NBA: Brunson’s Buzzer-Beater Sends Knicks Past Pistons in Game 6 Thriller

Jalen Brunson delivered another playoff masterpiece on Thursday night. He scored 40 points and hit a game-winning three-pointer with just 4.3 seconds remaining. His impressive performance lifts the Knicks to a thrilling 116–113 victory over the Pistons in Game 6. The win gave the Knicks a 4–2 series victory. Additionally, this win punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the third straight season.

With the score tied at 113 and the clock winding down, Brunson took matters into his own hands. He isolated at the top of the key against Pistons rookie Ausar Thompson. Using a slick crossover move, he created just enough space and pulled up from long range. The shot swished through the net, giving the Knicks the lead and instantly silencing the Detroit crowd. The energy in Little Caesars Arena, which had been electric moments earlier, disappeared in a flash. It was as if someone had flipped a switch.

After the game, Brunson explained the moment in his usual calm tone. “It’s just instinct… He beat me to the spot… Just went back the other way, and I found a lot of space.” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau couldn’t have been prouder. “He’s at his best when his best is needed. He’s done it all year,” Thibodeau said.

Brunson’s heroics capped off a dominant performance. He finished with 40 points, seven assists, and five rebounds in 42 minutes. He also carried the load with Karl-Anthony Towns struggling from the field, scoring just 10 points on a cold shooting night. Despite the offensive woes, Towns helped the team in other ways by grabbing 15 rebounds. Brunson, who faced loud boos and taunts throughout the series from Detroit fans, didn’t let the noise get to him. Instead, he answered with poise and precision.

While Brunson was the star, the Knicks’ supporting cast played a huge role in the win. Mikal Bridges had his best performance of the series, scoring 25 points and logging a team-high 44 minutes. He also made a crucial tip-in that tied the game late in the fourth quarter. OG Anunoby contributed 22 points and three steals, doing damage on both ends of the floor. Josh Hart added 13 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists, providing his usual all-around hustle and energy.

The Knicks controlled much of the game, building a 15-point lead in the second quarter and leading by 11 early in the fourth. But the Pistons didn’t back down. Behind a 20–2 run, Detroit flipped the game and surged ahead, taking a 112–105 lead with just over two minutes left. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 23 points and eight assists. Jalen Duren chipped in 21 points, and Malik Beasley added 20. Detroit looked poised to force a Game 7.

But the Knicks responded like veterans. Brunson started the comeback with a three-point play, then added another bucket. Bridges made key plays, and Hart helped close the gap. New York ended the game on an 11–1 run, smothering the Pistons on defense and forcing three late turnovers. Detroit managed just one free throw in the final 2:35.

With four seconds left, the Pistons had a final chance to tie the game. Cunningham inbounded the ball to Beasley, who mishandled the pass. The ball slipped through his hands and out of bounds, ending the game and the series. For Detroit, it was a heartbreaking end to their best season in 17 years.

This series was physical and emotional from the start. Both teams traded blows, and tensions flared in multiple games. The Knicks faced questions about their toughness, especially after blowing leads earlier in the series. But they answered every challenge, winning all three games on the road in Detroit—a first in franchise playoff history. Josh Hart summed it up best: “We’re a tough group… we showed our physicality, our toughness, but also our mental toughness.”

Next up for the Knicks is a showdown with the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics. Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals is set for Monday night in Boston. The Knicks will enter as underdogs, but with Brunson leading the way and their supporting cast clicking, they’ll be ready for the battle. “So it’s going to be a heck of a battle,” Hart said. And if Game 6 is any indication, this Knicks team won’t go down quietly.