DETROIT — Facing the pressure of vying for an NBA championship, the New York Knicks have strategically strengthened their line-up with the addition of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. Their latest victory against the Detroit Pistons, which ended with a 116-113 score in Game 6 of the first-round series, signals their readiness to challenge for the title.
This triumph paves the way for a face-off against the Boston Celtics, with Game 1 scheduled for Monday night in Boston. The Celtics, who are the second seed, will endeavor to leverage their home-court advantage against the third-seeded Knicks.
“They’re the defending champions, so we’re going to need to be at our best,” stated Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau. Despite the tough competition provided by the Pistons in this tightly-fought series, the Knicks are aware of the escalating challenges that await them.
“We’re up against the defending champs next, which is an entirely different ball game,” noted Jalen Brunson. He shone in the previous clash, delivering a tiebreaking 3-pointer with only 4.3 seconds on the clock and tallying a remarkable 40 points. “The Celtics have the experience. The Pistons brought their A-game and we had to respond, which we did.”
All of New York’s encounters with Detroit were edge-of-the-seat affairs, with victory margins not surpassing three points. This occurrence is only the second in the NBA’s history, the first being a matchup between Boston and Philadelphia during the 1981 Eastern Conference finals.
In recent years, the Knicks faced setbacks, falling short in the second round and eyeing the Eastern Conference finals—a feat they haven’t achieved since 2000. To break this pattern, New York made crucial decisions.
In pursuit of elevating their gameplay, Towns was acquired from Minnesota, for a first-round pick, alongside three-time All-Star Julius Randle and sharpshooter Donte DiVincenzo. DiVincenzo notably set a record for 3-pointers in a single season for the franchise. Meanwhile, Bridges’ recruitment from Brooklyn came at the cost of four first-round picks.
Though Towns had a quieter outing in Game 6—netting 10 points and securing 15 rebounds—Bridges made a significant impact with his 25 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a block.
“Bridges’ performance placed us in that favorable position,” Brunson mentioned. “While there will be a spotlight on the last shot, throughout the back-and-forth of the game, we remained composed, and credit goes to my teammates.”
Brunson, who continues to be the Knicks’ shining light, has consistently proven his skill, especially after winning the NBA’s clutch player of the year accolade. In a decisive play, his nimble crossover dribble allowed him to secure space from defender Ausar Thompson, culminating in the winning 3-pointer.
“Once he carved out that room, it was game over,” complimented Bridges.