The Detroit Pistons ended their NBA-record, 15-game postseason losing streak on Monday night by defeating the New York Knicks 100-94 in Game 2 of their playoff series. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 33 points and 12 rebounds, while Dennis Schroder hit the decisive three-pointer with 55 seconds remaining. This victory marks the Pistons’ first playoff win since Game 4 of the 2008 Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics.
Having not appeared in the postseason since 2019, the Pistons overcame the Knicks’ comeback from a 15-point deficit to level the series. The team will now host Game 3 on Thursday night. Schroder, acquired by the Pistons in a trade this February, contributed 20 points off the bench, including the pivotal shot that broke a 94-all tie after the Knicks’ 16-4 run.
Detroit’s journey this season has been remarkable, finishing 44-38 following a challenging previous season where they secured only 14 wins and endured a 28-game losing streak, the longest in a single season. Despite leading by eight points after three quarters in Game 1, the Pistons suffered a defeat due to a 21-0 run by the Knicks in the fourth quarter. However, in Game 2, they maintained their composure, responding effectively to another comeback attempt by New York.
Jalen Brunson scored 37 points for the third-seeded Knicks, but teammates Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby were each limited to 10 points after scoring 23 in the series opener. Cunningham’s strong performance was a rebound from his shooting difficulties in Game 1 and proved challenging for the Knicks to contain. The Pistons exploited this advantage, shooting 14 free throws compared to the Knicks’ two, achieving a 55-49 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Pistons’ defense restricted the Knicks to just one basket in over seven minutes. Cunningham and Tobias Harris each secured two baskets in an 11-0 run, completed by Paul Reed’s score, compensating for backup center Isaiah Stewart’s absence due to right knee inflammation. This run gave the Pistons their largest lead at 68-53 with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter.