Tim Hardaway Jr: 24 PTS, 7-13 FG, 7-12 3PT
Josh Hart: 6 PTS, 11 REB, 9 AST, 2 STL, 3-7 FG
In a hard-fought Game 3 on the road, the New York Knicks managed to hold off a feisty Detroit Pistons squad to secure a 2–1 lead in their first-round playoff series. Powered by a balanced offensive attack and timely defense, the Knicks saw four of their starters drop 20+ points, showcasing the depth and firepower that make them a legitimate threat in this postseason.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the charge with 26 points and 11 rebounds, asserting himself early and often against Detroit’s bigs. Whether it was pick-and-pop threes, post-ups, or second-chance points, KAT made his presence known. Jalen Brunson followed up with 24 points and 9 assists, controlling the tempo of the game and hitting key buckets down the stretch when the Pistons made a push in the fourth.
But it wasn’t just the stars doing the heavy lifting — Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby came through in major ways. Bridges added 22 points, flashing his mid-range game and getting to the line efficiently, while OG Anunoby chipped in 21 points and locked in defensively, hounding Cade Cunningham and making life difficult for Detroit’s perimeter threats. It was the kind of full-team performance the Knicks have been searching for all season — and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
The Pistons didn’t go down quietly. After trailing by as many as 17 in the third quarter, they clawed their way back into the game with a gritty fourth-quarter run. Cade Cunningham dropped 29 points and dished out 7 assists, doing everything he could to keep Detroit within striking distance. Rookie Jaden Ivey added 18 off the bench with a flurry of drives and transition buckets, while Isaiah Stewart grabbed 13 rebounds and added toughness inside.
With the game tightening late in the fourth, the Pistons cut the lead to just four with under three minutes to play. But that’s when the Knicks’ composure shined. Brunson came off a high screen and drilled a pull-up jumper to extend the lead, then OG came up with a crucial steal that led to a fast-break dunk from Bridges. On the next possession, KAT hit a trailing three that effectively iced the game, silencing the Detroit crowd and putting the Knicks ahead by nine.
Defensively, New York made key stops in the final minutes and held the Pistons scoreless in the final 90 seconds. Mitchell Robinson was a quiet hero off the bench, coming up with two huge blocks and anchoring the interior when the Pistons tried to attack the rim late.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau praised his team’s resilience afterward: “Detroit played a hell of a game. We knew they’d come out swinging at home, and they did. But our guys stayed together, stayed locked in. That’s what playoff basketball is all about.”
With the win, the Knicks now hold a 2–1 advantage and reclaim momentum in the series. Game 4 will also be in Detroit, and the Pistons will no doubt come out with urgency, knowing they can’t afford to fall behind 3–1. But the Knicks look confident, and with the kind of offensive rhythm they displayed in Game 3, they’ll be tough to beat.
For New York fans, this was a glimpse of what the team can be at its best — a dangerous mix of scoring depth, defensive grit, and big-game poise. With four different players crossing the 20-point mark and the team executing late, it’s clear that the Knicks aren’t just trying to survive this series — they’re looking to make a deep run.
Game 4 is set for Sunday night, and if this one was any indication, we’re in for another battle.
