Final: Knicks 111, Pistons 97
The New York Knicks have their first win of the season. Karl-Anthony Towns had 27 points and 20 rebounds, and a huge third quarter carried New York past the previously unbeaten Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
The defending champions avoided an 0-4 start. Detroit dropped to 3-1.
The third quarter decided it
The game was close at halftime. Then New York outscored Detroit 37-13 in the third quarter and turned it into a 25-point lead.
Jalen Brunson was a big part of it. He made just 1 of 9 shots in the first half, then came alive after the break and finished with 23 points.
Top performers
| Player | Team | Stats |
|---|---|---|
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Knicks | 27 points, 20 rebounds |
| Jalen Brunson | Knicks | 23 points |
| Mikal Bridges | Knicks | 12 points (4 three-pointers) |
| Paul Reed | Pistons | 22 points, 9 rebounds |
| Cade Cunningham | Pistons | 19 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists |
Mikal Bridges’ four threes were his first made three-pointers of the season.
Detroit missed its big men
The Pistons played without center Jalen Duren (hamstring) and forward Ausar Thompson (ankle). Paul Reed started in Duren’s place and played well, but Detroit couldn’t match Towns on the boards.
The Pistons had won the last six regular-season meetings with New York and were trying for their first 4-0 start since 2018-19.
A big win for New York
This was the Knicks’ first win since Game 5 of the 2025-26 NBA Finals. After three straight losses to open the season, a win against one of the East’s hottest teams is a good start.
What’s next
Both teams play again on Wednesday night:
- Knicks at Bulls, 8:00 pm ET
- Hornets at Pistons, 7:00 pm ET
See every game and channel in NBA games tonight. Our preview of this game has more on both teams.
Source: ESPN recap.
