Knicks outlast Pistons in wild game 3 finish, take 2-1 series lead

Game 3 in Detroit had everything—toughness, fireworks, heart-in-throat drama—and when it was all over, the Knicks escaped with a gritty 118-116 win to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round series. It wasn’t easy, and it definitely wasn’t clean, but it was the kind of playoff victory that feels earned.

Karl-Anthony Towns came out locked in, setting the tone early with 11 first-quarter points and finishing the night with 31 points and 8 rebounds. Jalen Brunson, as usual, was the steadying force down the stretch, dropping 12 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter while also tallying 9 assists. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, this was a game that never let up.

The Knicks led for most of the night, up 33-27 after the first and 66-53 at halftime. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges both stepped up offensively, scoring 22 and 20 points respectively while each knocking down three shots from beyond the arc. According to NBA on TNT, this was the first time since the 1972 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Game 6 vs. the Bullets) that four Knicks had scored 20 or more points in a playoff game.

And yet, even with control for much of the game, the ending still turned into a chaotic thriller. With the Knicks holding a 116-110 lead in the final seconds, Tim Hardaway Jr. drilled a 26-foot three to cut it to three with just 5.8 on the clock.

The Knicks called timeout, and on the inbound, Brunson nearly stepped into a backcourt violation. The refs ruled his momentum was taking him there and gave him the benefit of the doubt. He was fouled and made one of two free throws to push the lead to 117-113.

Then, with 1.1 seconds left, Tobias Harris—who had only scored two points all game—buried a corner three to pull Detroit within one. The drama wasn’t done. Brunson went back to the line, hit the first, and tried to intentionally miss the second to run out the clock. But as the ball hit the rim, no one touched it. Whistle. The game wasn’t over. With 0.5 seconds left, the Pistons had one final shot. They went for a deep lob to Cade Cunningham, but the pass sailed over his head and out of bounds.

Only then could the Knicks finally breathe.

“It’s playoff basketball. We have guys that have been in a lot of big games. We’ve been a good road team all year, so I think we know what goes into winning.”

– Tom Thibodeau

Defensively, the Knicks were solid in key areas. They dominated the paint, outscoring Detroit 46-36 inside, and kept their mistakes limited—just 11 turnovers to the Pistons’ 14. That gap helped them control transition opportunities, with the Knicks conceding only 9 points off turnovers while scoring 18 the other way.

Cade Cunningham and Tim Hardaway Jr. each led the Pistons with 24 points, while Dennis Schroder contributed 18 off the bench. But Detroit couldn’t overcome New York’s balanced attack and the clutch shot-making down the stretch.

Game 4 is set for Sunday afternoon, still in Detroit, and after this wild one, expect another battle. The Knicks survived Game 3, but this series is far from over.