By Alex Fredrick
Jalen Brunson’s 40-point performance, capped by a dramatic game-winning three-pointer, lifted the New York Knicks to a 116–113 win over the Detroit Pistons, clinching their first-round NBA playoff series 4–2 on Thursday.
With the game tied and just four seconds on the clock, Brunson nailed a deep shot to silence the home crowd in Detroit and propel the third-seeded Knicks into an Eastern Conference semifinal clash with reigning champions Boston Celtics. Game one tips off Monday.
“I stay poised and rely on the trust my teammates give me,” said Brunson, who also recorded four rebounds and seven assists. “None of this happens without them.”
Late-Game Heroics The Pistons appeared on the verge of forcing a game seven, erasing an 11-point deficit to lead 112–105 with under three minutes remaining. But New York stormed back, tying the game with 36 seconds left before Brunson’s decisive triple.
Cade Cunningham missed a potential go-ahead layup for Detroit, paving the way for Brunson’s ice-cold dagger. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau praised his star guard: “He’s at his best when it matters most. That’s what makes him special.”
Supporting Brunson’s effort were Mikal Bridges with 25 points and OG Anunoby with 22. Cunningham led Detroit with 23, while Jalen Duren and Malik Beasley added 21 and 20 points, respectively.
Back-and-Forth Battle New York started fast, racing to a 14-point lead after the first quarter, but Detroit responded in the second behind Beasley’s hot shooting from deep. The Pistons held a narrow halftime lead before New York regained control in the third.
The momentum swung again in the fourth as Detroit mounted a comeback, only to be undone by Brunson’s late-game heroics
Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies
