By: Darryl Jacobs, ESPN & CBS Sports Networks Commentator
The 2025 NBA Playoffs opened with a first-round clash that pits two very different franchises on contrasting trajectories. The New York Knicks, a battle-tested group with a wealth of playoff experience, are squaring off against a revitalized Detroit Pistons squad making their first postseason appearance since 2016. This matchup isn’t just about who advances—it’s a statement series that may signal whether Detroit’s rebuild has matured enough to contend with the Eastern Conference elite.
Regular Season Recap: Pistons Held the Edge
Detroit took the regular-season series 3–1, surprising many with their poise and versatility against a Knicks squad trending upward since acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns and re-signing OG Anunoby for a full season. The Pistons’ victories in the regular season series were a testament to their growth and potential. This potential is what gives Pistons fans hope for a successful playoff run.
In their first meeting in December, Cade Cunningham torched New York with a 29-point triple-double, controlling pace and exploiting New York’s interior rotations. The Pistons repeated the feat a month later, outpacing the Knicks in transition while hitting 40% from deep.
Even in the face of a loss, New York won the final regular-season meeting in Detroit, a testament to their resilience and ability to compete at a high level. The Pistons still showed they could hang with a top-tier squad, even when their stars weren’t clicking on all cylinders. Entering the postseason, both teams knew this would be no cakewalk.
Game 1 Recap: Knicks Rally Late
In Game 1 at the Garden, the Knicks came from behind with a statement 21–0 fourth-quarter run, closing out the game 123–112. Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 34 points and eight assists, while Towns added 23 points and 11 rebounds. OG Anunoby set the tone early, scoring 19 of his 23 points in the first half.
For Detroit, Tobias Harris, a veteran presence acquired midseason, paced the team with 25 points. Cunningham added 21 points and 12 assists, but his six turnovers loomed large, especially during New York’s defensive surge in the fourth.
What did we learn? The Pistons can play the Knicks for three quarters, but playoff basketball is a different beast. It requires composure, execution, and discipline, where the Knicks currently have the upper hand.
Pistons vs. Knicks – Game 2 Recap
Detroit came into Madison Square Garden with something to prove—and they did just that. The Pistons, struggling in the playoffs with a 15-game losing streak, finally broke the curse with a gritty 100–94 win over the Knicks, tying the series 1–1.
Cade Cunningham bounced back in a big way, dropping 33 points and setting the tone all night. Dennis Schröder came up clutch with a huge three in the final minute, and Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren were forces in the paint—both finishing with double-doubles.
The Knicks fought hard, especially Jalen Brunson, who scored 37 points and tried to will New York back in the fourth. They got it down to the wire but missed a couple of big shots late—Brunson and Mikal Bridges couldn’t connect from deep to tie it.
Postgame, Thibodeau, and some Knicks players voiced their frustration with the officiating, particularly the significant free-throw differential. The Knicks shot 15 free throws compared to the Pistons’ 30, a disparity that they felt significantly impacted the game. The Knicks also expressed their discontent with what they perceived as ‘illegal screens’ and Detroit’s tough, physical play, adding a layer of controversy to the game.
Now the series shifts to Detroit for Game 3. The Pistons have momentum and home court. Should be
Individual Matchups: Where the Series Could Tilt
Cade Cunningham vs. Jalen Brunson
This is a series of marquee matchups. Cunningham is Detroit’s floor general, whose size and court vision create matchup issues. On the other hand, Brunson is the heartbeat of the Knicks’ offense and has already cemented himself as a postseason killer. In Game 1, Brunson’s ability to control the tempo in the clutch proved decisive. Cunningham responded in game 2 to even the series 1-1.
Karl-Anthony Towns vs. Jalen Duren
Towns’ playoff inconsistencies have long been a storyline, but early returns in this series suggest he is locked in. Duren brings athleticism and energy but lacks the experience to consistently disrupt Towns, who is effectively stretching the floor and crashing the glass.
OG Anunoby vs. Ron Holland
Anunoby is a proven playoff 3-and-D weapon, while rookie Ron Holland, Detroit’s high-upside wing, is seeing his first taste of postseason fire. Holland’s athleticism and defense are impressive, but Anunoby’s strength and savvy give the Knicks a serious edge in this matchup.
Coaching Edge and Intangibles
Tom Thibodeau’s defensive schemes and postseason experience give the Knicks a significant tactical edge. He’s been here before and knows how to make in-series adjustments. Pistons head
coach J.B. Bickerstaff has done a terrific job stabilizing the Pistons’ young core, but Game 1 showed some late-game indecision and breakdowns in communication that needed to be addressed, which he did in Game 2.
What Knicks Must Do to Win
Cade is the engine of Detroit’s offense. He has been surgically efficient, composed, and lethal during crunch time. The Knicks need to:
· Throw different looks at him—mix traps, hard hedges, and physical man defense.
· Use OG Anunoby more on Cade in key moments—his length and discipline can disrupt rhythm.
· Force the ball out of Cade’s hands early to make Detroit’s secondary creators beat them.
What Detroit Must Do to Win
For Detroit to flip the script, they need Cade to reduce turnovers and Harris to maintain his scoring efficiency. They also need someone—perhaps Hardaway, Beasley, who arguably is the best sixth man in basketball this season, or Schröder —to provide a scoring punch off the bench. Winning on the road is crucial. They head back to Detroit 1-1 and now have home-court advantage.
Series Prediction
The Pistons are ahead of schedule, and their ability to win at MSG in the regular season shouldn’t be dismissed. However, playoff basketball magnifies weaknesses, and Detroit must overcome any inexperience, especially late in games, which was fully displayed in Game 1.
The Knicks, with Brunson orchestrating the offense and Anunoby providing elite wing defense, are built for the grind. If Towns continues to play at a high level and Thibodeau’s defense tightens up late, this series likely tilts in New York’s favor.
Prediction: Pistons in 6.
Detroit’s future is bright, its potential is undeniable, and they will take the next step ahead of schedule. Their physicality and depth will prove too much for the Knicks.
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