Jalen Brunson’s Heroics Propel Knicks to Eastern Conference Semifinals

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The New York Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals following a thrilling 116–113 victory over the Detroit Pistons in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series. Jalen Brunson delivered a defining performance, scoring 40 points and knocking down the game-winning three-pointer with 4.3 seconds left in regulation. The victory allowed the Knicks to clinch the series 4–2, avoiding a Game 7 at Madison Square Garden and setting up a highly anticipated matchup against the defending champion Boston Celtics. Brunson shot 15 of 33 from the floor, while also contributing seven assists and four rebounds. Mikal Bridges added 25 points, and OG Anunoby chipped in 22. Despite a low scoring output, Karl-Anthony Towns pulled down 15 rebounds before fouling out in the final minute. The Knicks' balanced offensive output, anchored by Brunson’s late-game heroics, ultimately made the difference in a tightly contested game. Detroit surged back from an early deficit, sparked by a 13–0 run in the fourth quarter capped by a Cade Cunningham jumper that gave the Pistons a 105–103 lead. Cunningham finished with 23 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, but struggled from beyond the arc, going 0 for 8. Malik Beasley contributed 20 points, all in the first half, while Jalen Duren provided 21 points and six rebounds.

The Knicks regained control late in the fourth quarter after Bridges tied the game with a putback. Following a defensive rebound by Josh Hart, Brunson isolated Ausar Thompson and hit the game-winning shot from the top of the arc. “He’s at his best when his best is needed,” said head coach Tom Thibodeau in the post-game interview.

New York dominated early, shooting 60% in the first quarter and building a 42–27 lead early in the second. Detroit responded with a 38–22 second quarter, spearheaded by Beasley’s six 3-pointers and Cunningham’s mid-range shooting. However, after halftime, the Pistons cooled off, shooting just 6 of 18 in the third quarter and 0 of 7 from deep, allowing the Knicks to reclaim control of the game. The Pistons' season ends on a high note despite the loss, marking a dramatic turnaround from their league-worst 14–68 record the previous season. They entered the playoffs as the No. 6 seed with a 44–38 record, but their inexperience showed in crunch time. The Knicks, meanwhile, continue their playoff journey and will face the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, beginning Monday.