The Pistons Were Never Going To Roll Over
With their backs against the wall and the season on the line, the Detroit Pistons walked into Madison Square Garden and took Game 5 from the New York Knicks, bring the series back to Detroit.
Forget the highly likely scenario in which the Detroit Pistons would be leading this first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks 3-2—had the officials made the right call at the end of Game 4, which would have sent Tim Hardaway Jr. to the free-throw line for three shots.
Forget that.
Focus on what transpired on Tuesday night—Game 5 at Madison Square Garden.
A young, physical, unfazed Detroit team did what they’ve done all season long: beat expectations.
No way a team down 3-1—after losing in gut-wrenching fashion—would walk into one of the most historic and hostile arenas in the league and walk out victorious.
Yet, the Pistons did just that.
In a situation where many teams would have folded—see the Bucks and Magic, who lost their Game 5 series finales last night—Detroit did the exact opposite.
The results aren’t as surprising as you might think if you’ve been following this team all season. It may sound cliché, but head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has instilled a different mindset in this youthful and motivated squad.
As Hollywood as it sounds, there’s a “never quit” attitude with this group—one that spent the prior season getting embarrassed on a nightly basis and setting franchise records no one wants to be associated with.
On Tuesday night, the Pistons walked into MSG and outlasted a New York team that had all the momentum and all the expectations.
In the first half, while Cade Cunningham struggled to get going, Tobias Harris and Ausar Thompson played vital roles in keeping Detroit afloat.
Harris finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, four blocks, two steals, and two assists. Once again, he was the primary defender on Karl-Anthony Towns for most of the night. Harris was tremendous on defense against Towns, despite the latter’s four-inch height and 20+ pound size advantage. Towns was limited to just 17 points on 5-of-14 shooting.
Jalen Brunson suffered his worst performance of the series—by far. With Ausar Thompson draped on him for most of the night, Brunson finished 4-16 from the field for a mere 16 points.
Thompson’s offense flourished, on the other hand. He scored a series-best 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting, feasting on dunks at the rim. He added seven rebounds and two blocks.
The night was capped off with Cunningham—Detroit’s star player—accomplishing first-time playoff feats matched only by Oscar Robertson and Wilt Chamberlain. He took over in the fourth quarter, pouring in 13 points, four rebounds, and two assists in the final 12 minutes.
The Pistons were never going to put their sword away and wave the white flag—even after what transpired in Game 4.
An annoyed Malik Beasley made that clear in a short and somewhat contentious postgame media session on Sunday:
“We have to get ready for the next game, ready to play, bring it back here. That’s all we can do. That’s the message.”
As I walked out of the arena on Sunday, Tim Hardaway Jr.—the victim of the no-call on the final play—loudly proclaimed:
“We’ll see you Thursday. We will see you Thursday,” to an LCA arena staff member.
He told no lies. The Pistons have extended the series beyond five games—the only matchup in the Eastern Conference to do so.
They’ll attempt to do the same on Thursday night, back in Detroit, at what will be a packed and energetic arena.