Knicks overcome 27-point deficit against Pistons to end 0-3 start

The New York Knicks trailed by 14 points at the half, but they erased the deficit and built a 27-point lead in the second half to defeat the Detroit Pistons 111-97 on Tuesday night. The win snapped a three-game losing streak that had left the defending champions with a 0-3 start to the season. It was one of only five instances in NBA history where a title-winning team began a defense with three straight losses.

The Knicks entered the game as the league’s worst team in points per game, ranking 29th in field goal percentage and last in pace. They had been outplayed by Detroit in previous matchups during the championship run, but the dynamic shifted quickly after the break. New York held Detroit to 3-of-21 shooting from the field in the second quarter before outscoring the Pistons 37-13 in the third.

Mikal Bridges, who had scored just 10 points across the first three games and missed all 10 of his three-point attempts, made four from deep in the win. Josh Hart closed the third quarter with a three-pointer after a rebound from OG Anunoby. The bench and starting unit celebrated the basket with the intensity of a championship game, signaling a change in momentum.

Jalen Brunson, who had struggled to find his rhythm since the playoffs, provided leadership in the locker room. He told his team to focus on small details and control what they could. “Find whatever it takes to win,” Brunson said. “Control what we can control. Focus on the little details that might seem small but can impact winning. Most importantly stick together.”

Brunson noted that the team had been receiving constant praise for their previous season and needed to react to adversity. “We’re going to see who we are within the first couple weeks of the season,” he said. “And we’re seeing adversity so how are we going to respond?”

Head coach Mike Brown entered the game acknowledging that Detroit had beaten them in the regular season last year. He cited a past example from his time in Golden State where the team lost the season series to Utah but still won the title. “I don’t necessarily take a ton of stock in it,” Brown said regarding the previous record against Detroit.

Brown indicated that he is still adjusting the rotation and bench roles for the new season. He recalled the start of his first year, when the Knicks were 2-3 and struggling with chemistry. “No, no, no, no. You can always get better,” Brown said when asked if those issues were resolved. He noted that he is still figuring out what works best for the team long term, even if the short-term results have been painful.

The game ended with 2:49 remaining when Ausar Thompson fouled out while defending Brunson. Brunson used a forearm to signal his exit, marking a physical end to a contest that featured several separations, including one between Karl-Anthony Towns and Paul Reed.