The Detroit Pistons held strong in the final minute and avoided another collapse, securing the franchise’s first playoff win in 17 years with a thrilling 100-94 victory over the New York Knicks on April 22, tying the series at 1-1.
New York Knicks Top Performers:
Jalen Brunson 37 PTS | 7 AST | 2 STL | 51.1 FPS
Brunson continues his elite level of play, recording his second straight game with 34 points and 7 assists. His strong free-throw volume has been key, shooting 80% while attempting 10 or more in each of the first two games. However, turnovers were a major issue today, and he’s still dealing with foul trouble and some struggles from the three-point area. While a slight dip could be expected, he should remain highly impactful.
Mikal Bridges 19 PTS | 5 REB | 3 STL | 33.0 FPS
Bridges gave a solid boost on both ends of the floor with most of the team struggling. He’s been delivering good value across multiple areas since last month and has become a more reliable offensive presence, posting double-digit points in 19 games, including 9 with at least 20.
Josh Hart 10 PTS | 7 REB | 5 AST | 27.9 FPS
Hart hasn’t posted big numbers in the first two games of the series, but he stayed relevant with his contributions in three major categories. His production may also remain at this level, with his defense likely playing the bigger role in this matchup.
OG Anunoby 10 PTS | 5 REB | 2 STL | 23.0 FPS
OG had a difficult night offensively and made a quieter impact overall following his breakout performance in Game 1. Despite the dip, he’s still their third-best scoring option, third in three-point percentage, and top in combined defensive stats this season.
Miles McBride 8 PTS | 2 3PM | 1 REB | 8.2 FPS
McBride hasn’t had much of an impact in his first two games in the series but he remains the team’s best option on the bench with his scoring and playmaking.
Detroit Pistons Top Performers:
Cade Cunningham 33 PTS | 12 REB | 2 STL | 52.9 FPS
Cunningham shot much better today and doubled his free-throw production, finishing with his fourth 33+ point game this month. He also recorded 12 in another category for the third straight game. So far, the Knicks haven’t found a way to slow him down, making him a top fantasy option in this series.
Jalen Duren 12 PTS | 13 REB | 3 BLK | 40.6 FPS
Duren got back on track today with his 41st double-double and also recorded his 15th game this year with at least four stocks. He should be able to maintain this level of play in the upcoming games—and could do even more with Stewart unavailable.
Tobias Harris 15 PTS | 13 REB | 1 STL | 34.1 FPS
Harris maintained consistent scoring production but also stepped up his rebounding today. The Pistons rank significantly higher than the Knicks in three rebounding categories this season, so they’ll need him to maximize that advantage to win the series.
Dennis Schroder 20 PTS | 2 REB | 3 AST | 24.9 FPS
Schroder gave his team a major lift on offense, delivering when it counted most with a huge three-pointer late in the fourth to stop the Knicks comeback and avoid another collapse. He may not always score this much but he’ll remain a vital contributor in this series.
Malik Beasley 9 PTS | 1 REB | 1 AST | 11.7 FPS
Beasley struggled badly in offense and had minimal impact elsewhere but he remains the best three point shooter in this series, making a bounce back possible.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Karl Anthony-Towns 10 PTS | 6 REB | 1 BLK
KAT has been a reliable 20-and-10 player over his last 16 games since March, but he didn’t get going today and didn’t even put up a shot in the fourth quarter, finishing with his lowest scoring output in weeks and his worst rebounding performance in over two months. The Knicks will need him at his best in this series—if not, Jalen Brunson will have to carry even more of the offensive load.
