Pistons Dominate Knicks in Season-Best 121-90 Win/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Detroit Pistons routed the New York Knicks 121-90 in their best win of the season. Cade Cunningham led the way with 29 points and 13 assists, while Detroit’s defense stifled New York. The Pistons improved to 27-9, extending their lead over the second-place Knicks in the East.
The Detroit Pistons delivered a message to the rest of the NBA on Monday night with a dominant 121-90 blowout victory over the New York Knicks — the team that ended their playoff run last season. In their most complete and convincing performance of the year, Detroit flexed its depth, defensive intensity, and the MVP-level brilliance of Cade Cunningham, all while dismantling a fellow Eastern Conference contender.
This wasn’t just another regular season win — it was personal. The last time the Knicks visited Little Caesars Arena, they walked away as playoff victors. Jalen Brunson’s buzzer-beating jumper over Ausar Thompson had capped off a 4-2 first-round series win. But this time around, the Pistons flipped the script, and in brutal fashion.
Despite being without key contributors Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren, and Caris LeVert, the Pistons never looked overmatched. Isaiah Stewart and Paul Reed, dubbed the “Dawg Pound Duo,” got Detroit off to a fast 11-3 lead. From there, Cade Cunningham and Jalen Brunson engaged in a first-quarter duel, both notching 12 points and setting the tone for an intense battle.
After taking a 33-29 lead into the second quarter, Detroit took control behind the stellar two-way play of rookie Daniss Jenkins. He scored, blocked shots, and set up teammates — including dimes to Paul Reed and Jaden Ivey — to help the Pistons build a 10-point lead by halftime.
The third quarter was where Detroit broke the game wide open. Their defense suffocated the Knicks, holding them to just 15 points in the period, while the offense stayed scorching hot, continuing to shoot over 60% from the floor. Cade Cunningham was the catalyst, contributing to all of the team’s first 14 points of the quarter. He also delivered a thunderous chase-down block on Miles McBride and hit jumper after jumper over Brunson and McBride with clinical ease.
By the end of the third quarter, Cunningham had tallied 29 points and 9 assists, with the Pistons holding a commanding 20-point lead. He would finish with 29 and 13 assists, completely outplaying Brunson, who was booed throughout the night by Detroit fans. Despite his 25 points, Brunson had no assists and struggled to control the game’s tempo.
Detroit’s dominance continued into the fourth quarter. With the win secured, head coach JB Bickerstaff emptied his bench as the Pistons cruised to a 31-point victory — their largest of the season.
The Pistons’ defense deserves particular credit. New York’s starting lineup, outside of Brunson, shot just 7-of-21 from the field and combined for only 23 points. High-profile names like Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby were nearly invisible offensively, unable to find rhythm against Detroit’s aggressive, physical defense.
Off the bench, Daniss Jenkins (12 points), Javonte Green (17), and Jaden Ivey (16) provided instant offense. Ivey, in particular, looked comfortable and efficient, repeatedly getting to his spots and creating clean looks.
Isaiah Stewart and Ausar Thompson also played key roles on the defensive end. Whether pressuring full-court or protecting the rim, both were relentless. They finished with a combined 17 points and 16 rebounds, and Bickerstaff utilized Thompson more as a roller in pick-and-roll sets, allowing Stewart to space the floor from beyond the arc.
This win improves the Pistons to 27-9 on the season and creates separation at the top of the Eastern Conference, extending their lead over the now second-place Knicks (23-13). With five straight home games on the horizon, Detroit is in a prime position to solidify its hold on the East.
The next test for the Pistons comes Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls, and the momentum from this performance should carry into what’s shaping up to be a critical home stand.
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