Shara Talia Taylor provides a video report of New York’s 123-112 win over Detroit.
Our video correspondent, Shara Talia Taylor, was at Madison Square Garden as the New York Knicks stormed past the Detroit Pistons with a 123–112 victory in Game One of the Eastern Conference first round. She caught quotes from Jalen Brunson, Coach Tom Thibodeau, and OG Anunoby following the win.
New York entered the final frame down by nine but exploded for a 40–21 fourth quarter to seal the game. Cameron Payne sparked the turnaround with a momentum-shifting three, followed by a Brunson bucket.
“The key was Cam Payne,” Brunson said. “The beginning of the violation at the beginning of the fourth quarter and the way we started the first couple of minutes . . . that was the key. So, credit to those guys.”
OG Anunoby added 23 points and hit a buzzer-beating three to close the first quarter. He spoke about the mindset behind the Knicks’ surge: “Just stay with it. Continue to play the way we play. Force them to make tough shots.”
Detroit came prepared, matching the Knicks in intensity early. The teams were knotted at 27 after one, and the Pistons outpaced New York 36–26 in the third. But the Knicks leaned on their leaders—Brunson, Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns, who also had 23—to turn the tide.
Pistons Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff credited spacing as the key to Cade Cunningham’s offense. “If he can get to his spot, he’s capable of knocking down his shots no matter who is defending him.” Cunningham finished with 21, Tobias Harris led Detroit with 25, and Tim Hardaway Jr. chipped in 19.
As for Brunson, Coach Thibodeau summed up the night simply: “We had to find a way to figure things out and keep battling. It turned rather quickly.”
Watch the full video below and drop your thoughts in the comments!