- Jalen Brunson became the first Knicks player to start a postseason with three straight 30-point, 5-assist games
- Cade Cunningham joined Oscar Robertson as the only guards with 20-point double-doubles in their first three playoff games
- New York took a 2-1 series lead over Detroit with a 118–116 win, continuing the Pistons’ 16-year home playoff drought
Key Takeaways:
New York Knicks took a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference series against the Detroit Pistons, winning Game 3 in Detroit 118–116. Jalen Brunson, named Clutch Player of the Year just a day earlier, delivered again with 30 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds — becoming the first Knicks player to open a postseason with three consecutive 30-point, 5-assist performances. Karl-Anthony Towns led the scoring with 31 points, while OG Anunoby contributed 22. The Knicks maintained control for most of the contest, staving off a third-quarter surge from Detroit.
TOOK ONE ON THE ROAD 🗽
Knicks take the series lead over the Pistons in Detroit! pic.twitter.com/9yQD7kwIla
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 25, 2025
Cade Cunningham stood out for the Pistons with 24 points and 10 assists, continuing his strong playoff debut. He became just the second guard in NBA history — after Oscar Robertson — to record a 20-point double-double in each of his first three playoff games. Tim Hardaway Jr. also scored 24 points, and Dennis Schröder added 18.
Detroit, still searching for its first home playoff win since 2008, cut a 13-point deficit to 71–72 midway through the third quarter, but New York responded with a 22–11 run to end the period at 93–83. The Knicks held off a late push to secure the win on the road.