DETROIT – Monday evening, in the quiet locker rooms of the Knicks, Josh Hart offered an honest taking of what set up for his team.
“After a defeat,” he said, “you see the real character of a team.”
The skeptics appeared after the defeat of match 2.
The tenacity of the Knicks was questioned.
Fans found scapegoats.
The worst scenarios were discussed.
Thursday evening, Tom Thibodeau’s team sent a reminder to their criticisms: they did not win 51 games by accident.
The Knicks withdrew from the carpet, sharing the ball, obtaining key stops and keeping their balance in the cauldron which was the small Caesars arena.
The result was a victory of 118-116 of match 3 on the pistons on Thursday, bringing the advantage of the field to home to orange and blue.
After unequal performances in the garden, it was the most complete game of the Knicks, the one in which they led almost throughout and equaled the physique of pistons.
“It is the basketball of the playoffs. We have guys who had a lot of big games,” said coach Tom Thibodeau. “We were a good road team all year round, so I think we know what’s going on.”
The heroes were everywhere.
Hearing “F – K You, Brunson” sings most of the evening, Jalen Brunson achieved a controlled and efficient performance: 30 points, nine assists and a turnover in 39 solid minutes.
Karl-Anthony Towns replied from his match 2.
Og Anunoby and Mikal Bridges combined for 42 points and six 3 points on the wing.
Finally, there was Hart, everywhere on the ground at both ends, ending his night with 11 rebounds, nine assists and two interceptions.
He has marked the first time since 1972 that the Knicks had four players at least 20 in the same eliminatory match.
“This is something we talked about,” said Hart, referring to their balanced score.
After saying Thursday morning, he had to leave the ball more, Brunson orchestrated like a good leader.
He involved others and took over if necessary.
The pistons had reduced an advantage of 11 points and from the fourth quarter to three when Brunson scored on consecutive discs to push the difference to seven with 59 seconds on the left.
The songs did not reach it.
“For Jalen, these are cheers,” said Thibodeau. “He lives for this kind of thing.”
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The pistons have played a game in the last seconds and have succeeded in the ball with 0.5 seconds to do thanks to a clock error.
Brunson intentionally missed his second franc throw, and the buzzer sounded prematurely.
By rule, a whistle inadvertently gives possession to the team that seized the rebound.
But Detroit had to go the duration of the court.
He couldn’t hinder the ball, Jalen Duren the throwing.
“They had the advantage of the court at home,” said Hart. “This is an example of the advantage of the court at home.”
Anunoby contained CDA Cunningham after his explosive effort in match 2, holding the young star at 24 points on 25 shots.
The Knicks were much better on the glass (overtaken by four) after being crushed on Monday, and accumulated 22 assists, a major improvement in their 15 of match 2.
Apart from a brief section in the second quarter, when the pistons became hot of deep, the Knicks checked the first half.
There were more than five on the boards, dominant in the painting (24-8) and moved the ball very well.
Really, the pistons had the chance to follow only 13.
Without the 3 -point dam by Tim Hardaway Jr. – He scored 18 points in the first half – the deficit would have been much larger.
The Knicks completely took command during the 5:13 finals of the second quarter, snatching a race of 23-6.
It started with a Drive Towns, followed by a pointer at 3 Anunoby and a bridge jumper.
Anunoby and bridges transformed each flights into transition baskets in the push that turns the game, which ended with a shot from Brunson Bank in the painting.
The pistons went to the pick-and-roll to start the third trimester, and that incredibly worked well.
On several occasions, the cities turned late to his man, and Duren made him pay, marking 10 points during the period.
Duren helped the pistons to surpass the Knicks 16-4 to start the quarter.
Detroit got closest, but could not overcome the bump, while the cities kept the pistons at a distance, marking six consecutive points to kill their momentum.
The big miles mcbride (3 points to beat the chronometer) and Hart (putback in the buzzer) gave the Knicks a 10 -point cushion entering the last 12 minutes.
They maintained the fourth, finding a way to recover control of the series.
“We are not surprised,” said Hart. “I have the impression that we were this team all year round in terms of response and rebound after losses.”
