Brunson & KAT & Defense & a Lot of Hart. NY 118 Detroit 116

April 25, 2025 LouV 2024-25 0

Jalen Brunson made consecutive CLUTCH drives against a tough defense with just over a minute left in the game to put the Knicks in control, 112-105 with 59 seconds left — then NY survived last-minute 3’s and a bizarre ref call on a Detroit time-keeper ‘mistake’ in the final second — to win pivotal Game 3, 118-116 in Detroit.

Brunson was at the line for 2 free throws with  .5 seconds left — made the first and purposely missed the 2nd to end the game — but the shotclock buzzer sounded inadvertently as Brunson’s free throw banged off the rim — and so the refs said Detroit was granted a time out and ability to inbound the ball one final time, with an opportunity for a miracle 3 to win it.

Insane.

The Pistons muffed the inbound and the game ended.

Brunson finished with 30 pts on 9-20 shooting and was CLUTCH down the stretch, as was Karl-Anthony Towns, who finished with 31 pts on 10-18 shooting (4-8 from 3).

NY came out with aggression from the start and took an early 33-27 lead, pushed the lead to 13 pts at the half by going on a 23-3 run at the end of the 2nd quarter, countered a Piston run in the 3rd to take a 10-pt lead into the 4th, and countered another Piston run that pulled them to within 3 points with 2 minutes left — when KAT made a Huge fadeaway jumper and Brunson made his consecutive drives to ward them off one final time.

NY did it with Defense — with Josh Hart grabbing key rebounds and making key hustle plays, and OG Anunoby (22 pts), Mikal Bridges (20 pts), Mitchell Robinson, and Miles McBride playing key roles — and playing their roles well.

“They said that’s what’s in the rules,” said coach Tom Thibodeau afterwards about the shot-clock buzzer play. “It doesn’t seem right to me. It’s unfortunate. That should never happen, ever, in a playoff game. Never happen.”

1. Knicks Come Out with Aggression

The Knicks came out with fire and aggressiveness and determination — a different look than the team that took the court to start Game 2.

Karl-Anthony Towns was popping 3’s, and the Knicks were passing crisply, scoring from every angle. A Jalen Brunson 3 gave NY a 20-11 lead.

But Tim Hardaway Jr. got hot — hitting his second 3 of the quarter, and then 3 free throws after getting fouled on a 3 — to close the gap to 20-17. A Cade Cunningham 3 tied the game 20-20 just like that.

But the Knicks fired back — a Josh Hart bucket, and 3’s by KAT and OG pulled NY out to a 28-20 lead.

The score was 33-27 NY after 1.

2. Hardaway Gets Hot; Detroit Takes Lead in 2nd

Dennis Schroeder was a demon again in this game — with tough, physical, heady defense on Brunson, and making big buckets on offense. He made a couple of 3’s at the start of the 2nd quarter — the later one bringing Detroit to within 37-35.

Cam Payne answered with a bucket but then Tim Hardaway continued his 3-pt barrage — hitting consecutive 3’s to give Detroit a 43-39 lead. It made Hardaway 5-5 from 3 for the game (and 5-6 overall), not counting the 3 free throws he also made in the 1st quarter while being fouled taking a 3.

It was the worst of times for Knick fans — seeing another Knick castoff killing them — along with Jalen Duren who the Knicks had for a few minutes in 2022 on draft night, when Charlotte drafted him at #13, traded him to the Knicks as part of a package, and the Knicks traded to Detroit as part of a package to get rid of Kemba Walker‘s contract.

Add them to a list that includes Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet in Boston, etc.

3. Knicks Close Out 2nd with 23-3 Run

But with NY down 47-43 after Ronald Holland free throws, the Knicks would go on a 23-3 run to grab a 64-50 lead.

  • KAT hit a floater inside off a Josh Hart assist,
  • Josh Hart grabbed an offensive rebound and fed OG for a 3,
  • NY forced Cade Cunningham into a turnover, and Mikal Bridges hit a deuce,
  • Brunson made 2 free throws after a drive, countering a Cunningham bucket,
  • OG stole the ball off a bad pass by Tim Hardaway Jr, then dunked,
  • Mikal Bridges blocked a Cunningham jumper, and Brunson made 2 free throws on a drive down the other end,
  • OG stuck a 3 after an Ausar Thompson free throw,
  • Mikal Bridges stole the ball from Cade Cunningham inside, then scored a bucket down the other end,
  • KAT blocked Jalen Duren’s shot inside, and fed the break, where Mikal Bridges stuck a 3 for a 64-50 NY lead.

