Cunningham had 11 factors and two rebounds within the remaining six minutes of the Pistons’ 106-103 victory, protecting the workforce alive towards the New York Knicks. Two days after the Pistons misplaced a heartbreaker when Cunningham missed a game-winner and the referees missed a foul on Tim Hardaway’s buzzer-beating try, Detroit’s All-Star guard took command down the stretch.
Cunningham was good from the foul line and shot 3-of-4 from the sphere down the stretch, discovering Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren for straightforward baskets and grabbing two rebounds. Even when Karl-Anthony Cities blocked Cunningham’s layup, Duren grabbed the rebound for a dunk.
As for Brunson, he appeared to worsen an ankle damage late within the fourth quarter, leaving the sport and scoring simply three factors within the remaining quarter. As a substitute, it was Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby hitting massive three-pointers within the remaining minute to maintain the Knicks shut, however New York’s greatest likelihood got here when Brunson knocked away an inbounds cross with 20 seconds to go, however the Pistons collected the free ball.
Detroit bought assist from Cunningham’s supporting forged. Duren grabbed 14 rebounds, seven of them offensive. Tobias Harris scored 17 factors and blocked 4 photographs. Thompson scored 22 factors in a sport the place all eight of his made subject objectives got here from inside a foot of the basket.
Cities got here by means of defensively within the remaining quarter, grabbing 5 rebounds and blocking two photographs. However the Pistons protection compelled 13 turnovers and saved the Knicks off the three-point line, limiting New York to 25 makes an attempt from distance.
Now the Pistons get to return residence for Recreation 6 after three straight video games taking place to the wire. With the final three video games having been determined by a complete of six factors, this sequence could properly come to all the way down to which All-Star is most clutch. Or whether or not Brunson’s ankle heals properly.
