After faltering in the opener of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, the Detroit Pistons showed maturity and toughness in their response. After Thursday’s letdown in Game 3, they will have to dig even deeper to stay in the fight.
The Pistons host the Knicks in Game 4 on Sunday with New York holding a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven series.
“We won’t be deflated,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “Our guys are too committed to one another. We’ll show up Sunday and we’re going to lay it on the line. We’re going to fight like hell and see what happens.”
Bickerstaff needs his team to carry its late-game performance from Thursday into Game 4.
“I think we were good in the second half,” Bickerstaff said. “I thought we did a really good job defensively. It allowed us to get out in transition, play the way we want to play offensively, so we just continue to build off of that.”
Unlike the first two games, where Detroit controlled the first three quarters in each contest, the Pistons struggled most of Game 3 and had to battle back from a 14-point deficit in the 118-116 loss.
“We competed, we battled, and they did their job,” said Pistons guard Tim Hardaway Jr., who had 24 points along with Cade Cunningham. “So we’ve got to come back on Sunday and be ready.”
Cunningham said the Pistons are learning the importance of being aggressive at the start.
“That’s what we have to do every game — come out punching,” Cunningham said. “Come out with aggression.”
That’s exactly what the Knicks did — especially center Karl-Anthony Towns, who led New York with 31 points following just 10 points in Game 2.
With the Pistons missing starting center Isaiah Stewart for the second straight game due to inflammation in his knee, Towns was able to take advantage of the Pistons’ smaller defenders. Stewart’s status for Game 4 is not yet known.
“I just got opportunities to do things on the offensive end,” Towns said. “We found a way in transition to get me some good looks and I was able to capitalize off of that to start the night off.”
New York also has benefitted from putting OG Anunoby on Cunningham. According to NBA.com, when defended by Anunoby, Cunningham has been held to 10-of-32 shooting from the field. That includes a 4 of 14 showing in Game 3.
“He’s a great player,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said of Cunningham. “Puts a lot of pressure on you. The thing I like about both OG and Mikal (Bridges) is they stick with it. You have to. You have to have a determination. Sometimes, you can defend (Cunningham) perfectly, and he can make (the shot). I think the team has to be in tune with what you’re trying to do as well. But you also have to be aware of his ability to pass, you got to cover the 3-point line.”
Anunoby expects the Pistons to get Cunningham more open looks Sunday.
“It’s a series,” Anunoby said. “They’ll make adjustments. We’ll make adjustments, too.”
