Knicks Beat Pistons 111-97 to End Losing Streak
Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a double-double as New York stopped Detroit's undefeated season with a third-quarter surge.
By Megan Ivanov ·
The New York Knicks defeated the Detroit Pistons 111-97 on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. This victory prevented the defending champions from starting a season 0-4, a feat previously accomplished only by the 1969-70 Boston Celtics.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 27 points and 20 rebounds. Jalen Brunson added 23 points, snapping a poor shooting streak that saw him go 1-for-9 from the field in the first half. Mikal Bridges contributed 12 points after making his first four three-point attempts of the season.
New York overcame a slow start to dominate the middle of the game. The Knicks outscored Detroit 37-13 in the third quarter, erasing any doubt about the game's outcome. This surge followed an 11-0 run at the start of the period that pushed the Knicks ahead 62-50.
Towns extended the lead late in the third quarter with seven consecutive points. A final 12-2 run closed the period, leaving the Knicks ahead 88-63 on Josh Hart's three-pointer at the buzzer.
For Detroit, Cade Cunningham posted 19 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. The Pistons had beaten the Knicks three times during the 2025-26 season, with scores of 121-90, 118-80, and 126-111. Paul Reed started in place of injured center Jalen Duren, scoring 22 points and grabbing nine rebounds.
This win marks the Knicks' first victory since Game 5 of last year's NBA Finals. They had lost their previous three games to Philadelphia, Boston, and Orlando.
Source: Newsday
