Knicks: Defending champs claw back to 1-3 with 111-97 Pistons win

The Knicks celebrated a 111-97 victory over the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, snapping a three-game losing streak that had left them 0-3. The win was their first of the season and came with a distinct shift in momentum, as New York built a 27-point lead in the second half to secure the result.

Entering the game, the Knicks carried a record that placed them in rare company, as one of only five teams in NBA history to start a title defense with three straight losses. The team also ranked last in the league in points per game, 29th in field goal percentage, and last in pace. These statistics stood in contrast to the squad that finished the previous season with a historic postseason run.

The Pistons arrived at the Garden with a perfect record, having previously defeated the Knicks during the championship season. The game featured physical play, including an incident where Karl-Anthony Towns and Paul Reed had to be separated. Coach Mike Brown had noted before the game that Detroit had "our number last year," a reference to the Pistons' dominance over New York in the prior campaign.

New York's turnaround began with defensive intensity. The Knicks limited Detroit to 3-for-21 shooting from the field in the second quarter. In the third quarter, the offense found its rhythm, outscoring Detroit 37-13. Mikal Bridges, who had scored just 10 points in his first three games and missed all 10 of his three-point attempts, connected on four shots on Tuesday.

The third quarter concluded with a moment of high emotion. Josh Hart hit a three-point field goal after OG Anunoby secured a loose ball. Hart and his teammates celebrated the basket with visible intensity, a reaction that mirrored the energy of their previous title run.

Jalen Brunson, who has not been the primary scorer in recent losses, emphasized the need for the team to focus on details. "Find whatever it takes to win," Brunson said. "Control what we can control. Focus on the little details that might seem small but can impact winning. Most importantly stick together."

Brunson also addressed the external pressure and praise the team has received since winning the championship. "Everyone has been telling us what a great job we did, how fun it was, what we did for the city, the constant praise and so we need to be the opposite," he said. He noted that the team would discover its true character in the first few weeks of the season.

Coach Mike Brown indicated that the team is still in a process of adjustment. He compared the current situation to his time as an assistant in Golden State, where the Warriors lost the season series to Utah despite winning the title. Brown said he is still finding the right fits for bench pieces and the rotation remains uncertain. "You can always get better," Brown said, adding that he is "messing with" certain aspects of the team that may or may not stay the same.

The game ended with 2:49 left on the clock when Ausar Thompson was called for his sixth foul after a physical confrontation with Brunson. The Knicks finished the season opener with a 1-3 record, having lost their first three games in a fashion that did not suggest they deserved those defeats.