It's one of the most overused phrases in sports: "Basketball is a game of runs."
On Saturday night at Madison Square Garden for the Knicks, though, that wasn't quite right. This was the game of one singular, defining run.
It was the single biggest run of the Knicks' entire season, and it pushed them from a possible opening-game loss to the Pistons into total control.
The final tally: 21 Knicks points in a row, a 21-0 super surge that left Detroit reeling and had MSG rocking to the rafters.
It started with about nine minutes to play, after a Dennis Schroeder drive put the Pistons up 98-90.
Here's what happened next:
- Cameron Payne and-1 layup, 9:06 left, Knicks down 93-98
- Jalen Brunson floater, 8:27 left, Knicks down 95-98
- Cameron Payne 3, 7:47 left, 98-98
- Jalen Brunson finish inside, 7:16 left, Knicks lead 100-98
- Cameron Payne stepback 3, 6:41 left, Knicks lead 103-98
- Jalen Brunson for 2, 6:15 left, Knicks up 105-98
- Jalen Brunson again, 5:52 left, Knicks up 107-98
- Josh Hart layup, 5:13 left, Knicks up 109-98
- Josh Hart again, 4:49 left, Knicks up 111-98
The Pistons ended the run with a 3-pointer from Malik Beasley.
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In the run, Payne and Brunson each scored eight points.
The lefty backcourt mates meant Mikal Bridges sat on the bench while the veteran reserve Payne cooked. Payne ended up with 14 rapid-fire points in a 15-minute stretch in the second half.
CAM PAYNE IS ON A 4TH QUARTER HEATER 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ubJXI24W6S
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 20, 2025
The Pistons had been in relative control for three quarters. It was really a remarkable turnaround.
The whole series could hinge on that four and a half minute stretch.
If Detroit takes game one, everything feels different. But instead, they lose in depressing fashion.
The Knicks go from down and out to putting together their longest run of the entire year at a crucial time to end up winning 123-112.
It's just one game in a seven-game series, but it feels like the one that could define the Knicks' playoff run.
If they can come back in that fashion against a gritty Detroit team, the Knicks are certainly capable of many great things.
So yeah, basketball is a game of runs. It's just that on this night, the Knicks ran straight away with this game and never gave it back.
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