Knicks 116, Pistons 113: “Brunson is not the Clutch Player of the Year lol”

What a player. What a game. What a series.

I grew up listening to music albums. Full albums. At some point that slipped into solo tracks, usually chosen by some randomizing algorithm. After many years of that subtle sickness, I’ve since returned to full-length albums, and feel like someone who switched from poison to medicine.

NBA fans have more access to more information, isolation and speculation regarding their team than ever. It doesn’t always mean more jubilation. After the Knicks lost Game 5 to Detroit Tuesday, I found myself actually considering diving into another CBA/salary apron deep-dive to try and see how much flexibility the Knicks could have this summer. Thankfully my senses returned to me, but it struck me — the series wasn’t even over, much less the season. I don’t want to think about what could be next. I want to indulge in the now.

Last night’s 116-113 win over the Pistons, propelled by Jalen Brunson’s propelling a series-clinching 11-1 run the last 2:35, was worth the stress, the stress-eating and whatever else it took to come through the other side as series victors. Unless the Denver Nuggets rebound from last night’s L to win their Game 7 Saturday against the Clippers, the Knicks/Celtics semifinal will feature the only two teams in the league who’ve won a playoff round each of the past three years. But again — getting ahead of myself. Let’s skip the tracks and dive into the making of the album.

The band wasn’t even assembled until October, remember; that’s when Karl-Anthony Towns arrived. All he’s done since is fit in fairly seamlessly as an offensive centerpiece, make the All-Star team, be a probable All-NBA selection and average 20 and 10 on 49/48/90 splits over six-game series. Towns was brought in to be a worthy co-pilot to Brunson. Despite fouling out last night, KAT was by far the game’s leading rebounder with 15, grabbing one fewer offensive board than the Pistons as a team. The Knicks depth isn’t as good as it was a year ago, but their ceiling is higher because of Towns. Even on an off-night, opposing defenses can’t relax against him. Pressure adds up. Pressure breaks things.

After Brunson’s worst playoff performance as a Knick in Game 5, you figured he’d bounce back in Game 6, but breaking the Pistons? That’s a helluva ricochet.

As is often the case with Brunson, particularly since his late-season return from injuring his ankle — one he aggravated several times in this series — the challenge is never knowing what’s fair to expect, given how regularly he puts on miracles. If Jesus kept turning his ankle and Dr. Luke told him “No more walking on water,” and then Jesus moonwalked across the Sea of Galilee, you wouldn’t be stunned, exactly, even while recognizing you were witnessing something most people go lifetimes never seeing. Brunson’s the same.

The Knicks got 47 points and six stocks from their rooks, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, while Josh Hart put together double-doubles in New York’s last two wins; in addition, the bench was — well, the Knicks starters really did something special last night. They took a number of big swings this year, after a 2024 season that they could have easily sat back and rested their laurels on. There’s a perfect scapegoat for last year’s elimination in all the injuries; the team that scrapped and scuffled to within one win of the ECF was beloved and perhaps more important in the eyes of many fans, they were innocent. They never broke out hearts. You’ll never love a team more than a team that never had the chance to.

Instead, Leon Rose and Co. took some chances, and because of that the Knicks will face the Celtics, the Ghost of Championships Past who nearly visited them each of the past two playoffs had the Knicks ever advanced past round two. Now round two’s where the two will meet. We’ll have plenty to write about that the next few weeks here at P&T, undoubtedly.

If you look at the isolated tracks of Knicks/Celtics this year, you’re likely to feel sick. Don’t move on from this Motown record too quick. There are three off days before Game 1 in Boston. Let the concept album you just finished linger. Brunson’s been a miracle worker for three postseasons running. The Knicks won all three games in Detroit, a team that returns Jaden Ivey and Isaiah Stewart next season, and hopefully runs into Boston in the postseason sometime soon and rekindles one of the Association’s dormant but diamond-grade rivalries. Maybe Pistons fans will think twice the next time they curse a man out for accidentally poking someone in the eye. And for Knick fans of ‘90s vintage, there was something symmetrical and deliciously sweet about sending Tim Hardaway Sr. home unhappy after a road playoff win, just like the Knicks did in 1998. And 1999. And 2000. But who’s counting?

Quoth Begiant, “Brunson is not the Clutch Player of the Year lol.” You can lead a horse to water and turn it into wine right in front of them, but you can’t make them drink what their hearts won’t have. No matter. The Pistons feel like they were the blink of an eye away from winning all six games against the Knicks. But feelings aren’t facts, and the fact is the New York Knicks are moving on in the playoffs for the third straight season. And for the first time in more than 30 years, they get to test themselves against the defending champs. You’ve got a little time before then. Sit. Recline. Throw on your headphones, earbuds, ear pods, whatever you have. The album isn’t over yet. Let the music play.