NBA Scoreboard: Knicks Halt Pistons' Unbeaten Season

New York Knicks fans walked out of Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night with their first win of the season. The team defeated the Detroit Pistons, 111-97, stopping a slide that threatened to set a historical record for poor starts by a defending champion.

Karl-Anthony Towns anchored the victory with 27 points and 20 rebounds. Jalen Brunson added 23 points after struggling early in the game. He shot just 1-for-9 from the field in the first half but found his range as the third quarter began. Mikal Bridges contributed 12 points, making his first four three-point attempts of the season.

The Knicks erased a deficit by outscoring Detroit 37-13 in the third period. An 11-0 run opened the quarter, pushing New York ahead 62-50. Towns scored seven straight points later in the frame, and a 12-2 final stretch sealed the lead at 88-63. Josh Hart hit a three-pointer as time expired to lock in the cushion.

The result ends a three-game losing streak. The Knicks had lost to Philadelphia, Boston, and Orlando since the NBA Finals. A loss on Tuesday would have tied the 1969-70 Boston Celtics for the most opening defeats by a team returning as champion.

Detroit remains 3-1 despite the setback. Cade Cunningham recorded 19 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. Paul Reed started at center in place of injured Jalen Duren, posting 22 points and nine rebounds. The Pistons had defeated the Knicks in their last six regular season meetings, with scores ranging from 111 to 126 points in their favor last season.