Knicks a no-show in Motown showdown

Pistons snap Knicks eight-game win streak

The Knickerbockers, second place in the East, and winners of eight consecutive games, traveled to Detroit yesterday for the first time since getting badly beaten by the Pistons, 121-90, on January 5th. The Knicks record was 10-5 since that loss, while the Pistons, who were on the second night of a back-to-back after losing at home to the lowly Wizards, had gone 10-4 in the same time span. These two teams faced each other in the playoffs last year, and they look like they’re on a path to meeting again this postseason.

This was the third Knick game in a row for me. For the second time this week, I took a half-day off work to travel to a road game. After a two-hour flight from LaGuardia, I landed in snowy Michigan and made my way to Downtown Detroit. The company I work for is headquartered in Michigan, and my coworkers are Pistons fans, so I texted my coworker, JJ Serge, to let him know I was in town for the game and that I’d see him soon.

Walking to the Arena from my downtown hotel, I passed Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions, and Comerica Park, where the Tigers play. But what I didn’t expect was to stumble upon a building calling itself Little Caesars World Headquarters.

Pizza Pizza.

Game Night

Prior to last night:

• The Knicks held a 222-180 record against the Pistons in 402 regular-season games all-time.

• The Knicks have lost the last four regular-season games in this matchup.

Seating Chart

JJ’s buddy Josh had already gotten them seats in the mezzanine between the upper and lower bowls, so I used TickPick to score a nearby seat in Section M11, row 2.

Injury Report

Karl Anthony-Towns (eye), OG Anunoby (toe), and Deuce McBride (core) were out for the Knicks. Detroit big man Jalen Duren (knee) was out for the Pistons.

The new additions at the trade deadline, Jose Alvarado for the Knicks and Dario Saric for the Pistons, were still unavailable for their new teams. Alvarado should suit up in Boston on Sunday.

Arena Experience

Every arena I’ve been to this season, there’s been one constant: a ton of other Knicks fans. That wasn’t the case in Detroit. Knicks fans were vocal but easily outnumbered 20-to-1.

I liked the way the arena was laid out, with a wide concourse dotted with dining options and team stores. MSG seems cramped in comparison. The ceiling is also high-tech, featuring dynamic LED lighting. Similar lights would flash on the stairways when the Pistons would score.

When starting lineups were announced, the Pistons fans booed Jalen Brunson loudly and heartily. I guess they’re still sore about the playoffs last year.

Game Notes

When the game started, the Pistons fans booed Jalen Brunson the first time he touched the ball. Then they booed him each and every time he got the ball from then on.¹ When Tobias Harris backed Brunson down in the post and dipped his shoulder into Brunson’s face and was called for the obvious charging foul, boos erupted from the crowd, and one irate Piston fan yelled, You flopper! You’re ruining the game of basketball!² The boos may have worked. Brunson had one of his worst quarters of the season. He missed all but one of his eight shots and all three of his attempts from long range in the period.

The first six minutes were low-scoring, with the two teams seemingly content to focus on defense. After Landry Shamet scored to put the Knicks up 12-9 with 5:51 to play, the Knicks made only one bucket until Jordan Clarkson sank a three-pointer with 9 seconds remaining in the first. Daniss Jenkins raced down the floor and hit a buzzer-beating three for the Pistons, giving them a 28-17 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Knicks scoring struggles extended into the second quarter. Brunson continued applying himself to masonry, putting up brick after brick. With 40 seconds remaining in the half, Brunson finally made his second shot of the game. He had five points at the half. The Pistons led 63-42.

At halftime, I walked over to section M15 to find JJ decked out in his Pistons warm-up under his Pistons jacket.

Style.

The Knicks cut the lead to seventeen, 63-47, on two Brunson baskets early in the third period before the Pistons went on a 20-7 run over the next eight minutes. The Pistons led by thirty points after three, 90-60. Mike Brown pulled his starters after the third. Tyler Kolek, Jordan Clarkson, Kevin McCullar, Mohamed Diawara, and Ariel Hukporti started the fourth quarter and received extensive garbage minutes. The Pistons, justifiably concerned about a comeback, never let up, winning the game going away, extending the margin to forty points, and defeating the Knicks by a final score of 118-80.

Road Warriors

1. Ha!

2. Ha!

3. Ha!

No Knicks had the knack last night, in what was easily their worst performance of the season. ³

Roadkill

1. For the first time in the ten road games I’ve attended this season, Brunson finds himself being scraped off the pavement. One game after scoring 42 points on 27 shots against the Nuggets, he was only able to manage 12 points on 20 shots against the Pistons defense. The boos, the physicality, and the lack of support from his teammates last night seemed to leave Brunson unnerved and exposed, for one night at least.

Final Thoughts

The Knicks are known for being a physical team, but they were easily outmuscled by the Pistons. They really looked overmatched at times. Towns and Anunoby would have helped, but great teams find ways to win even when they’re shorthanded. I had hoped that the healthy players, buoyed by the win streak, would overachieve for a night and take advantage of Detroit on a back-to-back. That obviously didn’t happen.

The Pistons, rather than looking tired after their loss to the Wizards the night before,⁴ seemed to gain energy from this matchup, using the Knicks as a barometer for their team’s progress. They are using these regular-season matchups with the Knicks to send a statement, while the Knicks appear content to let them. I had hoped the Knicks would try to avenge the drubbing they received in Detroit last month, but they weren’t remotely prepared for this matchup.

Still, all hope is not lost. Last year, the Knicks were winless against the Celtics in the regular season. In the playoffs, where they play the same team over and over again, the Knicks finally figured out how to beat them. The Pistons may have the Knicks’ number this season, but the real test will come when (and if) these two teams meet again in the playoffs. Pray both teams remain healthy.

Up Next

The Knicks look to get back into the Win column (and back to second place in the East) at TD Garden on Sunday when they square off against the Boston Celtics in an early afternoon (12:30 PM) matchup.

1. When I asked what was up with the boing, JJ explained it to me in terms only a Knicks fan can understand: Jalen Brunson is the Pistons fans’ Trae Young.

2. The Super Bowl may be in San Fran this year, but the hyperbole is in Detroit.

3. Lucky me.

4. Apparently, the Pistons loss to the Wizards was their “Trap game” as they were looking past the Wizards to the matchup with the Knicks.