The New York Knicks defeated the Detroit Pistons 121-112. But we got a cardiac Knicks affair in the fourth quarter to make it interesting.
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The New York Knicks took care of business against the Detroit Pistons. The Knicks started fast and spent most of the game with a comfortable lead. But the Pistons made things interesting with a fourth-quarter run. Luckily, New York’s best players stepped up with clutch plays that helped close the game.
The Knicks were far from perfect. They fouled too often and left Detroit’s shooters open far more than the Pistons’ percentages suggest. But they made up for shoddy defense with great offensive production. New York’s pace and ball movement led to high efficiency and clutch baskets when momentum hung in the balance.
Let’s see how the players performed in the bounce-back victory.
A big night from the Knicks’ top three
Jalen Brunson: 26 PTS (8/16 FG, 2/5 3PT, 8/8 FT), 7 AST, 1 REB, 4 STL in 32 mins
Jalen Brunson made shots all night, including at the most critical moments for the Knicks’ momentum. In the fourth quarter, he hit a turnaround jumper out of a timeout to stop one run from the Pistons and then knocked down a three that staved off another. Detroit couldn’t keep him out of the paint where his post moves and footwork thrived.
Brunson’s leadership was truly on display in his defensive effort. After the Knicks’ lackluster performance against Brooklyn, he led by example. Brunson tried to draw charges and stayed in physical battles with much bigger players. That led to a plethora of steals but also saw him hitting the floor hard on multiple occasions, but putting his body on the line sent a strong message about his willingness to sacrifice.
His crisp playmaking is becoming common, but Brunson had another night of multiple nice dimes without a single turnover. It’s an impressive feat no matter how many times we see it, and the team is tough to beat when he’s on like that. Brunson picks up a 4 out of 5 for leading the way.
RJ Barrett: 30 PTS (10/17 FG, 3/8 3PT, 7/8 FT), 5 AST, 5 REB, 1 TO in 37 mins
The other player leading by example was RJ Barrett. The up-and-comer led the team in three-point makes but did his best work in the paint. He consistently attacked mismatches off switches, bumping players like Corey Joseph off to make space for finishes. The 22-year-old looked unstoppable whenever he focused on attacking.
Part of that invincible image comes down to better shot selection. Barrett has a habit of getting hot and forcing things as the game progresses. But he was patient in this matchup by making smart passes that led to his third game tallying five assists in the last six outings. The extra pass made him unpredictable and impossible to guard.
Barrett beat up on mismatches but also saw a lot of different looks from the Pistons. That led him to several defensive match-ups and a mixed bag on the results. He was solid against everyone, but some players broke free more than others. But Barrett stepped up in this game regardless, with Brunson even drawing comparisons in both players’ leadership and demeanor.
Barrett picks up a 4.5 out of 5 for his high efficiency en route to 30, 5, and 5.
Cam Reddish: 4 PTS (2/6 FG, 0/3 3PT), 1 AST, 3 REB in 18 mins
Cam Reddish may have only finished two field goals, but they were impressive plays. He drove inside and made athletic finishes around Detroit’s big men. His athleticism gets him into the lane against any defense, and his touch around the basket has the potential to be remarkable.
Unfortunately, he didn’t do too much else. Cam produced in other areas, but his minutes were limited in the second half. I don’t have any complaints about his defense or effort. However, he didn’t get enough time to produce much in his role.
Cam gets a 2.5 out of 5, though his three-point shooting could have bumped this up a notch.
Julius Randle: 21 PTS (8/18 FG, 0/7 3PT, 5/5 FT), 8 REB, 5 AST, 2 TO in 33 mins
Julius Randle had an impressive performance inside the paint against the Pistons. He didn’t just score off the dribble either; some of his best moments came off cuts to the basket. Randle fared much worse when he relied on his jumper, but it’s forgiven, thanks to his success at everything else.
Randle grabbed some big offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter. He also picked up a pair of late assists by making an extra pass when he could have settled for the shot. Those mindful plays can help cover for nights when his shot is off. We’ll always shout out a selfless play here!
Randle’s defense didn’t stand out often, for good or bad reasons. That will happen when Ivey and Bogdanovic are the focal points of the offense. But it also means Randle’s successful offensive night wasn’t hurt by struggles elsewhere. The big man picks up 3.5 out of 5 for bouncing back from a tough night against the Nets.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 6 PTS (3/5 FG), 12 REB, 1 BLK, 3 TO in 32 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein stood out for his rebounding, which is nothing new. He’s shown consistent rebounding effort all season long. He also finished a few times inside and grabbed frequent offensive boards.
Hart needs to cut back on the offensive fouls, though. His turnovers came from simple mistakes like moving screens. I also worry about the starting unit’s three-point defense without a mobile center. Even in this game, the Knicks gave up a lot of open looks, and Hart can’t cover for broken rotations like Robinson or Sims.
Despite the turnovers and a few spotty moments for the team defense, I liked Hartenstein’s impact. His presence opened things up for everyone else, which helped the rest of the starters feast inside. Hartenstein nets a 3 out of 5 for stretching the floor while providing interior presence.
A Grimes spotting while IQ finds his shot
Derrick Rose: 8 PTS (2/7 FG, 0/1 3PT, 4/4 FT), 2 AST, 1 TO in 16 mins
Derrick Rose started the game with a pair of finishes inside. He slashed through the defense and finished with precision reminiscent of his best days. Rose would cool off from there, but it was a nice step forward after scoring just two points in his last 24 minutes.
Rose added a couple of nice passes along the way. But the burst in his step was gone after that early run. His only three-point attempt lacked legs in the second half. His early success might also relate to playing time with the starters rather than the second unit.
