Jalen Brunson’s cross dribble among his legs created space for a game that won a triple with 4.3 seconds and flew a kiss to a quiet crowd that mocked him on the rise of three games.
Brunson ended 40 points to take the New York Knicks to a 116-113 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night and the second round of the NBA playoffs.
A week after the shipowner won the Player of the Year of the NBA year, he lived up to turnover.
“It is at its best when the best is necessary and has done it all year,” said the Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau. “That is what makes it special.”
Detroit did not shoot to potentially tie the game and send it on extra time because Malik Beasley lost a pass with four tenths of a second to the left.
“This is difficult,” said Beasley, who had 16 points in the second quarter and ended with 20. “I had the opportunity to make a three and tie the game. I’m angry about that.”
Third sown Knicks will face Boston secondly, shooting to advance to the ESE conference finals since 2000.
“They are the defending champion, so we will have to be the best,” said Thibodeau.
Mikal Bridges had 25 points and OG Anunoby added 22 for the Knicks, who closed the game with shots and stops after losing an advantage of 11 points in the last quarter and an advice of 15 points in the second quarter.
The sixth sowed pistons had an unprecedented response duration in the regular season and ended the losing playoffs streak of the NBA in their first appearance in postseason since 2019, but broke another league brand a tenth simple.
“We did many things well and gave Odelves a chance,” said Detroit coach JB BickerStaff. “They simply made a play more than us.”
Detroit Cunningham’s gift had 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Cunningham was 0 for 8 in 3 pieces and his rear track partner Tim Hardaway Jr. was 1 or 6 beyond the arch and scored seven points.
Hardaway made a jumper to put Detroit ahead 112-105 with remaining 2:35 and Brunson responded by scoring the next five points.
Cunningham lost a disputed tray with 22 seconds that when the score was 113-ALL and Brunson Tok advantage of the opportunity to win it in the next possession.
Brunson was booed almost every time he played the ball in the series and heard much worse than that in game 3.
It was so vulgar that Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr came to Brunson’s defense.
Thibodeau, he thought, said no one can shake Brunson.
“His approach is excellent,” said Thibodeau. “Heyts do not deviate with anything but the game. He is not thinking about what people say, or fans.”
Associated Press reports.
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