris #12 during the second quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Long Island’s Tobias Harris scored 25 factors for the Pistons, although solely three got here within the second half. Cade Cunningham added 21 factors and 12 assists.
The fourth quarter started with a five-second violation by Detroit and a shot clock violation — a preview of what was to come. Pistons turnovers and missed pictures was Knicks runouts.
Cameron Payne and Josh Hart got here alive, the 2 combining to rating 19 of the Knicks’ 39 fourth-quarter factors.
Considering the Pistons shot 50 p.c from the 3-point line (9-of-18), Brunson began the sport 2-of-13 from the sphere and Harris was unconscious within the first half en route to 22 factors, the Knicks have been in a great place on the break.
They led by two, regardless of foul hassle for Hart and issues defending the three. The Pistons’ 11 turnovers definitely helped the orange and blue in what was a disjointed first half.
They began by racing out to a 10-3 lead, instantly gave up a 21-10 burst and have been blitzed by Harris for 13 factors within the second quarter together with a 3-pointer proper earlier than the horn.
By comparability, he managed a grand whole of 54 factors in final 12 months’s playoff sequence in opposition to the Knicks as a member of the 76ers.
Karl-Anthony Towns #32 faces off in opposition to Detroit Pistons ahead Tobias Harris #12 during the second quarter.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Anunoby was the best Knick by a vast margin over the primary 24 minutes, scoring 19 factors on 6-of-11 taking pictures whereas including three rebounds, two steals and a block.
Towns tallied 10 factors, six rebounds, two steals and two assists, and had his best moments when sharing the ground with Mitchell Robinson.
The Pistons began the second half by scoring on their first eight possessions, and on the stretch of a 15-4 burst, took a four-point lead.
Jalen Brunson driving to the basket. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Malik Beasley prolonged it to seven later within the quarter, and Detroit entered the ultimate stanza up eight. It was a notably poor defensive period for the Knicks, who let the Pistons shoot an absurd 63.6 p.c within the body (14-of-22).
The Knicks turned up the depth on the outset of the fourth quarter, forcing turnovers on the Pistons’ first two possessions.
They outscored them 15-7 over the primary 4:13 of the period, pulling even on a Payne 3-pointer with 7:47 left.
The run was solely beginning. Soon, the Knicks can be forward and the Garden was as loud because it had been all night.
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