New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons: Game 5 Recap
NEW YORK — In a challenging first-round series, star guard Jalen Brunson has emerged as a game-changing player for the New York Knicks. Notably, Brunson, awarded the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year, has been instrumental in his team’s late-game comebacks, averaging over 13 points in the fourth quarter during Games 1, 3, and 4.
However, it was surprising to see Brunson sitting by the scorer’s table as time ran out near the end of the Knicks’ 106-103 loss in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden. This defeat meant the Pistons reduced the series to 3-2, pushing the next match back to Detroit for Game 6.
The Pistons capitalized on a situation where the Knicks needed to address injuries to two of their key starters. With the Pistons ahead 95-92 and under four minutes left, Brunson, who has been dealing with a right ankle issue, got hurt while defending Cade Cunningham.
Following this, Knicks player Karl-Anthony Towns energized the crowd with a three-pointer to tie the game at 95. Nonetheless, Josh Hart landed hard after defending a layup from Cunningham, leading both he and Brunson to exit the game shortly after.
As the clock continued to run down, Brunson and Hart were preparing to re-enter with just under two minutes remaining while the Pistons led 101-95. However, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau chose not to use his final timeout to bring them back into play, causing valuable time to elapse.
Brunson expressed disappointment but maintained confidence in his teammates. Thibodeau later explained his strategic choice, weighing several factors such as time, score, and team penalties. This loss marked the Knicks’ inability to secure a series-clinching victory at home since beating the Indiana Pacers in the 1999 Eastern Conference Finals.
Ultimately, the Pistons’ win wasn’t solely due to end-of-game decisions. Second-year forward Ausar Thompson delivered a stellar performance, scoring 22 points and providing effective defense against Brunson. Cunningham also had a strong finish, leading the Pistons with 24 points. The Knicks had opportunities to stay in the game, but crucial misses left them unable to tie in the closing moments.
