Detroit outlasted the Knicks 106-103 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, forcing a Game 6 back in Motor City and inching closer to rewriting their own narrative. Down 3-1 in the series heading into the night, the odds remain daunting — just 13 teams in NBA history have overcome that kind of deficit — but this Detroit squad is clearly not interested in the math.
Instead, they’re leaning into their identity: physicality, youth-driven energy, and timely execution. As head coach J.B. Bickerstaff continues to remind everyone, this is a team with nothing to lose and everything to prove.
Cade Carries, Ausar Ascends as Pistons Edge Knicks
After a quiet first half, Cade Cunningham came alive when Detroit needed him most. The 2025 All-Star posted 24 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, delivering down the stretch as New York struggled with injuries and execution.
“Anytime you’re facing an opponent that’s looking at a close-out situation, you know you’re going to get great intensity in the game,”
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said beforehand. He wasn’t wrong — Detroit played like their season depended on it.
Rookie forward Ausar Thompson was a revelation, scoring 22 points and grabbing seven boards on a night when Detroit’s supporting cast stepped up. Cunningham and Duren’s connection was crucial late, but Thompson’s cutting and finishing consistently punished the Knicks’ defense.
On the other end, Detroit’s physicality once again gave New York problems, especially in a rugged, uneven second half where neither team looked particularly sharp.
The Knicks were without Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart for a pivotal stretch in the fourth quarter due to injuries, and Thibodeau’s decision not to call a timeout to get them back in drew plenty of second-guessing. “Coach’s decision,” Thibodeau said afterward, noting he considered the full game situation.
Brunson, who scored just 16 points on 4-of-16 shooting, showed faith in his teammates:
“Regardless of the result… I’ll always have that with my teammates.”
Still, Detroit took full advantage of their absence. A clutch three from Cunningham gave the Pistons a five-point lead late, and although the Knicks rallied with back-to-back threes from Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, Cade calmly hit both free throws in the final seconds to seal the win.
Game 4 Controversy Still Stings for Detroit
While Tuesday’s win gives Detroit life, it’s impossible to ignore the elephant in the room: Game 4’s no-call. Tim Hardaway Jr. was clearly fouled by Josh Hart on the final play of that game, a fact the NBA later confirmed. “Blatant,” Hardaway said postgame.
Had the foul been called, Hardaway would have gone to the line for three free throws with 0.3 seconds left. A make on two of three likely would’ve sent the series back to New York tied at 2-2.
Instead, the Pistons entered Game 5 on the brink of elimination. Now they return home for Game 6 with momentum and motivation.
While 3-2 still favors New York, Detroit’s mix of youthful fearlessness and lingering frustration has cracked open a door no one thought would budge. And if Game 4 had gone differently? This series might already be deadlocked.
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