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We’ve got a spicy Game 4 brewing in the East. The No. 3 seed Knicks hold a 2-1 series lead over the upstart No. 6 seed Pistons, but every game has been a back-and-forth slugfest.
Game 4 tips off in Detroit at 1 PM ET on ABC, with the Pistons desperate to avoid a 3-1 hole heading back to New York. Let’s break it down.
Game 1: Knicks 123, Pistons 112
The Knicks opened the series with one of the postseason’s most improbable finishes so far. Down 98-90 with just over nine minutes to play, New York ripped off a 21-0 run to completely flip the game and steal the win.
Jalen Brunson returned from a scary ankle tweak to score 34 points, and Cam Payne provided an unexpected lift off the bench with 11 fourth-quarter points. OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns each added 23 points, while the Pistons, who got 20+ from Tobias Harris in the first half and an inefficient 20+ from star Cade Cunningham, faded down the stretch. It was Detroit’s 15th straight playoff loss.
Game 2: Pistons 100, Knicks 94
Detroit bounced back with a gritty Game 2 win at Madison Square Garden. Cade Cunningham showed why he’s the franchise player, scoring 33 points with 12 rebounds and controlling the tempo. Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren had double-doubles, while Dennis Schroder poured in 20 off the bench.
The Pistons’ physicality was the story. Detroit controlled the glass, pressured Brunson into 6 turnovers, and held New York to 8 total bench points. Despite another 37-point outburst from Brunson, Detroit’s length and hustle were the difference.
Game 3: Knicks 118, Pistons 116
In Detroit for Game 3, this one came down to the wire again. The Knicks narrowly escaped with a win thanks to KAT’s 31 points (including 4 threes) and another 30 from Brunson. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges also reached the 20-point mark, showing how balanced New York’s starting five can be when their wings roll.
The Pistons stayed close with a terrific shooting performance, with 16 made threes at a 43% clip, and Tim Hardaway Jr. led the charge with 7 triples. Cade put up 24 points and 11 assists, but his efficiency took a dip, and Detroit couldn’t quite get over the hump. Malik Beasley’s now second straight tough shooting game hurt (2-of-10 from deep), and the lack of output from Harris made a difference.
Detroit’s been the more physical team for most of this series. They’re winning the rebounding battle, they’re getting to the line consistently, and they’re making it tough for the Knicks to find easy shots outside of Brunson’s heroics. But if Cade Cunningham isn’t elite, it won’t be enough to come back in this series.
The blueprint for a Pistons win is clear: Cade has to dominate. When he’s aggressive – getting downhill, drawing fouls and setting up shooters, Detroit can hang with anyone. He had 33 in Game 2 and made it look easy.
Beasley needs to wake up. The Pistons can’t rely on Hardaway Jr. to be the sole floor spacer. If Beasley (41% from deep in the regular season) can find his rhythm again, it opens up much more for Cade.
The Pistons need to take care of the ball. That’s been their Achilles’ heel at times, and they have been prone to coughing the ball up in key moments.
For the Knicks, the game plan is straightforward: Feed Brunson. He’s scored 30+ in every game and has been unguardable off the dribble. They also have to hope KAT keeps rolling. Game 3 was his best outing yet, and his ability to space the floor draws defenders out of the paint, giving Brunson more room to operate. Bench production is critical as well. New York’s depth has been inconsistent. They become much harder to beat if they get contributions from guys like Cam Payne or Miles McBride.
There’s also the free throw factor. The Knicks shot 26-of-29 in Game 3, which was a decisive factor. If Detroit wants to even the series, they’ll need to keep New York off the line while continuing to earn trips of their own. Cade only took 3 free throws in Game 3, and that needs to change if the Pistons want to send this back to New York at 2-2.
He’s the engine for this Pistons team, and in a must-win home game, expect him to take control early and often. Cade averaged 30.8 points in four regular-season meetings vs the Knicks, and he already has a 33-point game in this series. The shots will be there, and now it’s about delivering.
Zach has been a published sports writer since 2018 specializing in college football & basketball, MLB and NFL content for multiple publications.