The Knicks’ curler coaster stretch took one other plunge Monday – this time courtesy of Cade Cunningham.
The previous No. 1 total choose scored 18 factors within the third quarter and one other 11 within the fourth of the Detroit Pistons’ 124-119 win at Madison Sq. Backyard, dealing the Knicks their fifth loss within the final seven video games.
And for the second day in a row, one of many Knicks’ marquee stars picked up an harm.
Karl-Anthony Cities slammed his proper hand into the backboard on a first-quarter dunk try, and whereas he remained within the recreation, he continued to carry his thumb and wore a pair of various wraps all through the evening.
It was an total tough evening for a Knicks group that didn’t construct on Sunday afternoon’s 140-106 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on the Backyard, additional demonstrating the excessive diploma of variance that’s outlined them this month.
They led, 63-59, at halftime however have been as soon as once more outplayed within the second half.
The Pistons outscored the Knicks, 36-27, within the third quarter and made the mandatory performs within the fourth, which they punctuated with Malik Beasley’s dagger 3-pointer within the waning seconds.
Certainly, the upstart Pistons proved a troublesome matchup on the second evening of a back-to-back.
With the Knicks trailing 116-114, Brunson’s go glanced off Cities’ left hand with 1:48 remaining for a expensive turnover. Cunningham would draw a foul on Cities on the subsequent possession and convert each free throws.
Cunningham completed with a game-high 36 factors.
Cities, in the meantime, missed two 3-pointers huge within the fourth quarter and drew an offensive foul with a minute remaining.
Monday’s recreation was paying homage to the Knicks’ Jan. 3 loss in Oklahoma Metropolis, when the Thunder outscored them, 37-19, within the fourth quarter, and of a Jan. 4 loss in Chicago, when the Bulls outscored them, 38-17 within the third quarter.
It’s an alarming development for a group that depends on its starters for extra minutes than another NBA group.Brunson, who suffered a shoulder harm Sunday however returned to that recreation, led the Knicks with 31 factors in Monday’s loss. Cities completed with 26 and Mikal Bridges added 27.
The Pistons, in the meantime, improved to 2-0 on the Backyard this season and 21-19 total. They’ve gained 10 of their final 12 video games, additional solidifying them as one of many NBA’s finest tales after going 14-68 — and shedding a single-season-record 28 video games in a row — final 12 months.
The Knicks will look to get again on monitor Wednesday in Philadelphia towards the 76ers.
Initially Revealed: January 13, 2025 at 10:24 PM EST