Rose grabs a 2 out of 5 for a hot start but a slow finish. I hope he’s still getting his legs under him after a long injury break.
Immanuel Quickley: 8 PTS (3/6 FG, 2/3 3PT), 1 AST, 5 REB, 2 STL in 21 mins
Tom Thibodeau’s rotation changes meant that Immanuel Quickley played with Jalen Brunson more than usual. That shifted Quickley to more off-ball play as well. That meant fewer assists but a much better shot selection. IQ knocked down a pair of threes, including a jumper that put the game away.
Quickley’s defense and rebounding continue to boost any rotation he plays in. He never left the floor after subbing in during the second half. That was earned through everything he did without the ball, punctuated by that aforementioned game-closing three-pointer. Quickley looked more comfortable off the ball.
IQ gets a 3.5 out of 5 for efficient shooting and effective contributions everywhere else.
Evan Fournier: 3 PTS (0/5 FG, 0/3 3PT, 3/4 FT), 1 AST, 2 REB, 1 TO in 12 mins
Evan Fournier stepped onto the court and almost immediately drew two fouls off Piston’s mishaps. Unfortunately, the quick points didn’t help him find a rhythm, as Fournier missed every field goal attempt. So his only points came off cheap fouls, and they felt lucky rather than earned.
But Fournier’s defensive play is likely why he got benched quickly in the second half. Hamidou Diallo’s athleticism made for a tough match-up. It felt like his effort was there, but he’s still a step behind in his new role. Fournier gets a 0.5 out of 5 for failing to convert his opportunities.
Obi Toppin: 8 PTS (3/9 FG, 2/7 3PT), 1 AST, 5 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 22 mins
Obi Toppin enjoyed plenty of open looks from long-range and managed to knock down two threes from each corner. He also hit a pull-up jumper from mid-range, which is a rare but welcome sight. I wouldn’t classify this as one of his better offensive performances, though, as he missed more open looks than he made.
But Toppin earned time with solid efforts on the boards and defense. He had active hands that led to a strip and some excellent challenges on shots. His effort also helped him poke a few rebounds free to teammates, along with the five boards he contributed himself.
It’s nice to see Toppin perform well despite seeing almost no opportunities inside or in transition. He wasn’t perfect from the field, but he stayed confident and found some key field goals. His contributions in other areas helped make up for less efficiency than usual. Obi picks up a 2.5 out of 5 despite some missed shots.
Jericho Sims: 2 PTS (1/1 FG), 4 REB, 1 BLK in 8 mins
Jericho Sims hit the floor with a fairly typical offering. He had a dunk, skied for some rebounds, and challenged shots in his vicinity. Sims’ minutes are only low because he couldn’t avoid fouls. The sophomore picked up four fouls in his limited time.
Quentin Grimes: 5 PTS (2/4 FG, 1/3 3PT), 2 REB, 1 TO in 8 mins
Eight minutes isn’t enough to say too much about Quentin Grimes. But he moved as well as we’ve seen since the preseason or maybe even summer league. Grimes looked fast off the dribble and moved well defensively. I hope this means that he’ll be in good health moving forward.
More experiments with Tom Thibodeau’s rotation
It’s getting harder to criticize Tom Thibodeau for lack of creativity. The Knicks laid an egg against Brooklyn, and Thibodeau quickly made changes for Detroit. It started with Isaiah Hartenstein returning to starters and included a quicker switch from Brunson to Rose in the first quarter. This meant that Brunson came back earlier, helping to set a tone with the second unit.
The mixing and matching allowed Thibodeau to give Quentin Grimes minutes with a unique group that included New York’s best three starters and Obi Toppin. The group might have enough perimeter defense to keep the Toppin and Randle frontcourt combo effective for more extended periods of play.
I’ll also credit Thibs for a quick timeout when things got sketchy in the fourth quarter. Not only did he call an angry timeout, but he made a line-up change. Thibodeau got Brunson on the court fast when the team got sloppy, and that helped him lead the way in fourth-quarter heroics. Thibodeau picks up a 4.5 out of 5 for continuing to search for what works and finding success in this game.
Closing Thoughts
Many Knicks fans I’ve chatted with after this game responded with a bit of an eye roll. “It’s the Pistons without Cade Cunningham” was a typical response I heard, and that’s entirely justified. Of course, it’s easier to look good against the league’s worst defense than be challenged by an elite opponent. But winning the games you’re supposed to is the first step toward consistency.
There are still positives to glean from this success. First and foremost, Grimes looked healthy because he added a two-way dimension to the lack of rotation.
Then there are the subtle improvements from RJ Barrett, who has finally built up a big enough statistical sample to overcome his opening night nightmare. Barrett’s up to 44% from the field and 78% from the free-throw line this season. In his last five games, he’s slashing 23/4/6 on 48/40/77. The team hasn’t made a leap yet, but RJ is closer to one than people may realize.
I’ve been hard on this team, mainly because average doesn’t feel good enough after last season’s struggles. But I refuse to miss out on promising signs from the young guys on this team. The present has been a mixed bag with as much or more frustration as fun. But the future is probably brighter than any doom and gloom purveyor might admit.
The Knicks draw the Thunder in a dreaded Sunday matinee next. These games are a crap shoot, with teams liable to show up flat and often playing sloppy ball. The Thunder have played more formidable than their record suggests, so the Knicks can’t afford a hangover. On the other hand, they must keep taking care of business because a brutal West Coast trip looming after Sunday.
Let’s see if New York can build more momentum before they journey to the West, then discuss it all here. I’ll see you then, Knicks fam!
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the NBA season. And in case you missed it, check out the Knicks at Brooklyn Nets Post Game analysis from CP, Alex, and the fans!
