Knicks Survive 94-93 Thriller in Detroit, Take 3-1 Series Lead

On April 27, 2025, the New York Knicks barely escaped Detroit with a 94-93 win to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series against the Pistons. This game was a real nail-biter, especially in the final quarter of the game.

This game was also a bit chippy, as Karl Anthony-Towns and Paul Reed got in a scrum. This series has been very intense and this game was a great representation of how the series has been going so far. This series has had a very old school feel to it.

The Knicks were down most of the game, and honestly, it felt like the Pistons were about to steal this one. and head to Madison Square Garden with the series tied. Detroit’s star point gaurd, Cade Cunningham, was on firing on all cylinders, hitting big shots and dishing out assists. The Pistons even surged ahead in the third quarter, outscoring the Knicks 28-14 to take a 71-64 lead. But then, Jalen Brunson came back in after a brief injury scare to his right ankle, and he was absolutely unconscious. He dropped 15 points in the fourth quarter, finishing with 32 points and 11 assists. It is safe to say led the Knicks comeback.

The play of the game came from Karl-Anthony Towns, also know as Big Kat, who’s has hit big shots in the past, but this one was massive as it was in a playoff game. With under a minute left, he stepped back and nailed a deep 3-pointer, giving the Knicks a 94-93 lead they wouldn’t give up for the rest of regulation. It felt like the entire team was feeding off each other’s energy, and that shot was the cherry on top of a gritty, hard-fought win.

Cunningham tried to play the hero for Detroit in the final seconds, but he had a turned the ball over with 37 seconds left, and Tim Hardaway Jr. couldn’t get a clean look at a 3-pointer at the buzzer. The Pistons’ fans were furious, especially after refs admitted they missed a foul on Hardaway’s shot. There has been major backlash towards the refs on social media following the result of this play.

The home playoff struggles continue for the Pistons.. They’ve now lost nine straight home playoff games, a record shared with the 76ers from back in the late 60s. It’s been a brutal stretch at Little Caesars Arena, and they’ll need a miracle to turn things around and win 3 games in a row to take the series.

But as for the Knicks? They’ve got a major advantage now. With the series heading back to New York for Game 5 on Tuesday, it’s clear the Knicks are in favor to finish off the pistons. They fought hard for this win, and it feels like this team is really starting to click at the right time.