The series may have tilted in the last seconds of this Game 4. It will in any case take a good courage to the pistons to get up from such a final, when they thought they had the match in hand, until the huge finish of the Bruns-Bridges-Towns trio to snatch the victory, the second in a row on the Detroit prosecution 94-93.
The Knicks took the best start, well helped by Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart's hot stroke, 2/2 from afar. With the 3-points of Miles McBride and Karl-Anthony Towns, New York was already at 5/9 in the exercise while Detroit was struggling, at 0/6 (18-29). Tim Hardaway JR ended up unlocking the counter after 0/10 (26-35), but the pistons nevertheless cashed a new gap to meet at -14, between the block of Mikal Bridges on Ausar Thompson and the response of the New York leader, a 3-point step-back (26-40).
Cunningham walks on the water
It was at this moment that the troops of JB Bickerstaff finally regained control of the tempo by sinking a 9-0, with a new 3-point of Tim Hardaway Jr and two “and-one” of Tobias Harris! Enough to completely relaunch the match at the break, with the Alley-oop between Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson to conclude the first half and set the tone for the rest (43-50).
The pistons have indeed resumed strongly by chaining the counters and relying on Cade Cunningham which walked on the water throughout the third quarter. The leader of the pistons led his own on a 10-0 to make his team ironed in mind (55-52). He also split 12 points including two dunks over the period and remarkably found the Thompson-Harris-Duren trio before serving Malik Beasley at the end of the third quarter for two 3-point baskets which placed Detroit at +7 (71-64)!
Brunson comes out on injury … then relaunch the Knicks!
The gap thus mounted up to +11 on a new distant arrow of Tim Hardaway Jr (79-68), until the Knicks in turn respond, and in what way! Back on the prosecution after a big fright at the ankle, Jalen Brunson took control, scoring two baskets near the circle and then finding Mikal Bridges for his second 3-point in a row from the corner and scoring with 3-point. In a flash, the Knicks had already returned to the score (84-84)!
With the momentum in their favor, the New Yorkers managed to keep the wind in the back until the end, with this time a Karl-Anthony Towns hot as embers. The interior has scored a first 3-point, a sublime FODY-Way line, then a new basket to a meter behind the bow to get his team at the top of 47 seconds from the end (93-94). The pistons still had two opportunities to pass in front, but Cade Cunningham at the top of the racket and Tim Hardaway JR 3-point in the buzzer did not find the sights. At 3-1 and with the next upcoming match at MSG, the mission is damn damn for the pistons!
Was this a Foul on Tim Hardaway Jr's Three?
(via @Nbatv))
– Yahoo Sports (@yahoosports) April 27, 2025
What to remember
The incredible end of match of Karl-Anthony Towns. Heckled by Tobias Harris and in difficulty with the faults throughout the match, Karl-Anthony Towns was decisive in the end of the match by scoring the last 8 points of his team. We will notably remember this “Fadeaway” background line which flirted with the board and this final 3-point to offer victory to the Knicks on the wire. Hat the artist!
Jalen Brunson's injury. After contact with Dennis Schroder in the third quarter, the leader of the Knicks took the direction of the locker room when he barely managed to walk, suffering from the right ankle. You could fear the worst, but Jalen Brunson clenched his teeth to return at the start of the fourth quarter and guide his training in his improbable return, with this magnificent 3-point to equalize at 84-84 and change the dynamics of the end of the game.
The fault not whistled on Tim Hardaway Jr. What a cruel final for the pistons, who will no doubt remember that this last fault not whistled on the attempted 3-point at the Buzzer of Tim Hardaway Jr in the corner. Stronged by Josh Hart at the basin level in his ascent, the former New York winger was clearly unbalanced and should have benefited from three throws. A whole season that can be changed on this last action … even if Hardaway Jr. may have sought the fault too much.
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How to read the stats? Min = minutes; Shots = successful shots / tempted shots; 3pts = 3-point / 3-point attempted; LF = Successful free throws / tempted free throws; O = offensive rebound; D = defensive rebound; T = total rebounds; PD = assists; FTE: Personal faults; Int = interceptions; BP = lost bullets; CT: against; +/- = Differential points when the player is on the field; Pts = points; EVAL: evaluation of the player calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
