Key Points Summary โ Knicks Are the Greatest in Round 1
- The New York Knicks pulled off the wildest fourth-quarter comeback of the playoffs so far with a 21-0 run against the Detroit Pistons.
- Jalen Brunson dropped 34 points after briefly exiting, igniting Madison Square Garden with superhero energy.
- Cam Payne was electric, scoring 11 of his 14 points during the epic run.
- Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby each added 23 points in their Knicks playoff debut.
- Detroit led by 8 points with 9 minutes left before completely collapsing under the Gardenโs pressure.
- The Pistons are still chasing their first playoff win since 2008, now on a brutal 15-game postseason losing streak.
- Knicks fans were on their feet as MSG exploded into the loudest arena in basketball.
- Game 2 is set for Monday, and New York is now buzzing with championship dreams.
Knicks Are the Greatest in Round 1 โ A Comeback for the Ages
Get ready, NBA fansโthe New York Knicks just lit the playoffs on fire.
What started as a sluggish, concerning night turned into a basketball masterpiece as the Knicks pulled off an unthinkable 21-0 fourth-quarter run to shock the Detroit Pistons 123-112 and take Game 1 of their first-round series.
Madison Square Garden went from silent to seismic. Jalen Brunson turned into a superhero, Cam Payne came alive, and the Pistons? They got run out of the building.
The Fourth-Quarter Miracle That Shook New York
Letโs set the scene. The Pistons were up 98-90 with just over nine minutes left. MSG was holding its breath. The Knicks looked flat, Brunson looked banged up, and the vibe was shaky.
Then Brunson walked off the courtโฆ to change his sneakers. Or maybe to grab a cape, as Coach Tom Thibodeau joked.
Whatever it was, it worked. Because when he came back? Everything changed. Knicks Are the Greatest.
โI think he was grabbing his cape,โ Thibs said, smiling after the win.
From that moment on, the Knicks exploded.
Cam Payne Catches Fire and Starts the Run
Cam Payne, quiet most of the night, suddenly flipped the switch. He scored 11 of his 14 points in the final quarter, including the first 5 points of the game-changing run.
- He converted a three-point play.
- Brunson scored right after.
- Payne buried a three to tie it at 98.
Thatโs when MSG started shaking.
By the time the Pistons scored again, the Knicks had reeled off 21 straight points and were up by 13. Game. Over.
Brunson: Banged Up, But Brilliant
Jalen Brunson looked shaky early. He was just 4-for-15 in the first half, still battling the lingering effects of a late-season ankle sprain.
But when it mattered, he took over.
He finished with 34 points, controlled the offense, and made every smart play down the stretch.
โWe had to find a way to figure things out and keep battling,โ Brunson said. โAnd I mean, it turned around quickly.โ
Quickly? It turned into a basketball earthquake.
Karl-Anthony Towns & OG Anunoby: Welcome to the Garden
Karl-Anthony Towns, in his first playoff game as a Knick, was a monster: 23 points and 11 rebounds.
OG Anunoby added 23 points as well, locking in defensively and knocking down key shots.
This Knicks team isnโt just gritty anymore. Theyโre deep, theyโre smart, and theyโre dangerous.
Pistons Collapse Under Pressure โ 15 Playoff Losses in a Row
It was all going so well for Detroit. They had the lead, they had momentum, and they were nine minutes away from snapping their 14-game playoff losing streak.
Then the Knicks took it from themโruthlessly.
Tobias Harris led the Pistons with 25 points, but just 3 in the second half. Cade Cunningham had 21 points and 12 assists, but couldnโt find rhythm against the Knicksโ defense, going 8-for-21 from the field.
โYeah, it stinks to lose,โ Harris said. โBut itโs all about how you come back.โ
For Detroit? Thatโs now 15 straight playoff losses, still searching for a win since 2008.
The MSG Madness โ Fans Lose Their Minds
When that 21-0 run was in full swing, Madison Square Garden was the loudest place in America.
Fans were screaming. Celebrities were courtside. And every Pistons turnover felt like a championship moment.
โYou could feel the electricity,โ said one fan. โIt was like Game 7 in the Finals.โ
If this was just Game 1? The East better be on high alert.
Looking Ahead: Game 2 and Beyond
Game 2 tips off Monday night at MSG, and the Pistons will be trying to do what no team has done in 16 yearsโwin a playoff game in a Detroit jersey.
But the Knicks? Theyโre just getting started.
With Brunson healthy, Towns locked in, Payne stepping up, and the Garden rocking, this team looks ready for a deep run.
Are the Knicks Built for a Championship?
It might sound crazy. But after Saturday night? Not anymore.
They have:
- A superstar guard in Brunson.
- Interior dominance with Towns.
- A lockdown wing in Anunoby.
- A fearless bench mob.
And most importantly, they believe.
Knicks Are the Greatest in Round 1 โ And the East Just Got Scared
The 2025 NBA Playoffs are just heating upโbut make no mistake:
The New York Knicks made the loudest statement of Round 1.
A 21-0 run. A thunderous comeback. An electric Garden crowd. And a team that just wonโt back down.
So go aheadโtalk about the Celtics, the Cavaliers, the Bucks. But donโt forget who just blew the doors off the playoffs.
The Knicks are here. The Knicks are for real. And the Knicks might just be the team to beat.
