The New York Knicks pulled the Detroit Pistons in Game 5 to the wire, with two players standing out for their victory efforts in the loss.
The Detroit Pistons bounced back from a controversial Game 4 defeat and defeated the New York Knicks in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden to score 106-103. In the final two minutes, both Josh Hart and Jalen Branson were sidelined with injuries and were unable to return to the final seconds.
The final three seconds of Mile Miles Free Throw iced the Pistons game, looking to continue their series’ comeback in Game 6.
Despite losing, two of the Knicks’ grittier players stood out for their performance.
Neither Josh Hart nor Mitchell Robinson are known as large-scale scorers, and in Game 4 they scored 15 and 13 points respectively.
However, both players had a solid, balanced outing. Hart finished with seven rebounds, six assists, two steels and two blocks. Robinson added four “stakes” of his own, providing 11 rebounds and joined the town of Karl Anthony to lead the team.
Robinson did a solid job against Jalen Duren, helping to hold the Pistons center to just nine points.
“He was great, he neutralised Jalen Duren,” Wally Szczerbiac said on the Knicks broadcast. “He was everywhere in the glass. I loved the speed he showed. I thought the team was really good defensively.”
Szczerbiak did not praise the Knicks.
“Josh Hart, what a heroic effort, he was everywhere,” continued Schitzelbiac.
“Two guys, they’re coming to close this series, and unfortunately there are others who didn’t have it tonight.
Game 6 is basically a must-see for the Knicks. Even if Game 7 is at Madison Square Garden, it would be miserable to lose two games to the Pistons team already fired by the missed calls in Game 4.
In losses, the town only fires from the floor, with players like Hart and Robinson stepping up, but the Knicks need stars to match the energy they bring.
Overall, the Knicks shot just 43.3% from the floor. However, they were given 27 free throws, only 16 of which they made.
Former players like Szczerbiak might want to talk about “want it” and “mind”, but better teams usually win. In Game 5, the Knicks didn’t look like a better team than the pistons.