The Knicks were on the road for Game 6 in Detroit on Thursday evening. New York lost a tough Game 5 and brought the Pistons to life in this opening round series.
Almost every game between New York and Detroit in this series was decided in the final minutes of the game. The game was tied to 113-113 on Thursday, and the Knicks owned it in under 10 seconds. Jalen Brunson was protected by a 6-foot Ausar Thompson. The savvy PG hit a nasty crossover and created a separation from Thompson. Branson knocked down three that weren’t contested and brought the Knicks to 116-113. That won the New York and the Series 4-2 game.
Jalen Brunson proved why he was the Kia Clutch Player of the Year from 2024-25
Jalen Brunson from 3 to win from 3 for the Knicks
The Knicks are heading to Eastern Conference Semis!!!#nbaplayoffs Google announces pic.twitter.com/sgmjcwhndj
-NBA (@NBA) May 2, 2025
New York didn’t want to go back to MSG for potential game 7. They wanted to take care of their business in Detroit on Thursday night. The Pistons had a 61-59 lead at halftime. In this series, the third quarter was Achilles’ heels in New York. However, the Knicks scored their highest third quarter with 37 points so far. It surpasses the piston by 13 points. Despite the Knicks taking a double-digit lead, the Pistons ran 20-2 in the fourth quarter.
Once the Pistons were back, it was another before and after game in the fourth quarter. With less than 10 seconds left, New York was owned. It was Jalen Brunson who gave the final laugh on Thursday and the Pistons. Branson is known to make big shots in his career. The 28-year-old never feared the moment, nailing a massive 3-pointer in Game 6. It won the Knicks in the Series 4-2 vs Detroit game 116-113.
With Thursday’s victory, the Knicks are now moving to the semi-finals of the meeting. As #3 seed, they will face the #2 seed Boston Celtics in the second round. The team they were wiped out during the 2024-25 regular season. It takes consistent team effort from the Knicks to win the Celtics vs. 4 games. Detroit vs. first round is much more consistent. How far will Jalen Brunson carry the Knicks in the 2025 playoffs?