The Detroit Pistons’ first playoff series since 2019 had been underwhelming, to say the least, trailing 3-1 against the Knicks entering Tuesday’s Game 5 at Madison Square Garden.
A compelling argument could be made that with more collective playoff experience, and slightly better luck, the results of this series could be reversed. But that’s basketball.
“Our mindset was to keep playing our brand of basketball,” Pistons forward Ausar Thompson said. “Down 3-1, doesn’t matter. Just keep pushing the pace, keep playing defense, keep getting stops, and that’s when we’re at our best.”
Despite having an eight-point lead entering the fourth quarter, the Pistons fell 123-112 in Game 1 and were outscored 40-21 in the final frame, fueled by a devastating 21-0 Knicks run. Detroit crumbled under pressure when it mattered most.
While the Pistons’ playoff inexperience was glaringly evident in Game 1, impressively, they stayed composed in Game 2. Cade Cunningham led with 33 points and 12 rebounds, keeping the game tight. Veteran Dennis Schröder delivered, nailing a clutch go-ahead 3-pointer with 55 seconds left, securing a 100-94 win — despite missing key reserve Isaiah Stewart.
Back at Little Caesars Arena, the Pistons couldn’t seal Game 3 despite a gritty, physical effort. Cunningham struggled and Detroit missed crucial chances to put the Knicks to bed. An 11-point fourth-quarter lead slipped away, falling short again in a tight loss.
Had the referees correctly called a foul on Tim Hardaway Jr.’s buzzer-beating 3-point attempt in Game 4, the Pistons wouldn’t have faced elimination on Tuesday in Manhattan. Instead, the officials swallowed their whistles, and Detroit fell 3-1 in the series. Game 4 shouldn’t have reached that point, honestly. Like Game 3, the Pistons blew an 11-point fourth-quarter lead in Game 4.
“It’s one of those things that are just completely out of your control,” Pistons head coach J. B. Bickerstaff said. “And I hate to make this series about refereeing and officials because it’s not right. This series is about two highly-competitive teams battling their tails off, trying to do whatever it takes to win. The physicality, I believe, is a good thing for the game. It’s a good thing for us.”
However, in Game 5, the Pistons finally managed to close out a win for the first time since Game 2, though they didn’t make it easy on themselves. Then again, in the playoffs, it rarely is.
Leading by six with 25.3 seconds remaining, they allowed Mikal Bridges to drain a tough 3-pointer from the right wing, cutting the Knicks’ deficit to three. Seconds later, OG Anunoby topped it with an even tougher 3-pointer over Cunningham, narrowing the gap to one point with 7.1 seconds left.
From there, the Knicks were forced to foul, and Jalen Brunson sent Cunningham to the free throw line. The first-time All-Star made both, and the three-point advantage created was just enough to keep the Pistons’ season alive and send the series back to Detroit for Game 6.
Detroit played the Knicks to a 29-29 draw in the fourth quarter. Cunningham was responsible for 13 of those points and finished the night with a game-high 24.
“We’re just focused on the next [game], that’s the best one for us,” Pistons forward Tobias Harris said. “That’s in our arena and we need to go get a victory there. Our fans deserve that. That energy that they bring night in and night out. We want it, and that’s the only thing we’re looking forward to right now.”
