How Knicks beat the Pistons: Jalen Brunson, Cameron Payne spur New York's 21-0 run in Game 1 win

David Suggs

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How Knicks beat the Pistons: Jalen Brunson, Cameron Payne spur New York's 21-0 run in Game 1 win image

For three quarters of Saturday's Game 1, a youthful Pistons bunch matched every Knicks haymaker with one of their own.

JB Bickerstaff's side flashed its considerable might throughout 36 minutes, opening up what seemed a decisive advantage against its battle-tested opponent.

But basketball is a four-quarter affair. And after a fourth-quarter explosion like few others, it was New York, not the Pistons, who found itself frolicking on the Madison Square Garden hardwood come the end of the contest.

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Here's what you need to know about the Knicks' Game 1 win, namely the fourth-quarter salvo that spearheaded it.

How Knicks beat Pistons in Game 1

Detroit was riding high after a 36-point third-quarter outburst, racing to an eight-point advantage come the end of the frame. With Malik Beasley, Dennis Schroeder and Tobias Harris firing, the Knicks were in desperate need of an adjustment.

They found it in the fourth, forcing a five-second violation to start the period.

The infraction gave viewers a window into what was to come. Tom Thibodeau's side enjoyed a wondrous two-way display in the game's final 12 minutes, authoring a 21-0 run amid a typhoon of timely baskets and Pistons giveaways.

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Detroit turned the ball over nine times in the fourth, struggling to adjust as the likes of OG Anunoby and Josh Hart harassed its ball-handlers. On the other end of the floor, New York was similarly effective, with Brunson, Payne, Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns finding life with the ball in their grasps.

Jalen Brunson stats vs. Pistons

  • Minutes: 40
  • Points: 34
  • Rebounds: 2
  • Assists: 8
  • Steals: 0
  • Turnovers: 4
  • FGM/FGA: 12/27
  • 3PM/3PA: 2/5
  • FTM/FTA: 8/10

Saturday's match represented a tale of two halves for Brunson, who appeared less than 100 percent during a turgid first-half affair that saw him clank 11 of his first 15 shot attempts.

The Villanova alum entered the matchup still dealing with the remnants of an ankle sprain that sidelined him for a month ahead of the end of the regular season.

A known playoff performer, Brunson's inefficient first-half display gave way to second-half fireworks, with New York's captain tallying 23 points — 12 of which came in the fourth.

Brunson scored his points in a number of ways. He canned a pair of threes, got to the free throw line and went to work in the all-important mid-range. All told, it was a vintage postseason display for Brunson, one of the NBA's most respected primetime producers.

His head coach took notice, too.

Cam Payne stats vs. Pistons

  • Minutes: 15
  • Points: 14
  • Rebounds: 0
  • Assists: 1
  • Steals: 1
  • Turnovers: 1
  • FGM/FGA: 5/7
  • 3PM/3PA: 3/5
  • FTM/FTA:1/1

While strong showings by Brunson, Towns and even Hart were expected, a Cam Payne sighting seemed a fairly unlikelier prospect. But with Brunson nursing his ankle ailment and New York wanting to throw a different look at Detroit's athletic defense, Thibodeau went to the 10-year veteran.

Payne proceeded to offer just the sort of production Thibodeau craved. The Murray State man tallied 14 points, 11 of which came in the fourth.

The former Suns guard hit a pair of triples to bolster New York's comeback efforts, knotting the game up with one effort before splashing another at the end of the shot clock to push the Knicks' advantage to five.

Payne earned plenty of plaudits for his showing, with a number of luminaries, including Ben Stiller and Magic Johnson, lapping praise on the 30-year old guard.

Knicks vs. Pistons schedule

New York leads 1-0

DateGameTime (ET)
April 19Game 1: Knicks 123, Pistons 112—
April 21Game 2 at New York7:30 p.m.
April 24Game 3 at Detroit7:00 p.m.
April 27Game 4 at Detroit1:00 p.m.
April 29Game 5* at New YorkTBA
May 1Game 6* at DetroitTBA
May 3Game 7* at New YorkTBA

*if necessary 

David Suggs

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.