Knicks Earn First Win of the Season With 111-97 Victory Over Pistons

New York Knicks End Three Game Losing Streak

The New York Knicks finally broke into the win column Tuesday night, using a dominant third-quarter performance and a monster double double from Karl-Anthony Towns to defeat the previously undefeated Detroit Pistons 111-97. Towns finished with 27 points and 20 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson scored 23 points as New York avoided a historically poor start to its title defense.

The victory prevented the Knicks from falling to 0-4, which would have matched the 1969-70 Boston Celtics for the most losses to begin a season by a defending NBA champion. New York had opened the season with three consecutive defeats against the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic, leaving the defending champions searching for answers after a promising run to last season’s title.

Instead, the Knicks delivered their most convincing performance of the young season, outscoring Detroit 37-13 in the third quarter to turn a competitive game into a comfortable victory. The win was New York’s first since Game 5 of the NBA Finals and came against a Pistons team that had given the Knicks significant trouble during the previous season.

Towns Dominates as Knicks Take Control

Towns led the way with 27 points and 20 rebounds, controlling the interior while helping New York establish the physical presence it needed against Detroit. Brunson added 23 points, overcoming a difficult first half to lead the Knicks’ decisive third-quarter surge.

Brunson entered the game shooting just 39% from the field through New York’s first three contests and struggled again early, going 1-for-9 in the first half. However, the Knicks’ captain found his rhythm after the break, making his first three shots of the third quarter as New York immediately seized control.

Mikal Bridges also provided a timely boost, making his first four 3-pointers of the season. His outside shooting helped fuel an 11-0 run to open the third quarter, turning a 51-50 Knicks lead into a 62-50 advantage and shifting the momentum firmly in New York’s favor.

Towns continued to punish Detroit during the period, scoring seven consecutive points for the Knicks as the lead grew. New York closed the quarter with another decisive burst, using a 12-2 run capped by Josh Hart’s 3-pointer at the buzzer to take an 88-63 lead into the fourth quarter. The 25-point cushion allowed the Knicks to manage the final period and secure their first victory of the season without facing a serious late-game threat.

Pistons Struggle to Keep Pace

Detroit entered the matchup with a 3-0 record and an opportunity to open a season 4-0 for the first time since 2018-19. Instead, the Pistons struggled to match New York’s intensity after halftime, particularly during the third-quarter collapse. Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, coming close to a triple-double.

Paul Reed added 22 points and nine rebounds while starting in place of injured center Jalen Duren, but the Pistons could not overcome New York’s offensive explosion. The loss was particularly notable given Detroit’s recent success against the Knicks. The Pistons defeated New York by scores of 121-90, 118-80 and 126-111 during the 2025-26 season and had won their previous six regular-season meetings.

Tuesday’s result offered an early reminder that the Knicks remain capable of the dominant basketball that carried them to the championship last spring. After three frustrating losses to start their title defense, New York responded with a balanced effort led by Towns’ interior dominance, Brunson’s second-half resurgence and Bridges’ improved shooting. The Knicks will look to build on the breakthrough victory as they continue their season, while Detroit will aim to regroup after its first defeat.

Up Coming NBA Games for Knicks and Pistons

The Pistons return home Wednesday night to host the Charlotte Hornets, looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season. The Knicks will travel to Chicago on Wednesday night to face the Bulls, hoping to carry the momentum from their first win into the next stop of their early-season schedule.