The New York Knicks edged out the Detroit Pistons 118-112 on Wednesday night, handing Detroit their 16th straight loss to close out a winless November. Knicks guard Jalen Brunson erupted for a career-high 42 points to lift New York to the victory.
Back-and-Forth Battle Goes Down to the Wire
The game was tight throughout, with 13 lead changes and no team ever leading by double digits. Brunson took over down the stretch, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter to help the Knicks build a small cushion.
The Pistons trailed by just three points with under a minute left after closing an earlier 10-point gap. But clutch free throws from Brunson and Julius Randle in the final minute secured the win for New York.
Both teams shot over 47% from the field in an efficient offensive performance. The Knicks edged out Detroit with a strong showing from beyond the arc and at the charity stripe.
Key Stats
| Team | FG% | 3PT% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knicks | 47.4% | 42.4% | 93.5% |
| Pistons | 47.1% | 26.1% | 72.4% |
Brunson Posts Career Night to Bail Out Knicks
Brunson was magnificent for New York, terrorizing the Pistons defense all night on his way to a 42-5-5 stat line on 13-of-19 shooting. He relentlessly attacked the basket but also knocked down 6 triples with a feathery touch.
The dynamic guard set a new career high in scoring while falling just short of his career best in assists. Brunson scored 15 straight Knicks points at one stretch in the fourth quarter to keep New York in front.
"I just tried to be aggressive and make the right plays. My teammates give me confidence every time I step on the floor," said Brunson on his huge night.
Brunson’s prowess has been key for the Knicks this season, as they struggle with consistency around their new star guard. He leads the team in points and assists as one of the breakout players in the early season.
Pistons Show Fight But Can’t Snap Skid
Detroit has looked completely lifeless for much of their losing streak, suffering blowout after blowout. But they put up a spirited effort against the Knicks despite being shorthanded with multiple injuries.
Rookie Jaden Ivey led the Pistons with 21 points and 11 assists for his second straight double-double. Third-year big man Isaiah Stewart added 17 points while Bojan Bogdanovic and Killian Hayes chipped in 16 apiece.
"We competed tonight. It was nice to be in a close game," said Pistons coach Dwane Casey. "Now we just need to finish."
The Pistons have struggled mightily without starting point guard Cade Cunningham, who has missed over three weeks with a shin injury. Former #1 overall pick Cunningham provided efficient scoring and playmaking before going down.
In his absence, Detroit has posted an abysmal 95.1 offensive rating during their losing streak. They simply can’t score enough points without Cunningham’s creation.
Outlook Going Forward
The win moves the Knicks back above .500 at 11-10 as they’ve struggled to build consistency this season. With Brunson appearing to move into the next tier of NBA guards, New York will look to string together some wins.
Meanwhile, Detroit now incredibly sits at 3-18 with no relief in sight. They appear destined to compete for the #1 pick in next year’s NBA Draft after the Cunningham injury setback. The Pistons wrap up a 6-game road trip on Friday night against the Phoenix Suns.
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