Detroit Pistons win first playoff recreation since 2008 ECF, beating the Knicks in Recreation 2

Cade Cunningham had 33 factors and 12 rebounds, Dennis Schroder made the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 55 seconds left, and the Detroit Pistons snapped their NBA-record, 15-game postseason shedding streak by beating the New York Knicks 100-94 on Monday night time in Recreation 2 of their playoff collection.

The Pistons, who hadn’t even been to the postseason since 2019, recovered after the Knicks erased a 15-point deficit to earn their first playoff victory since Recreation 4 of the 2008 Japanese Convention finals in opposition to Boston. The Celtics gained the ultimate two video games of that collection and the Pistons have been then swept in 2009, 2006 and 2019 earlier than dropping Recreation 1 at Madison Sq. Backyard.

Now they’re again within the win column, all tied within the collection and can host Recreation 3 on Thursday night time.

Schroder, who wasn’t even on the Pistons till a commerce in February, nailed the 3-pointer after the Knicks had used a 16-4 run to tie it at 94 on Josh Hart’s dunk. He completed with 20 factors off the bench.

The Pistons engineered one of many largest turnarounds in NBA historical past this season, going 44-38 after a 14-win season in 2023-24 that included a 28-game shedding streak, longest ever in a single season.

They have been then in good condition to win Recreation 1 with an eight-point lead after three quarters, earlier than the Knicks used a 21-0 run within the fourth to win 123-112. Detroit constructed one other eight-point benefit after three Monday, and this time made the large performs after one other Knicks rally.

Jalen Brunson scored 37 factors for the No. 3-seeded Knicks, however Karl-Anthony Cities and OG Anunoby have been every restricted to 10 after each completed with 23 factors within the opener.

Cunningham bounced again with a powerful efficiency after the All-Star guard was simply 8 for 21 in Recreation 1. The Knicks struggled to maintain him out of the paint and defend him with out fouling, because the Pistons shot 14 free throws to the Knicks’ two whereas constructing a 55-49 lead at halftime.

The Pistons then held New York to only one basket within the first seven-plus minutes of the third quarter. Cunningham and Tobias Harris every had two baskets in an 11-0 run that Paul Reed, taking part in as a result of backup middle Isaiah Stewart was out with proper knee irritation, capped with a basket that gave the Pistons their largest lead at 68-53 with 5:02 remaining within the third.

Reporting by The Related Press.

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