NEW YORK — The Detroit Pistons faced the New York Knicks on Saturday, holding an eight-point lead on the road as the fourth quarter began, positioned to seize the opening game of their first-round playoff series against the third-seeded Knicks.

Detroit demonstrated strong play in the third quarter, outscoring New York 36-26. Guard Malik Beasley was particularly effective, sinking five three-pointers and celebrating with confident gestures.

Forward Tobias Harris noted their strong performance, commenting, “We were really in sync.”

Harris believed the young Pistons team, many experiencing their first postseason, were maintaining their composure well. However, a struggle to inbound the ball at the start of the final quarter hinted at potential trouble.

Following the five-second inbounding violation, another 24-second violation further dampened their momentum.

New York quickly narrowed the gap to three points in under a minute, igniting the home crowd at Madison Square Garden. Despite the rising pressure, Detroit initially responded, with Jalen Duren, 21, connecting with Ausar Thompson, 22, for an alley-oop dunk and drawing a foul.

Even after Thompson missed an uncontested dunk on their subsequent possession, Detroit seemed stable. Duren then secured a steal, leading to a fast-break layup by Thompson.

However, the Knicks then surged ahead. Baskets from Cameron Payne, including a three-pointer and drives to the basket, along with a floater from Jalen Brunson, shifted the game`s momentum. The Pistons not only relinquished their lead but also lost their composure.

With Detroit trailing by five midway through the third quarter, a critical turnover occurred when Cade Cunningham threw away an inbounds pass. Brunson capitalized immediately, extending the Knicks` advantage to seven.

On the following possession, Cunningham committed another turnover, and Brunson scored again easily:

With approximately five minutes remaining, Harris drove to the basket but missed a contested layup. As he argued for a foul, Brunson quickly advanced the ball, resulting in a transition score by Josh Hart. This play completed a decisive 21-0 run for the Knicks.

“Our execution let us down, I believe,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff stated after the 123-112 defeat. “Eight turnovers in a single quarter makes victory very difficult.”

Brunson scored 12 of his game-high 34 points in the fourth quarter, shooting 5-for-7 in that period. Coach Tom Thibodeau humorously remarked that Brunson “grabbed his cape” between quarters, alluding to his heroic performance.

Despite his heroics, Brunson credited Payne and the unit that sparked the Knicks` fourth-quarter turnaround for the comeback.

“The turning point was Cam Payne, and the violation at the start of the fourth,” Brunson explained. “Our energy in the first few minutes of the quarter was crucial.”

Payne, previously with the Philadelphia 76ers, had made similar impactful plays against the Knicks in the 2024 playoffs.

Thibodeau praised Payne’s consistent approach: “He knows exactly his role. He brings high energy every game and prepares diligently. He provided a significant spark, which is typical of him.”

Brunson further added about Payne`s consistent energy, “Cam always brings energy, regardless of opponent, location, or game time. He`s energetic from the moment he enters the arena.”

Cunningham`s playoff debut was mixed. Guarded closely by OG Anunoby and facing frequent double-teams, he scored 21 points and had 12 assists but shot poorly (8-for-21), missed three of four three-point attempts, and committed six turnovers, three in the fourth quarter.

“They constantly sent extra defenders at me, trying to get the ball out of my hands,” Cunningham commented.

The 23-year-old acknowledged he “couldn`t dissect their defense effectively enough” but viewed it as a learning opportunity.

Harris mentioned discussing adjustments with Cunningham, expecting him “to improve game by game.”

For Detroit, the late-game collapse was a missed chance. However, despite the loss, the Pistons remained optimistic. Harris expressed pride in the team, and Cunningham described the game as “fun.”

“I really enjoyed it,” Cunningham said. “I think the whole team did. The atmosphere was electric, really rocking.”

Bickerstaff noted Detroit “did many things well” to be in a winning position but failed to close the game, emphasizing the importance of every possession in playoff basketball, especially in the fourth quarter.

“This is playoff experience,” Bickerstaff stated. “Now, we must learn quickly for the next game. For our players experiencing their first playoff game, it`s about understanding playoff intensity and how challenging it is to close out a playoff game. Playoff wins are hard-earned because everyone gives their maximum effort.”

Cunningham sounded surprisingly positive, expressing excitement for the ongoing series and readiness for Game 2. Detroit plans to analyze their late-game errors before facing the Knicks again on Monday but will also recognize their earlier successes. They proved they can compete with the Knicks.

“We played better for three quarters,” Bickerstaff concluded.