Knicks secure first win of season, routing Pistons
An emphatic defensive performance helps New York overcome an early deficit and avoid an 0-4 start.
The New York Knicks broke out of their early-season slump Tuesday, defeating the Detroit Pistons 111-97 at Madison Square Garden for their first victory of the season. The win came after the team dropped its first three games, a start that had drawn criticism and sparked concerns about replicating their championship form.
The Knicks, who clinched the NBA title in Game 5 last year, had not won a game since that championship victory. This season's 0-3 start made them the first defending champions to begin a season so poorly since the 2011-12 Dallas Mavericks. Only one defending champion in the last 57 years has started 0-4, the 1969-70 Boston Celtics.
After a sluggish first quarter that saw them trail by 13 points and the Pistons shooting over 60% from the field, the Knicks shifted their defensive intensity. Detroit had scored 38 points in the first quarter, a stark contrast to the 40 points they allowed in the fourth quarter of their previous loss to the Orlando Magic.
Mikel Bridges was instrumental in the Knicks' comeback, contributing offensively after a slow start to the season. The team's defensive effort as a whole tightened considerably in the second quarter, allowing them to regain control of the game.
The Pistons played without key players Jalen Duren and Isaiah Joe due to injuries. Despite the shorthanded roster, Detroit initially imposed itself on the Knicks. However, New York's renewed defensive focus and offensive execution in the latter three quarters secured the crucial home win.
