Cade Cunningham had said he likes playing in Madison Square Garden. He wasn’t lying.
Cunningham, the All-Star Detroit Pistons guard who is inserting himself into the conversation for NBA Most Valuable Player, was stellar in a 42-point, 13-assist, 8-rebound Pistons victory Thursday, Feb. 19. And with that 126-111 win, Detroit has won all three of its matchups against the Knicks this season, giving the Pistons a massive edge in potential seeding, should the Eastern Conference tighten up.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 33 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds, but New York struggled with its perimeter shots all night long.
Scroll below for a recap and highlights from Detroit’s impressive win over the Knicks Thursday night:
Pistons vs. Knicks highlights
End Q4: Pistons 126, Knicks 111
It was too much Cade Cunningham, too big a deficit on the glass and too few 3-pointers for the New York Knicks.
And with that, the Knicks have been swept in three regular season games by the No. 1-seeded Pistons (41-13), establishing a clear pattern of dominance over New York (35-21).
Cunningham played masterfully, dropping 42 points, 13 assists and 8 rebounds in a complete performance that should elevate his Most Valuable Player candidacy. Cunningham was deliberate and decisive in his movements, as Cunningham went 17-of-34 from the floor, including 5-of-11 from 3-point range.
The Knicks lost the rebounding battle 53-48 and shot just 8-of-35 from beyond the arc.
Jalen Brunson led New York with 33 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds.
Pistons open biggest lead of game
The Knicks will lose this game if they don’t turn things around — and quickly. Detroit has opened up a 16-point lead, its biggest of the game, early in the fourth, leading to a Mike Brown timeout.
The Pistons have launched a 7-2 run to open the period.
End Q3: Pistons 90, Knicks 79
Cade Cunningham is on an absolute heater.
Cunningham, the Pistons’ All-Star guard and MVP candidate, has 35 points and 9 assists through three quarters, as he’s carrying Detroit to another solid game against the Knicks.
Cunningham has played excellently in his career against the Knicks and in Madison Square Garden and Thursday night has been no different. Cunningham, who dropped 11 points in the third, is in complete control, getting to his spots and not forcing anything. And, when New York sends extra pressure toward him, Cunningham is finding open teammates.
The Knicks, meanwhile, cooled off after a hot start to the period. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 12 points in the period, but New York has not been able to catch fire from deep. The Knicks are 4-of-25 (16%) from 3-point range.
Knicks cut it to 4 behind KAT attack
Clearly, New York adjusted at the half to get the ball in the hands of Karl-Anthony Towns, who has 8 points through the first two-and-a-half minutes of the third quarter. More importantly for the Knicks, they’ve shaved 6 points off the deficit and trail 62-58.
End Q2: Pistons 58, Knicks 48
The Pistons may be missing their top two centers, All-Star Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart (both to suspension), but they’re taking it to the Knicks.
Detroit closed the second quarter on a 7-0 run to open a 10-point lead in Madison Square Garden. The Knicks committed far too many turnovers and continued to struggle with their perimeter shooting in the second; New York has now missed 16 consecutive 3 pointers after it made its first of the game and is shooting just 6.3% from beyond the arc.
Cade Cunningham is continuing to control the offense for Detroit. He’s pushing the ball out in transition, finding his spots and dishing passes to his teammates to the tune of 24 points and 4 assists on 9-of-19 shooting.
New York, meanwhile, will need to scheme ways for Karl-Anthony Towns to become more active and engaged on offense. Towns is just 1-of-3 for 2 points with 5 rebounds. Towns is having a tough time finding his spots and at times has appeared disengaged.
Knicks 3-point shooting woes continue
New York made its first 3 pointer of the game, just seconds into the night. Since then, the Knicks have missed 14 consecutive 3s to shoot just 7.1% from beyond the arc, midway through the second quarter.
Karl-Anthony Towns with a quiet quarter
The Knicks big man has faced criticism over the past several weeks for a lack of intensity and intentional play. Towns had just 1 shot attempt in the first quarter, though he did look to distribute with two assists.
Still, for the Knicks to be elite, they will need more offensive production out of Towns.
End Q1: Pistons 28, Knicks 26
The Pistons battled back.
Detroit clamped up its defense and pestered New York into contested shots, which led to chances for Cade Cunningham to operate the offense in open space. Cunningham was the catalyst for Detroit, dropping a game-high 14 points in the first quarter on 5-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
That was the difference in the first quarter, as Detroit was able to hit its open 3s, while the Knicks struggled to find bottom on theirs; the Pistons converted 3 pointers at 40%, while New York went just 1-of-8 (12.5%) in the period.
Jalen Brunson led the way for New York with 9 points.
Late in the first, new acquisition Jeremy Sochan made his Knicks debut, after the team signed him following his buyout with the Spurs.
Knicks vs. Pistons is underway
Jalen Brunson laced his first shot post-All-Star break, a stepback 3, and the Pistons missed their first four shots of the game as we’re underway in the Garden.
Detroit has started just 1-of-8 from the field, as New York has opened an early 9-2 lead just minutes into the game.
Knicks vs. Pistons starting lineups
Detroit Pistons
Cade Cunningham
Duncan Robinson
Ausar Thompson
Tobias Harris
Paul Reed
New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson
OG Anunoby
Mikal Bridges
Josh Hart
Karl-Anthony Towns
Knicks vs. Pistons injury report
(Updated 5:00 p.m. ET)
Knicks: OG Anunoby (right toenail avulsion; probable), Miles McBride (pelvic, core muscle surgery; out), Pacome Dadiet (G League assignment; questionable), Trey Jemison III (G League – two-way; questionable), Dillon Jones (G League – two-way; questionable), Kevin McCullar Jr. (G League – two-way; questionable)
Pistons: Jalen Duren (league suspension; out), Isaiah Stewart (league suspension; out), Bobi Klintman (G League assignment; out), Wendell Moore Jr. (G League – two-way; out)
How to watch Pistons vs. Knicks: TV channel, live stream
Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Madison Square Garden (New York)
TV Channel: MSG Networks
Live stream: Amazon Prime
Pistons vs. Knicks odds
Spread: Knicks by 4.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 222.5 (O/U -110)
Moneyline: Knicks -185
Knicks next five games
Feb. 21 vs. Houston Rockets
Feb. 22 at Chicago Bulls
Feb. 24 at Cleveland Cavaliers
Feb. 27 at Milwaukee Bucks
March 1 vs. San Antonio Spurs
Pistons next five games
Feb. 21 at Chicago Bulls
Feb. 23 vs. San Antonio Spurs
Feb. 25 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Feb. 27 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
March 1 at Orlando Magic