NEW YORK – A clutch three-pointer and late free-throw by veteran Dennis Schröder helped the Detroit Pistons snap a 15-game postseason losing streak with a 100-94 victory.
The win was the Pistons’ first since the 2008 season, led by Cade Cunningham (33 points and 11 rebounds), who became the first player since Blake Griffin (34 points) to score 30 or more points in a playoff game.
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Schroder finished the game with 20 points, while Jalen Duren (12 points and 13 rebounds), Tobias Harris (15 points and 13 rebounds), Cunningham and all finished with a doub-double in the victory to help the Pistons take home court advantage.
1st quarter
The Pistons ended the first quarter on a 6-0 run to lead 25-18. Holding the Knicks to under 20 points was a welcome sign, as in the last quarter they played, they gave up 40 in the fourth quarter of Game 1.
Cunningham led the team to their seven-point lead, finishing with eight points and six rebounds.
He played aggressively, getting out and running the ball, pushing the pace, which set the tone early.
2nd quarter
The second quarter was much of the same as Harris got going scoring his ninth point at the 6:36 mark.
Cunningham had 11 points and seven rebounds while Schroder knocked down seven points off the bench to help with the 42-32 lead.
One key to the Pistons’ success before Game 2 was playing at a faster pace while being aggressive.
It worked, as they shot and made 13-14 from the free-throw line as they started getting favorable calls from the referees, aiding Cunningham to score 20 points in the half.
--> Keys to victory: Detroit Pistons eye bounce-back in Game 2 after painful fourth quarter collapse
Their defense set the tone early and allowed them to play aggressively without being handsy, leading to 10 first-half turnovers from the Knicks.
They also got contributions from Schroder and Harris who scored nine points each, Duren added eight, Malik Beasley added five and Ausar Thompson knocked down four points to take a 55-49 lead into the half.
The Pistons once led by as much as 13 points, but after outscoring the Knicks 25-18, they were outscored 31-30 in the second quarter, allowing the Knicks to get back into the game.
3rd quarter
Cunningham came out of the half more aggressively as he knocked down his first jumper, followed by a tough contest for four points in the quarter.
Harris added four points and Thompson added three points as the Pistons led 64-53 with 6:33 to play.
With the razzle-dazzle, Cunningham drew jeers from the Madison Square Garden crowd as he went coast-to-coast with a behind-the-back dribble and slam for his sixth point of the quarter as the Pistons stretched their lead to 66-53.
The Pistons went on an 11-4 run with 5:44 to play, and Cunningham scored 26 points and nine rebounds.
Cunningham got his first assist to center Paul Reed, who made a contested layup.
Motor Cade finished the quarter scoring nine points to help the Pistons take a 75-67 lead.
Former Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. has zero points through three quarters while shooting 0-6 from beyond the arc and 0-8 overall as the Pistons had an eight-point lead with 12 minutes to play.
4th quarter
Cunningham (31) continued to be aggressive, scoring his first 30-point playoff game of his career after attacking the rim and drawing a foul.
The 31 points were the first time a Pistons player had scored such a high number since Blake Griffin scored 34 points in 2019 vs. the Milwaukee Bucks.
But the Knicks went on an 11-2 run to cut the deficit to 90-86 with 4:27 to play.
Brunson started the run, scoring 31 points in the game before picking up his fourth foul, as the once-quiet crowd got back into the game.
With the momentum swinging, Cunningham, knowing his team needed a bucket, drew a foul, knocking down both for his 33rd point of the game.
Leading 92-86, Beasley and Schroder both running the wings, Schroder bricked a wide-open three, leading to Duren picking up his fifth foul with 3:24 to play.
The Knicks extended their run to 13-4 to cut the deficit to four.
Needing a bucket, Harris got a wide-open look at the rim but fumbled the ball out of bounds.
Brunson goes down on the other end and draws a foul on Harris, knocking down two of three as the Pistons led 94-92 with 1:28 to play.
Duren turned the ball over, leading to a Hart dunk, tying the game at 94.
Schroder knocked down a three-pointer with under a minute to play.
Schroder got fouled with eight seconds remaining up three and misses the first free-throw.
He made the second one to take a 98-94 lead.
Brunson bricked a wide-open three-pointer, leading to a Duren foul, knocking down both to help the Pistons take Game 2.
The Pistons will host their first playoff game since the 2019 season as they’re coming home on Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m., as the Knicks will look to regain homecourt advantage.
