Brunson Closes the Door on Detroit as Knicks Advance to Round Two

Brunson’s 40-point gem and clutch three-point dagger send New York to the second round.

Jalen Brunson, what more can you say.

Game 6 tipped off at Little Caesar's Arena with the Knicks just one win away from advancing, and they wasted no time imposing their will. From the opening possession, Jalen Brunson looked surgical: knocking down a smooth pull-up to set the tone. New York dictated the rhythm early by attacking in transition, converting in the paint, and torturing Detroit’s defensive lapses from the perimeter. Soon, a deflection by Mikal Bridges turned into an easy fast-break lay-in, whereas Karl-Anthony Towns bullied his way into the post with strength and touch.

The Pistons, on the other hand, looked disjointed and dazed. Poor focus, loose rotations, and soft closeouts allowed the Knicks to explode on a 9-0 run, and the lead floated up to double digits in no time. OG Anunoby, ever the two-way glue guy, buried a corner three and tallied a block on Jalen Duren that sent Knicks fans into a frenzy. By the end of the first quarter, Brunson had already racked up 15 points and the Knicks were nearly flawless with just a single turnover; exactly the kind of composure you'd want from New York in an elimination game.

But as dominant as the Knicks were in the opening frame, the second quarter flipped the narrative completely.

Detroit opened the second quarter with renewed energy, and it started on the defensive end. Ausar Thompson ignited the crowd with a rim-rocking slam, followed by a big-time block that disengaged the Knicks’ interior rhythm. Suddenly, the Pistons were closing out faster, rebounding harder, and flying around with purpose pumping in their veins. While New York still found ways to respond (Anunoby sinking his third three of the night and Towns punishing mismatches inside the key), Detroit’s momentum was still on-going and building.

And then, enter: Malik Beasley. The sharpshooter got hot, and fast. Following a Towns' turnover and a missed transition opportunity, Beasley made New York pay with back-to-back triples, torching the Knicks in spot-up opportunities. After that, a technical foul on the Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff temporarily slowed things down, but not for long. Detroit’s defense tightened up, forcing fumbles and rushed shots from the Knicks.

And it didn't just stop there. Jalen Duren’s and-one cut the lead to just three, which had Little Caesars Arena roaring loud and proud on the broadcast. The Pistons had finally tied the game at 49 with another Beasley bomb.

It was safe to say that the entire second quarter belonged to Malik Beasley.

New York looked stunned. They lacked the rhythm they had possessed back in the first quarter. To make matters worse, a lob from Cunningham to Duren brought Detroit its first lead, and another three by Beasley (his sixth of the half) banked in off the buzzer to cap a wild turnaround. What started as a Knicks showcase turned into a Detroit rally, and now, New York had to regroup at the half.

Detroit had surged to a 61-59 lead over New York by halftime.

After a rough second quarter, the Knicks came out of the locker room locked in for the third, a sharp contrast to their usual struggles in that frame, and the shift was instantly noticeable. Mikal Bridges got things rolling with a smooth floater off the glass to tie the game, and New York never looked back. OG Anunoby was dominant defensively with a timely steal, while Karl-Anthony Towns used his size to secure second-chance points that swung the Knicks' momentum.

Despite Detroit’s attempts to hang around, including a tough finish from Cade Cunningham and some hustle plays from Ausar Thompson, the Knicks kept their foot on the gas. Jalen Brunson's three-point craft and no-look feeds kept the Pistons in a scatter. Hart added to the surge with a thrilling triple, and OG punished mismatches with free throws and a killer corner three (his fourth of the night).

The energy spiked when Bridges soared in transition and threw down a vicious poster dunk over Cunningham, drawing loud cheers from Knicks fans sprinkled all throughout Detroit’s home court. Even as foul trouble hit both sides, the Knicks kept Detroit off balance with their deadly offense.

Though Malik Beasley chipped plenty from the arc, the Pistons struggled from deep outside of him, going just two-for-18. And as for the captain, Brunson led the charge with efficient playmaking and poise, while Anunoby and Bridges handled both ends with intensity.

New York had managed to close the third up 96-85, flipping the tone of the game back in their favour.

The final quarter was a test of composure, physicality, and clutch decision-making. And the Knicks, behind Jalen Brunson, finally answered the call.

Josh Hart picked up his fifth foul early and had to head to the bench, while Karl-Anthony Towns eventually fouled out with six, giving Detroit a clear advantage. Duren and Cunningham kept the Pistons rolling, with Duren dominating inside and Detroit building a nine-point lead behind a 9-0 run. New York looked shaky, giving up key rebounds and missing critical looks.

Jalen Brunson Stat Line

But when the game tightened, Brunson took over like any leader should. After tying the game at 113 on a much-needed Bridges tip-in, the Knicks got the stop they needed with 20 seconds remaining. Then, with the shot clock winding down, Brunson froze Thompson with a filthy step-back three, an absolute dagger that shook the Pistons and lit up Knicks fans everywhere.

With all eyes on Detroit to keep their season alive, Beasley turned the ball over on the Pistons’ final possession. And just like that, the Knicks finally took care of business in the clutch, sealing a chaotic 115-113 victory to end the series against Detroit.

Overall, all of the Knicks’ starters were seen in double-digits for the series winner: Captain Clutch Jalen Brunson with a 40-piece and seven assists, Bridges bridging the Knicks' lead with 25 points, Anunoby clutching up with 22 points and four threes, Hart nailing 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Towns (although quiet) touched double-figures with 10 points and 15 emphatic boards.

On the other hand, the first-round exit Pistons had five players in the double-digits column: Cunningham leading with 23 points (although inefficient), Duren hitting 21 points and six rebounds, the three-ball hot hand Malik Beasley with 20 points and six threes, Thompson planting 17 points and six rebounds, and Harris putting up 14 points under his name.

Next up, the New York Knicks will advance to the second round to face the Boston Celtics for Game 1 (TBD).