DETROIT — Jalen Brunson silenced a hostile Detroit crowd with a clutch step-back three-pointer in the final seconds, sealing a 116-113 win for the New York Knicks over the Pistons in Game 6 on Thursday night. His 40-point performance punched the Knicks’ ticket to the second round of the NBA playoffs.
With just 4.3 seconds left on the clock, Brunson created space with a slick crossover and drilled the go-ahead shot, then blew a kiss to the crowd that had jeered him relentlessly throughout the series.
“I just stay poised and lean on the trust and calm my teammates give me,” said Brunson, who was recently named the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year.
“He’s at his best when it matters most,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “That’s what makes him special.”
Detroit had one final chance to tie the game, but Malik Beasley bobbled a pass with just 0.4 seconds remaining, ending the Pistons’ hopes of forcing overtime.
“It hurts,” Beasley admitted. “I had a shot to tie it up with a three. That one’s going to stay with me.”
The third-seeded Knicks now advance to face No. 2 seed Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals, with Game 1 scheduled for Monday night in Boston.
“They’re the defending champs,” Thibodeau said. “We’ll need to be at our absolute best.”
Mikal Bridges added 25 points for New York, while OG Anunoby chipped in 22. Despite giving up a 15-point lead in the second quarter and another 11-point cushion in the fourth, the Knicks held their nerve in crunch time to seal the win.
Detroit, the sixth seed, capped off a remarkable regular season turnaround and snapped the NBA’s longest playoff drought. However, Thursday’s loss marked their 10th consecutive home playoff defeat, setting an unfortunate league record.
“We showed ourselves and the league that this group has real potential,” said Pistons star Cade Cunningham, who finished with 23 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds. But he struggled from beyond the arc, going 0-for-8. His backcourt partner, Tim Hardaway Jr., added just 7 points on 1-of-6 shooting from deep.
Hardaway had given Detroit a 112-105 lead with a jumper late in the game, but Brunson responded with a personal 5-0 run. Then, with the score tied at 113 and 22 seconds to go, Cunningham missed a contested layup, opening the door for Brunson’s heroics.
“They just made one more play than we did,” said Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff. “It’s that simple.”
Brunson endured boos every time he touched the ball during the series and faced intense heckling, especially in Game 3. The crowd’s abuse even prompted Warriors coach Steve Kerr to speak out in his defense. But Brunson didn’t let it phase him.
“His focus never wavers,” Thibodeau said. “He doesn’t get distracted by noise or what anyone says. It’s all about the game for him.”