Despite resting a few key players, the New York Knicks fought strongly against an energized Detroit Pistons squad but fell short of claiming a victory Thursday, losing by a score of 115-106. New York is now 50-30 on the year while Detroit is 44-36.
Precious Achiuwa had a strong performance for the Knicks
It is unlikely that Precious Achiuwa will see consistent playing time during the playoffs, but he built a strong case for himself Thursday against Detroit.
Getting the start for OG Anunoby, Achiuwa recorded 18 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, and three blocks against Detroit. He also had an emphatic poster dunk over Pistons’ center Isaiah Stewart and was easily getting his way to the bucket.
Achiuwa was arguably the best-performing Knick of the night. Karl-Anthony Towns is a close second with a 25-point, 15-rebound effort, but the big man ominously took just one three-point attempt and missed it, which hurt the Knicks’ offense, especially in the second half.
Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride struggled
Miles McBride got the start alongside Jalen Brunson with Josh Hart resting, but both starting backcourt players struggled badly for New York.
McBride scored 12 points, dished six assists, and had four steals, but he struggled with his efficiency. He was just 5-for-18 from the field and 2-for-10 from three and had the lowest plus-minus of the night at -15.
Brunson, who is still trying to regain his footing after returning from an ankle injury, also was quiet against Detroit. He scored just 15 points on 5-for-15 shooting and was just 3-for-9 from three. He scored just three points in the entire second half and was 1-for-8 from the field in that half.
The main focus for both players is health, as both missed significant time with injuries in March. The hope is that they can both enter the playoffs on a high note and in good rhythm, as they will be huge parts of any success the Knicks have in the postseason.
Overview
The Knicks got a taste of what a potential first-round matchup would look like in this game, which can be valuable for the playoffs. New York needs one more win or one more Pacers loss to clinch the third seed, and the Knicks can secure that on Friday when they head back to Madison Square Garden to take on the Cavaliers.