In a back-and-forth game this evening at Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks prevailed 123-112 against the Detroit Pistons. The winner of Game 1 came down to which team executed better down the stretch. On Saturday night, that team was the Knicks. Will New York win Game 2?
New York Knicks Able To Overcome a Poor Third Quarter
The Knicks took a 2-point lead, 57-55, into the halftime. Detroit responded well by outscoring New York 36-26 in the second quarter. Every time New York would cut into the lead, the Pistons would respond. Detroit finished the quarter tremendously outscoring the Knicks 11-5 over the final two minutes. A strong final few minutes allowed the Pistons to take a 91-83 lead into the final quarter.
New York fought hard to begin the fourth quarter, but Detroit responded and held onto the lead. That was until reserve Point Guard Cameron Payne knocked down a triple to tie the game at 98 with 7:47 remaining in the game. Payne scored 11 points in the final quarter.
The difference for New York in the fourth quarter was the play of Point Guard Jalen Brunson. He his footing in the quarter. He scored 12 of his 34 points in the final stanza. As New York started making their run in the fourth quarter, MSG erupted leaving Detroit shellshocked. New York took a 7-point lead with 6:15 left thanks to a 15-0 run. NY scored 21 unanswered to take control of Game 1. To Detroit’s credit, they showed fight in the waning minutes of the game cutting the lead to 4 with 1:23 left. A Brunson layup shut the door on Game 1 once and for all.
Final Thoughts
Detroit’s youth came back to bite them in the fourth quarter. They played a solid three quarters but were overwhelmed in the final 12 minutes. As the New York Knicks made their run, the upstart Pistons had no answer. They also committed a whopping 9 turnovers in the fourth quarter. That allowed New York to get out in transition and get easy baskets.
Defensive maven OG Anunoby did an admirable job limiting Cade Cunningham’s production. He was limited to 21 points on 8-of-21 shooting. The New York Knicks will look to protect home court and take a 2-0 series lead Monday night.
