Things weren’t looking good for the Knicks in Game 1.
After a back-and-forth first two quarters, the Pistons came out of the locker room resurged and they began taking things over — suddenly New York found themselves trailing by eight points heading into the final frame.
Then, everything changed in a hurry.
The Pistons opened the fourth taking a five-second violation and the Knicks were able to build off of the energy from the fired up Madison Square Garden crowd, as Karl-Anthony Towns knocked down back-to-back baskets.
New York ran with the momentum, scoring the next 21 points before Detroit’s Malik Beasley knocked down a three, pushing themselves back in front and re-establishing the double-digit advantage in less then five minutes.
The Pistons made a push down the stretch, but the Knicks never looked back, holding on for the Game 1 victory.
“We didn’t end the third quarter the way we wanted to,” Jalen Brunson said. “But there was never a doubt that we were just going to lay down without a fight — we just had to figure things out and just keep battling, and it turned rather quickly.”
Brunson was in the middle of the surge as always, but easily the biggest boost came from veteran reserve Cam Payne, who stepped up tremendously after a quiet first half showing.
Payne had just three points over the first three quarters — but during that stretch in which the Knicks completely turned things around he simply couldn’t miss as he knocked down 4-of-5 shots including a pair of threes to give him 11 of his 14 points during the final frame.
He was also a key factor in forcing the momentum changing five-second turnover.
“We all know what Cam is capable of — that’s what he does,” OG Anunoby said.
“He’s a catalyst, he gets in there and makes things happen,” head coach Tom Thibodeau added. “The thing about him is he knows exactly who he is. He comes in with great energy every game, and he prepares himself well — he gave us a huge spark, but that’s who he’s been all season.”
Payne, who averaged 6.9 points during his first year in New York, received a rousing ovation from the MSG faithful as he was subbed out late in the fourth quarter — it was an ovation and performance he’s been waiting for all season.
“It’s fun man,” he said. “It’s a hell of an atmosphere. I was on the opposing side of it last year and it was tough, it was loud as s–t in there. Being on the flip side of it felt good, that ovation felt good. I’ve been waiting on that all year, how I played today all year, so I’m just grateful.
“I thank God for everything that happened tonight, I’m just grateful to still be playing in this league.”
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