Knicks End Three-Game Losing Streak With 111-97 Victory Over Detroit

The New York Knicks defeated the Detroit Pistons 111 to 97 on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, ending a three-game losing streak that marked a historically poor start for a defending champion. The victory stopped the team from becoming only the sixth squad in NBA history to begin a title defense with three consecutive losses.

Before the final horn, New York trailed the Pistons by double digits, echoing the struggles from their championship run last year. However, the home team shifted momentum in the second half, building a 27-point advantage. The Knicks outscored Detroit 37 to 13 in the third quarter after limiting the visitors to just three made shots on 21 attempts in the second period.

The team entered the game with metrics that ranked them dead last in points per game and 29th in field goal percentage. They also finished with the lowest pace among all NBA teams. Mikal Bridges, who had scored only 10 points over the first three games and missed all 10 of his three-point attempts, connected on four long-range shots on Tuesday. Josh Hart hit a three-point field goal to end the third quarter, a shot created by hustle from OG Anunoby.

Jalen Brunson, who has not been the decisive factor in previous losses this season, noted that the team must control what it can and stick together. He said the group will see who they are within the first couple weeks of the season. Brunson added that the team needs to be the opposite of the constant praise they have received for last year's performance.

Head coach Mike Brown stated before the game that the Pistons had the Knicks' number last year, but he does not take a ton of stock in that history. Brown compared the situation to his time as an assistant in Golden State, when the team lost the season series to Utah despite winning the championship. He noted that the team is still finding fits for bench pieces and that the rotation remains uncertain.

Brown said he is still figuring out what is best for the team long term, acknowledging that short-term results might not be good. He referenced the decision to bench Josh Hart in the fourth quarters last season, a move that took lumps but was part of the learning process. The Knicks returned nearly the entire rotation intact from last year, but Brown emphasized that there is always room to get better.

The game featured physical play, with Karl-Anthony Towns and Paul Reed requiring separation at one point. Ausar Thompson was called for his sixth foul with 2:49 left in the game after a physical encounter with Brunson. The Knicks will look to the next opponent on their schedule after this win, which restored some of the defensive intensity and offensive flow seen during their postseason run last year.