NBA: Pistons Extended The Round 1 Playoffs By Beating Knicks in Game 5

The Detroit Pistons were on the brink of elimination in their first playoff appearance since 2019. Yet, the Detroit Pistons delivered when it mattered most. On Tuesday night, the Pistons pulled off a gritty 106-103 win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The victory forces a Game 6 back in Detroit and keeps their postseason hopes alive.

From the opening tip, the game was tight. Detroit came out strong, building a seven-point lead in the first quarter. But New York quickly responded, keeping things close. The second quarter was evenly matched, with both teams scoring 27 points. The Knicks held a slim lead at halftime, but nothing felt settled.

The third quarter saw a shift in momentum. Detroit started the second half aggressively and forced five key turnovers. Their defense fueled a temporary double-digit lead, despite the Knicks shooting slightly better from the field. Still, the Knicks clawed their way back, setting up a back-and-forth final quarter.

Cade Cunningham led the way for the Pistons. He finished with 24 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, making plays on both ends of the floor. Rookie Ausar Thompson scored 22 points, and Tobias Harris added 17 in a strong veteran showing. Jalen Duren made his presence felt inside with nine points, 14 rebounds, and six assists. He was especially impactful during a crucial late-game run.

On the Knicks’ side, Jalen Brunson had an off night. After averaging over 33 points per game in the series, he scored just 16 on 4-of-16 shooting. It was clear he wasn’t at his best. Things got worse for New York late in the fourth quarter. Both Brunson and Josh Hart left the game with injuries with under three minutes remaining. Detroit took full advantage. Duren scored back-to-back baskets, then Cunningham added a tough finish to give the Pistons a six-point cushion. Though both Knicks players returned with 27 seconds left, the damage had been done.

After the game, Pistons forward Tobias Harris praised his team’s mindset: “It’s a back’s-against-the-wall type of mentality. We want to keep playing together.” Cunningham echoed that energy, saying, “Confident. We’ll be back.” The Pistons believe in their ability not just to compete, but to win the series.

Karl-Anthony Towns pointed to a recurring issue for the Knicks: slow starts. “We just put ourselves in a deficit early. All series we’ve been fighting back,” he said. Despite two road wins in this series, New York couldn’t close it at home.

This win is a statement for Detroit. Earlier in the series, they snapped a 15-game postseason losing streak. But now, it’s surprising that they’ve won twice at Madison Square Garden this season. Those wins are noticeable both in the regular season and now in the playoffs. Yet the challenge ahead is real. The Pistons have lost nine home playoff games in 2008, tying an NBA record. Thursday’s Game 6 in Detroit will test their progress and composure.

Adding to the story is a bit of controversy from Game 4, where the NBA admitted to a critical missed call that hurt Detroit’s chances. Still, Coach J.B. Bickerstaff downplayed. He said they didn’t need “bulletin board material” to get motivated for Game 5.