Knicks capitalize on Pistons' mistakes to fuel 21-0 run in Game 1 victory.

 NEW YORK — The Detroit Pistons, a young team that had already more than tripled their regular-season win total and were aiming for their first playoff victory in 17 years, seemed to have little left to prove in their first-round opener on Saturday.

They had managed to slow down All-NBA guard Jalen Brunson, who had struggled with a cold start, hitting only 2 of his first 13 shots. The Pistons were clicking on offense, shooting over 50% from beyond the arc through three quarters, and held an eight-point lead heading into the final period.

But everything—defense on Brunson, their offensive rhythm, and nearly every other aspect of the game—came crashing down for Detroit in the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks, who had been kept afloat by OG Anunoby’s offense, turned up the pressure with their defense, forcing two early turnovers in the period. They seized the momentum and went on a 21-0 run over the next four and a half minutes, ultimately running away with a 123-112 victory to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The disastrous fourth began with the Pistons committing a five-second violation on their first inbound attempt, after Knicks guard Cameron Payne applied unexpected pressure. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Detroit followed up with a 24-second shot clock violation. A minute later, second-year player Ausar Thompson missed a breakaway dunk, compounding the errors.

These mistakes allowed the Knicks to quickly close the gap. “Things turned really, really quickly,” said Brunson, noting that the Pistons' turnover had been the turning point. "The way we played defensively was key for us."

With the momentum fully on their side, the Knicks capitalized. Karl-Anthony Towns (23 points, 11 rebounds, 4 steals) scored five quick points following Detroit's mistakes. Payne, who had forced the initial violation, erupted for 11 of his 14 points in the fourth. Meanwhile, Brunson, one of the NBA’s best closers, found his rhythm after briefly hobbling from what appeared to be an ankle tweak late in the third quarter. He switched from his lime green sneakers to an off-white pair, and coincidentally or not, he shot 5-for-7 for 12 points with three assists in the final period.

Despite a rough start, Pistons All-Star Cade Cunningham found a rhythm and finished with 21 points, 12 assists, and six turnovers. Veteran Tobias Harris, who had a 22-point first half, pointed out that Game 1 was just one game. "It's about how you respond," Harris said. "I'm excited to see how we respond."

Tale of Two Halves: Jalen Brunson

First Half	Second Half
Points Created	18
FG	4-15
FG%	27%
FG Off the Dribble	2-12

Despite the loss, Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff acknowledged the need for the team to bounce back and focus on improving before the next game.