Knicks let closeout slip away, fall 106-103 in Game 5 as series heads back to Detroit

So close, yet not enough. The Knicks had a chance to shut the door on the first round and punch their ticket to the next, but instead, they let it slip through their fingers. Despite a late flurry of threes and a packed Garden roaring behind them, the Knicks fell 106-103 to the Pistons in Game 5, forcing the series back to Detroit for a Game 6 that suddenly feels a lot more tense than it should.

OG Anunoby led New York with 19 points, including a clutch three-pointer with just under five seconds left that cut the Pistons’ lead to one. Karl-Anthony Towns (17 points, 11 rebounds) and Mikal Bridges (17 points) both had their moments, but the Knicks spent most of the game playing catch-up after falling behind in the second half.

The finish was wild. Down 103-97 with under 30 seconds to go, Bridges buried a three to make it a one-possession game. After Dennis Schroder calmly hit two free throws, Anunoby answered with another deep ball to bring the Knicks within one again, 104-103. But Cade Cunningham was sent to the line with 5 seconds remaining and knocked down both free throws to push the lead back to three.

Then came the chaos. The Knicks weren’t allowed to get a shot off, and with only 2.1 seconds left, Miles McBride was fouled. After missing the first free throw, he had no choice but to intentionally miss the second and hope for a scramble rebound and a miracle. Instead, the Pistons came down with it, and just like that, time expired.

Jalen Brunson had one of his quietest games of the playoffs, finishing with 16 points on just 4-of-16 shooting. And worse, he was stuck watching the final minutes from the bench after aggravating his injured ankle again late in the fourth. With no stoppage in play, he and Josh Hart—also temporarily sidelined—weren’t able to re-enter the game until there were just 27 seconds remaining.

Hart finished with 15 points, while Mitchell Robinson turned in his best performance of the series off the bench, posting 13 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in a gritty, much-needed effort.

“I thought Mitch gave us a good lift, good energy. The rebounding was good enough. Defense was good enough. Our turnovers hurt us, so we gotta clean that up.”

– Tom Thibodeau

The Pistons were led once again by Cade Cunningham, who dropped 24 points and calmly iced the game at the line. Ausar Thompson added 22 points with endless energy, and Tobias Harris chipped in with 17 as Detroit refused to back down, especially in the second half.

Now it’s all about Game 6, tomorrow night at 7:30. The Knicks still hold the upper hand in the series, but momentum has shifted—and in a series that’s had everything from buzzer-beaters to Willis Reed returns, it’s anyone’s guess what happens next.