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Detroit
didn’t
out-finesse
the
Knicks;
the
Pistons
overpowered
them.
They
owned a
52-34
edge in
points
in the
paint
and a
44-30
advantage
on the
boards,
repeatedly
turning
missed
New York
jumpers
into
runouts
and
second-chance
opportunities.
(Photo
by
Montez
Miller/Tell
Us
Detroit
News) |
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Detroit
didn’t
out-finesse
the
Knicks;
the
Pistons
overpowered
them.
They
owned a
52-34
edge in
points
in the
paint
and a
44-30
advantage
on the
boards,
repeatedly
turning
missed
New York
jumpers
into
runouts
and
second-chance
opportunities.
(Photo
by
Montez
Miller/Tell
Us
Detroit
News) |
| |
Postseason
Payback:
Pistons
Unleash
Full
Arsenal
on
Knicks
in
Statement
Victory
Parker
Sinclair
- Sports
Tell Us
Detroit
News
DETROIT
- On a
night
thick
with
memory
and
meaning,
the
Detroit
Pistons
didn’t
just
beat the
New York
Knicks —
they
dismantled
them. In
the
first
rematch
since
New York
sent
Detroit
home in
last
spring’s
first
round,
the
Pistons
answered
with a
121-90
thrashing
at
Little
Caesars
Arena, a
48-minute
reminder
of who
currently
owns the
top of
the
Eastern
Conference.
Cade
Cunningham
ran the
game
like a
veteran
star who
remembers
every
slight.
He
carved
up New
York’s
defense
for 29
points
and 13
assists,
stacking
14 and
seven by
halftime
before
completely
seizing
control
out of
the
break.
When the
third
quarter
opened,
Cunningham
turned
the
rematch
into a
route,
scoring
15
points
in the
period
and
creating
the only
other
two
Pistons
field
goals
during a
suffocating
19-5
run. By
the time
he was
done
orchestrating,
Detroit’s
lead had
swelled
to 24
and the
Knicks
were
reduced
to jump
shots
and long
faces.
Detroit
didn’t
out-finesse
the
Knicks;
the
Pistons
overpowered
them.
They
owned a
52-34
edge in
points
in the
paint
and a
44-30
advantage
on the
boards,
repeatedly
turning
missed
New York
jumpers
into
runouts
and
second-chance
opportunities.
Javonte
Green’s
energy
was
everywhere
— 17
points,
including
four
threes,
and a
hand in
the
chaos
that
tilted
the game
firmly
Detroit’s
way.
Jaden
Ivey
added 16
as part
of a
balanced
attack
that
stayed
aggressive,
never
letting
up even
as the
margin
ballooned
in the
second
half.
For a
half,
Jalen
Brunson
did
everything
in his
power to
keep New
York
attached.
He had
17
points
by the
break
and
finished
with 25,
probing,
drawing
contact
and
hitting
tough
shots
that
briefly
disguised
how
badly
the
Knicks
were
getting
beaten
at the
rim. But
once
Detroit
tightened
the
screws,
New
York’s
offense
collapsed.
The
Knicks
missed
14 of
their
first 16
shots in
the
third
quarter,
managing
just 15
points
in the
frame as
the
Pistons’
size,
length
and
physicality
finally
showed
up on
the
scoreboard.
Miles
McBride
chipped
in 17
and
Mikal
Bridges
reached
10, but
no one
else
stepped
forward
on a
night
when the
supporting
cast
never
found
rhythm.
This was
more
than
just a
January
win; it
was a
message.
Detroit,
now
27-9,
strengthened
its grip
on first
place in
the East
and
reminded
the
conference
that
last
year’s
playoff
heartbreak
has
hardened
into
something
more
dangerous.
The
Knicks,
meanwhile,
slipped
to 23-13
and a
fourth
straight
loss,
their
Finals
chatter
suddenly
clashing
with the
reality
of a
team
that
just got
run off
the
floor.
The
Pistons
will
stay
home to
host the
Chicago
Bulls on
Wednesday,
riding a
wave of
confidence
and a
fan base
that
felt a
bit of
postseason
payback
in the
building.
The
Knicks
head
back to
Madison
Square
Garden
to face
the Los
Angeles
Clippers,
with
plenty
of film
to watch
and a
long
look to
take in
the
mirror
after
this
one.
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