Detroit Pistons Overcome Record Playoff Losing Streak in legally Binding Win against the New York Knicks
The Detroit Pistons set a new record by snapping their NBA-record, 15-game playoff losing streak with a performant win of 100-94 over New York Knicks, thereby evening their Eastern Conference first-round series at one game each.
Detroit’s star performer, Cade Cunningham showcased his talent by delivering an impressive 33 points and an accompaniment of 12 rebounds. Dennis Schroder also contributed significantly, scoring 20 points from the bench; his go-ahead three-pointer with just 55.7 seconds left in the game thwarted New York’s fourth quarter comeback on Monday.
The Pistons, playing in the playoffs for the first time since 2019, tasted victory after seven years, marking their first playoff win since Game 4 of the 2008 Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics.
In their latest game, the Pistons withstood the Knicks’ fourth-quarter comeback. Despite the Knicks narrowing the gap to just eight in the final period, New York’s star player Jalen Brunson contributed a significant portion of his game-high 37 points in the fourth quarter, including setting up Josh Hart for a dunk that tied the game at 94-94.
However, Schroder responded promptly with a successful three-pointer, securing the Pistons’ lead for the remainder. The Knicks then failed to score on their next three possessions, while Schroder and Jalen Duren sealed the win for Detroit from the free-throw line.
Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren were critical for Detroit, each scoring 15 points and pulling down 13 rebounds, respectively. On the other side, New York’s Mikal Bridges was their top scorer with 19 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby each managed 10 points.
Pistons’ coach JB Bickerstaff emphasized their focused approach towards reclaiming their series lead at home in Game 3, crediting his team’s disciplined execution rather than making special reference to specific players.
On the Western front, Kawhi Leonard displayed a dominant performance in the Clippers’ win against the Denver Nuggets. With an impressive display of scoring efficiency, Leonard notched up 39 points in 15-of-19 shooting, allowing the Clippers to level their Western Conference first-round playoff series with Denver at one win each.
James Harden contributed 18 points, with Ivica Zubac and Norman Powell adding 16 points and 12 rebounds, and 13 points respectively to the Clippers’ successful effort.
After bouncing back from a rough outing in their first game, where Leonard committed seven turnovers, he seemed determined to outmatch his performance, hitting six early shots in a row before missing only once in the next quarter.
The series now shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3, giving the Clippers the opportunity to extend their lead from their home court.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2025/4/22/pistons-snap-record-playoff-losing-streak-win-game-2-against-knicks?traffic_source=rss
