After acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges for a significant haul of draft picks and players like Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, the New York Knicks expected more than zero combined points from these two in the fourth quarter of a crucial playoff game.
However, that`s exactly what transpired on Monday when the Knicks were defeated 100-94 by the Detroit Pistons. This victory marked the end of Detroit`s long playoff losing streak, securing their first postseason win since 2008 and leveling the series at 1-1 before heading to Detroit for Game 3 on Thursday.
Towns concluded the game with 10 points, shooting 11 times but only taking three shots in the second half, missing all of them. His last attempt was at the 5:20 mark of the third quarter. Jalen Brunson tried to carry the offense, but he lacked support. Towns` lackluster performance can be attributed to Detroit`s strong defense and the physical play allowed by the referees. Nevertheless, New York needs more production from Towns if he`s to be the impactful player they envisioned, especially after his strong regular season.
While Bridges isn`t expected to be a superstar, his acquisition cost the Knicks a substantial amount. His performance this season, and particularly in this series, hasn`t matched the expectations for a player acquired for five first-round picks.
In Game 2, Bridges improved from his eight-point Game 1, scoring 18 points. However, he struggled from three-point range, going 3-for-11, and missed four critical late-game shots when the Knicks were attempting a comeback.
These missed opportunities began with a corner three-pointer at the four-minute mark, when the Knicks, who had trailed by 15, were close to narrowing the deficit to three.
On the following possession, instead of involving Brunson, who was the primary offensive force in the fourth quarter, Bridges opted for a one-on-one baseline drive that was unsuccessful.
Two possessions later, with the Knicks down by just four, Bridges missed a pull-up three in transition.
Finally, with only 11 seconds remaining and trailing by three, Bridges had a wide-open look to potentially tie the game, but his shot fell short.
Each of these missed shots, especially the last one, felt like potential turning points for the Knicks. They were momentum-swinging opportunities during an energetic rally at Madison Square Garden, but instead, they deflated the team and the crowd.
The Knicks are supposedly built for playoff success, mirroring Boston`s model, but this will only materialize if Towns and Bridges perform to their expected level. Their Game 2 performance was underwhelming, and now the Knicks are in a tough battle with the Pistons, who, aside from Detroit`s significant run in Game 1, have appeared to be the stronger team in the series.
Jasper Hawthorne