Not Enough MOJO. Detroit 115 NY 106

April 11, 2025 LouV 2024-25 0
Precious Achiuwa with the Monster Slam. Photo courtesy NY Knicks.

The Knicks had a 13-pt lead in the 3rd quarter, but Detroit increased their defense, especially their interior defense, and thumped the Knicks 115-106 on a Thursday night in Detroit.

The Knicks were resting Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson due to minor injuries or rehab rest.

It was a tie game with 6 minutes left, but Detroit had more MOJO down the stretch.

Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 25 pts and 10 rebounds, but had 7 turnovers — many of them costing the Knicks. Jalen Brunson shot only 5-15 from the floor (3-9 from 3) for 15 pts, and Miles McBride was repeatedly snuffed on drives to the rim by the likes of Jalen Duran or Isaiah Stewart. McBride was 5-18 (2-10 from 3) for 12 pts.

Meanwhile Cade Cunningham was a load to deal with again for NY — he had 36 pts on 16-24 shooting (2-5 from 3), and Duran had 18 pts on 9-9 shooting (all drives or dunks inside).

Good news for NY was the play of Precious Achiuwa who brought MOJO for the Knicks on Defense and Offense. He finished with 18 pts (8-13 shooting) and 10 rebounds. Mikal Bridges (17 pts on 7-10 shooting, 1-2 from 3) and Landry Shamet (9 pts on 3-4 shooting, 2-3 from 3) also shone.

“The first half played pretty good, 3rd quarter got up 13. I thought our turnovers really hurt us,” said coach Tom Thibodeau afterwards. “Tie score with 6 or 7 minutes left in the game. But again the turnovers really hurt us.”

“Some of it is guys not being in the right spots; got to clean that up,” added Thibs.

NY drops to 50-30 and are 1 game ahead of Indiana who beat a Cleveland team that rested all of its stars. NY needs 1 more win to clinch 3rd place with 2 games to go, against Cleveland and Brooklyn. Detroit wins to go 44-36.

1. Detroit vs NY a Likely 1st-Round Matchup

The Knicks SMASHED Detroit the first time they played them this year, 128-98, but this is a different Detroit team — one that has gotten better and better as the year has progressed.

Coached by JB Bickerstaff, they play a Tough defensive game and have been one of the better teams in the NBA the 2nd half of the season.

The 2nd time the teams played, in early December, NY was missing KAT, and Detroit won 120-111. The 3rd time they played, in January, Malik Beasley hit big shots at the buzzer and Detroit won again, 124-119.

2. Precious Helps NY Take Command in 1st Quarter

With OG, Hart, and Mitchell Robinson out, Precious Achiuwa started at power forward alongside KAT — and Precious was a knight in shinning armor all night for NY.

He lit the game up in the 1st half, with defense, shot blocking, scores inside, and slam dunks.

He had one of the best slams of the year for NY near the end of the 1st quarter.

3. Knicks by 6 at the Half

The Knicks continued to be the more aggressive team in the 2nd quarter, forcing Detroit turnovers, and scoring in rhythm.

Mikal Bridges was filling it up, along with Miles McBride, Brunson, KAT, and Precious.

Precious even hit a 3 late in the half as NY went up by 9.

“That’s like finding 20 bucks on the sidewalk when Precious is knocking down 3’s,” said Wally Szcerbiak on the halftime analysis broadcast.

But Detroit would not go away — NY led by 6 at the half.

4. Knicks by 13 Midway thru 3rd

The Knicks continued to be the aggressor in the first half of the 3rd quarter, and increased their lead to 13 points with 6 minutes left in the period.

5. Detroit Intensifies D, Ties Game After 3

But Detroit gradually found their MOJO and intensified their Defense. Miles McBride kept driving to the basket but getting denied/blocked at the rim by Jalen Duran or Isiah Stewart.

KAT too was being denied positioning inside. Brunson too was getting hit with pressure inside — but was getting buckets for NY.

KAT 7 Turnovers

Now it was the Knicks turning the ball over against Detroit’s pressure D. KAT especially was throwing the ball away on bad passes, once after intercepting a pass — he gave it right back. KAT had 7 turnovers in the game; the Knicks had 14 as a team; Detroit had 15.

McBride Defends Cunningham

On the other end, Cade Cunningham was getting scores inside and Detroit was scoring off back-door screens that had NY asleep. The 6’6 Cunningham was being defended by the 6’2 Miles McBride — and Cunningham was using his height advantage to get buckets inside. NY could’ve used Josh Hart.

It was noted on the broadcast that Cunningham was getting away with use of his forearm to create space.

He does it as much as Alonzo Trier used to do it or more, but Trier at one point was getting constantly called for it, which seemed to end his career.

6. Tucker Gives Knicks MOJO

KAT got into foul trouble midway thru the 3rd, and was replaced by new Knick P.J. Tucker — and Tucker played exceptionally well — giving the Knicks interior Defense and MOJO.

On one play, Ronald Holland II defended and fouled Jalen Brunson, and then stood over him after the foul — as McBride pushed him away. On a play a minute later, Tucker fouled Cunningham and as Cade fell down out of bounds, Tucker stood over him. The game was getting chippy.

Tucker also hit a 3 from the corner — something he is known for.

7. Shamet Carries Knicks at Start of 4th

Detroit had momentum, and took a 97-93 lead early in the 4th in a game that was being played at playoff intensity, with the Detroit fans loud and giving it to the Knicks.

But Landry Shamet came up Big for NY — hitting back-to-back 3’s, and then causing a Cunningham turnover as he jawed with a fan in the 2nd row.

Meanwhile, Brunson — the Knicks’ hottest hand in the 3rd — was nowhere to be seen. He went out with 3 minutes left in the 3rd — after having missed a couple of shots in a row — replaced by Cameron Payne. Delon Wright came in to relieve  Payne at the point with 8 minutes to go in the 4th; still no Brunson.

Finally Brunson reentered the game with 6 minutes left and the game tied at 99-99 after Shamet’s 2nd 3.

When asked if Brunson was on a minutes restriction coming back from the ankle injury, Thibs said, “Yea.. just.. we wanted to see some different guys out there too.”

8. Detroit D & MOJO Down Stretch Wins It

But NY didn’t execute well against Detroit’s pressure D, and meanwhile the Pistons were able to score against NY’s D. Ronald Holland II scored on consecutive back-door plays and Detroit went up 103-99.

Tobias Harris was left open and knocked down a J and Detroit was up 105-99 with 3:18 left. Dennis Schroder got fouled going to the bucket and hit a free throw, and Cade Cunningham hit a J and it was 108-99 Detroit with 1:59 left — a 9-pt run.

KAT came back with a drive and then free throws off a drive to pull NY to within 5 with 1:03 left.

But Dennis Shroeder hit a circus drive-and-1 for a 111-103 Detroit lead with 54 seconds left and it was good night NY.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401705733

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*