Pistons get big victory over Knicks in Game 5; Can they win this series?
Goforitradio Staff
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The Detroit Pistons, displaying remarkable resilience, secured a crucial victory over the Knicks at MSG with a score of 106-103 in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round series on Tuesday night.
The series, which the Knicks lead 3-2, now shifts back to Detroit for Game 6 on Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena.
As we’ve seen throughout this series, the game came down to the end. In Games 3 and 4, the Knicks were able to execute down the stretch and get the victories. However, in Game 5, the Pistons were able to execute. After a Karl Anthony Towns three with 3:25 left in the fourth, the Pistons would go on a 6-0 run.
Jalen Brunson, who tweaked his right ankle, and Josh Hart, who was shaken up after a hard fall, were on the bench for most of that run. Both players left with just under three minutes to go and returned with 27.4 seconds left.
The Knicks did cut the lead to 104-103 after an O.G. Anunoby three with 07.4 left; Cade Cunningham hit two free throws after he was intentionally fouled. However, Deuce McBride got fouled and missed the first free throw, and he intentionally missed the second free throw, but the Knicks could not get the rebound, and the Pistons moved on to Game 6.
Cunningham had a game-high 24 points; Ausar Thompson had 22 points and seven rebounds, and Tobias Harris added 17 points.
Anunoby led the Knicks with 19 points and eight rebounds; Towns had 19 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, and Brunson added 16 points and seven assists. The Knicks had six players in double figures, including all five starters.
Bottom Line:
Regardless of the series outcome, the Pistons are gaining invaluable experience for the future. These games have been nail-bitingly close, with the last three games decided by three points or less. The Pistons have shown that they are a force to be reckoned with, and this series could easily have been in their favor at 3-2.
As we go forward, Brunson is banged up, and that favors the Pistons. It’s one game at a time for the Pistons, but they go back to Detroit with some confidence, but they haven’t won in Detroit in the playoffs since 2008. The Knicks are still the favorite and will probably win this series; however, you can’t count out these young, hungry Pistons.
