Karl-Anthony Towns pointed to execution and effort as key factors in the New York Knicks’ 100-94 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday night.
After falling behind early and never fully recovering, the Knicks now find themselves tied 1-1 in their first-round playoff series against a resurgent Detroit team.
Speaking postgame, Towns emphasized the importance of hustle plays that shifted the game’s momentum.
“Maybe we should have gone and at least got one of those longer downs—those 50-50 balls,” Towns said when asked about New York’s sluggish start and lack of rhythm.
The Pistons finished with a 46-37 edge on the boards and drew 34 free-throw attempts compared to just 19 for the Knicks.
“They did a great job of getting those and finding those long rebounds in different ways,” Towns said. “We knew after Game 1 they were going to come out with more intensity.”
Cade Cunningham powered Detroit with 33 points and 12 rebounds, while Dennis Schroder added 20 off the bench, including a clutch three-pointer in the final minute.
New York’s late-game execution fell short this time, with Towns failing to take a shot in the fourth quarter and OG Anunoby limited to 10 points.
Towns described his approach as trying to stick to the game plan and “just executing what we talked about,” despite going without a fourth-quarter attempt.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 37 points, but the rest of the lineup shot 42 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Towns credited Tobias Harris’ physical defense while noting he relies on reads to determine when to post up or attack from the perimeter.
“I’m always trying to get involved as much as possible,” Towns said. “Whether it’s a post-up or catch-and-go, I’ve worked tremendously hard on my game.”
New York had hoped to ride momentum from a 21-0 run that sealed Game 1, but Towns acknowledged the team’s inconsistency early in games is a concern.
“We can’t expect to flip a switch and all of a sudden be the team we worked so hard all year to be,” he said.
The Pistons, who went 14-68 last season, secured their first playoff win since 2008 and showed poise down the stretch to maintain an eight-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
Despite the loss, Towns expressed confidence in the locker room, citing the team’s chemistry and commitment.
“We’re locked in and close, so I expect us to stay connected, get hungrier, and find that next level,” he said.
Game 3 is set for Thursday at Little Caesars Arena, where Detroit will look to take a 2-1 series lead in front of its home crowd.
