Jalen Brunson's clutch 3-pointer lifts New York Knicks to a thrilling 116-113 win over Detroit Pistons, advancing them to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Jalen Brunson nailed a game-winning 3-pointer with 4.3 seconds left, finishing with 40 points to lead the New York Knicks past the Detroit Pistons 116-113. Despite blowing a 15-point lead, the Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals to face the Boston Celtics.
Knicks Eliminate Pistons 116-113, Advance to Face Celtics in Second Round
Jalen Brunson silenced the hostile crowd with a deadly crossover and a clutch 3-pointer with 4.3 seconds left, lifting the New York Knicks past the Detroit Pistons, 116-113, on Thursday night. The Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they will face the second-seeded Boston Celtics.
Brunson, who finished with 40 points and seven assists, was the heart of the Knicks’ offense and once again delivered under pressure, proving why he was named the NBA Clutch Player of the Year just a week earlier.
“When you need him most, he gives his best,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “That’s what makes him special.”
Detroit failed to get a shot off in the final seconds after Malik Beasley fumbled a pass with just 0.4 seconds left. Beasley, who scored 20 points including five 3-pointers in the second quarter, called the missed opportunity “tough,” lamenting the chance to tie the game.
Despite blowing both a 15-point lead in the second quarter and an 11-point advantage in the fourth, the Knicks found a way to close out the game with a dominant crunch-time effort. Mikal Bridges added 25 points, while OG Anunoby chipped in 22.
This win marked the Knicks’ third straight appearance in the Eastern Conference Semifinals — a milestone they hadn’t reached since the early 2000s. For the Pistons, although they ended their playoff drought since 2019, they suffered their 10th straight home postseason loss, breaking a league record.
Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff praised his team’s effort: “We did a lot of things right and gave ourselves a chance. They just made one more play than we did.”
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 23 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, but went 0-for-8 from beyond the arc. His backcourt partner Tim Hardaway Jr. had just seven points on 1-for-6 shooting from deep.
Turning Point and Clutch Finish
The turning point came in the final minutes. With the game tied at 113, Brunson took over. Isolating Pistons defender Ausar Thompson at the top of the key, he stepped back and drilled the go-ahead triple.
That capped off a thrilling fourth quarter, where the Pistons used a 20-2 run to take a seven-point lead with 2:35 left. But Brunson responded with five straight points, followed by a tip-in from Bridges, setting up the final possession.
Even as Detroit challenged a foul call on Brunson in the final minute, the Knicks guard remained composed. The call was overturned, but Brunson had the final say with his cold-blooded three that sealed the Pistons’ season.
Next Challenge: Boston Celtics
The next challenge for the Knicks is the defending conference champions, the Boston Celtics.
“We’ll need our best,” said Thibodeau, “because they’re the best.”
Past Matches