Finally Malik Beasley hit a 3 for Detroit, but Brunson countered with a drive for a 66-53 NY lead at the half.

4. Detroit Slices Into Lead in 3rd But Knicks Push Back

Jalen Duren — the 6’10 power forward who the Knicks had for several minutes the night of the 2022 draft — continued his tremendous play against them at start of the 3rd, scoring multiple times inside off pick and rolls.

Hardaway hit ANOTHER 3 — making him 6-6 from 3 from the game, and then Ausur Thompson hit a drive-and-1 and then a dunk and Detroit was within 70-69.

KAT and Jalen Duren went back and forth — KAT with a drive-and-1 — Jalen Duren with a dunk inside — KAT with a 3 — Duren with another dunk inside — before the Knicks finally started to gain more distance.

Knicks Make Adjustments on Hardaway and Duren

The Knicks adjusted. Hardaway would miss his next 5 attempts from 3, and Duren was kept out of the paint.

A Mikal Bridges drive-and-1 and Brunson 16-footer-and-1 put NY up 84-75.

Josh Hart put back an offensive rebound with .1 seconds left in the period and NY had a 93-83 lead entering the 4th.

NBA Analyst Ross Kreines reflected on Josh Hart: “Tweeted this below a number of years ago on Josh Hart. Watch how many ways he impacts the game all while playing his role. Josh fills a stat sheet daily but never seek stats, he seeks every rebound, all 50/50 balls, finds the open man, creates his own opportunities and never cheats u.”

5. KAT, Brunson, Hart Keep Knicks on Top in 4th

The Pistons kept clawing at the Knicks at the start of the 4th — but NY kept them at a distance with buckets by Brunson, KAT, and Mikal Bridges.

Josh Hart was HUGE for NY — coming up with big offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, and loose balls. He was disrupting the Pistons — causing turnovers.

Hardaway kept missing 3’s, but Dennis Schroder was coming up with big buckets as was Cade Cunningham.

Cunningham and Schroder hit back-to-back 3’s, and Tobias Harris hit a J and just like that Detroit was within 3 again, at 104-101 and 4:42 left.

Brunson answered with a HUGE pullup, then Towns hit a HEADY fadeaway jumper from the right side and NY was up 108-101 with 3 minutes left.

But Jalen Duren broke free for another bucket inside, and Cade Cunningham hit a drive and again the Pistons were within 3 at 108-105 with 2 minutes left.

6. Brunson’s Consecutive Clutch Buckets

Brunson missed an 18-footer and here came Cade Cunningham with a chance to pull Detroit within 1 — he drove the lane but Missed against a tough Knick D, KAT grabbed the rebound, fed Brunson, who drove full court for the HUGE bucket against traffic.

Hardaway Jr. missed another 3, and here came Brunson again — and again a HUGE bucket changing speeds slowing down then speeding up and delivering a brutal blow — NY 112 Detroit 105 with 59 seconds left.

Detroit timeout.

7. The Final Seconds

But of course this is the NBA where a 7-pt lead is not safe with 59 seconds left.

Malik Beasley, quiet all night, hit a 3. KAT was intentionally fouled and made both free throws, but Jalen Duren broke free for a quick dunk and it was NY 114 Detroit 110 with 23 seconds left.

Brunson was intentionally fouled and made both free throws. NY up 116-110 with 23 seconds left — game seemingly over.

Mikal Rebound — But Jump Ball No Foul

Cunningham and Beasley both missed desperation 3’s, and Mikal Bridges grabbed the rebound. Game over — but Cunningham reached in and grabbed the ball forcing a jump ball — no foul called.

Detroit gained possession and Hardaway Jr nailed a 3 with 5 seconds left making it a 3-pt game.

Brunson Into the Backcourt

After a timeout NY inbounded into the back court — where Brunson just caught the ball and stepped into the backcourt in time — Detroit argued he caught the ball in the front court and moved into the backcourt but the replay showed him catching the ball and foot landing in the backcourt.

The Shot Clock Error

Brunson was intentionally fouled and sent to the line with .5 second left — where he made the 1st and intentionally missed the 2nd to end the game — as the .5 second would come off the clock as someone rebounded the ball. But the timekeeper sounded the buzzer as the ball hit the rim — and refs gave Detroit the ball and a timeout. INSANE.

But Jalen Duren made a bad inbounds pass — out of bounds — giving NY the ball with .5 second left. After another timeout, NY inbounded and that was game.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401768042

 

 

 

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