The Knicks jumped out to its biggest lead of 33 points in the second quarter behind crisp ball movement, stifling defense and All-Star play from their two best players — Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns — as they upset the Detroit Pistons for a 128-98 road win.
Takings
1. Brunson’s season-high 36 points had 26 in the first half, where the Knicks (3-2) buried the Pistons (1-5) behind a 39-13 first quarter. New York led by 33 twice in the second quarter with the last coming on Brunson’s layup and free throw at the 6:35 mark when Detroit trailed 59-26.
Brunson shot 14-of-22, including a 6-for-8 clip from deep, while adding five assists in 31 minutes. After shaky lines from his past two games — he was a combined 14-of-42 shooting in Monday’s 110-104 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Wednesday’s 116-107 win at the Miami Heat — Brunson responded with a season-best effort against a team the Knicks handled.
2. Towns was a game-time decision due to a sprained left wristbut he looked healthy en route to 21 points — 16 of which came in the first half, when the Knicks built a 69-46 lead — and kept the momentum going from Wednesday’s 44-point outburst. Brunson (12) and Towns (three) scored New York’s last 15 points of the first quarter, capping a 15-3 run through the final 4:08 of the period and showing the deadly potential of the duo. Towns shot 8-of-18 while grabbing 11 rebounds — his fourth straight double-double — and dished out seven assists in 27 minutes.
3. The Knicks’ defense set the tone in the first quarter, where the Pistons’ 13 points were on six field goals. Defense of AND Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart were felt when Detroit struggled. Offensively, Anunoby (21), Bridges (15) and Hart (13) added pop in their respective moments as New York’s starting five scored in double figures.
4. The season is young, but the Knicks have won back-to-back games and are over the .500 mark for the first time in 2024-25. New York took care of business against a team it should have done so with, dominating early and not letting up despite a slight 33-30 Pistons edge in the second quarter. After opening the road trip with a win at the Heat, the Knicks left no doubt in Detroit and have a chance to breathe this weekend before resuming action early next week.
Who is the MVP?
Brunson, whose 16 first-quarter points established early momentum as the Knicks came up big and buried the Pistons.
highlights
What follows
The Knicks continue their road trip and look for a three-game winning streak from the first season as they head to Houston for Monday’s 8:45 pm matchup with the Rockets.
