Knicks poised to end Pistons’ season under MSG lights
You can’t say you haven’t got your money’s worth. The first round series of the Eastern Conference playoffs between the new York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons has delivered thrills in each of the first four games. A lucky bounce here, a ref whistle there, and any of the games could have had a different result. Tonight, our heroes return to Madison Square Garden with a 3-1 lead and hope to close out the upstart youngsters from the Motor City—but don’t count out Cade Cunningham and crew just yet.
New York has shown guts and poise all series long, none more so than in Game Four’s wild 94–93 comeback win in Detroit. Jalen Brunson dropped 32 points and 11 assists, Karl-Anthony Towns buried huge clutch shots, and the Knicks erased an 11-point fourth-quarter hole with big plays when it mattered.
It wasn’t just the stars. Josh Hart’s hustle, Mikal Bridges’ timely shooting, and a defense that forced mistakes kept the Pistons scrambling down the stretch.
Detroit’s Cade Cunningham has impressed in his postseason debut, logging a triple-double in Game Four. The head of their snake, the lanky point guard has aveaged 25.8 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds in his first NBA playoff series. He’s also turned over the ball 24 times, a trait that’s bedeviled him for a while and is proving costly in the series.
Some argue that Cade is the best player of the round—not us; Jalen Brunson is Him—but Detroit’s young group and their talented leader now face a tall task. Reserve center and primary tough guy Isaiah Stewart remains questionable, and New York’s experience and toughness have been the difference. With the series shifting back to the Garden, the Knicks are in full control.
A desperate Pistons squad is likely to play their most physical game yet, but the Knicks have the edge, the momentum, and the home crowd behind them. They’ve shown they know how to finish—and tonight, they’ll have the chance to do it in front of a packed house. Knicks by +2.
Game Details
Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
TV Broadcast: TNT, MSG
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