Knicks beat Pistons to end three-game losing streak
Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a double-double and Jalen Brunson scored 23 points as New York defeated Detroit 111-97 on Tuesday night.
By Marco Kapoor ·
Defending NBA champions often struggle to adjust to a new season, but the New York Knicks avoided a historic poor start by defeating the Detroit Pistons. The win on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden snapped a three-game losing streak that had mirrored the team's early struggles from a season ago.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 27 points and 20 rebounds. His performance anchored the team's defense and rebounding, providing stability during a season where the roster underwent significant changes. Jalen Brunson contributed 23 points, finding his rhythm after a slow first half in which he shot 1-for-9 from the field.
The game turned decisively in the third quarter. New York outscored Detroit 37-13 in that period, erasing a close contest and building a 25-point lead. Mikal Bridges made his first four three-point attempts of the season, adding 12 points to the scoring column. The surge ended the Pistons' perfect start to the campaign.
Detroit had beaten the Knicks in all three regular-season meetings during the previous year, including scores of 121-90, 118-80, and 126-111. Cade Cunningham finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists for the Pistons. Paul Reed started at center for the injured Jalen Duren, recording 22 points and nine rebounds in his first start of the season.
A loss on Tuesday would have tied the 1969-70 Boston Celtics for the worst start by a defending champion. The Knicks' victory marks their first win since Game 5 of last season's NBA Finals. The team now sits at 1-3 on the young season, having dropped games to Philadelphia, Boston, and Orlando earlier this week.
