The New York Knicks edged the Detroit Pistons 94-93 on Sunday night, moving within one win of advancing to the next round of the NBA playoffs.
After the tightly contested Game 4, Jalen Brunson spoke about the team’s ability to stay poised under pressure, emphasizing the importance of sticking together when the Pistons seized momentum.
“We just found a way to stick together, stay poised, and find a way to win,” Brunson told reporters postgame.
Facing heightened hostility throughout the week, Brunson admitted the experience was different but insisted the result mattered most as long as he had the support of his teammates and coaching staff.
In the final moments, controversy arose when officials later admitted a foul should have been called on Josh Hart, but the Knicks managed to hold off Detroit’s late push regardless.
Brunson praised Mikal Bridges for his defensive effort on Cade Cunningham, highlighting the impact Bridges made even when his shot was not falling.
“He’s able to be disruptive, make plays, and not let offense dictate his effort,” Brunson said, recalling their shared mentality from their Villanova days.
The Knicks’ defensive chemistry, particularly between OG Anunoby and Bridges, was critical in closing out the win, with Brunson applauding their consistent hard play throughout the season.
“It’s tough to guard in this league, but with guys like that, I like our chances,” he added.
Karl-Anthony Towns, who delivered a pivotal step-back three-pointer in the fourth quarter, credited Brunson’s leadership, saying, “I’m just trying to do my best Jalen Brunson impression.”
Despite Cade Cunningham’s triple-double, Brunson acknowledged that the Knicks’ defensive connectivity in the final minute secured the outcome, along with “a little bit of prayers here and there.”
Brunson also commended head coach Tom Thibodeau for preparing the team to handle late-game pressure while allowing players the freedom to figure things out during crucial moments.
After suffering a brief scare when he stumbled following a loose ball incident, Brunson said there was never any doubt he would return to the game, emphasizing the importance of mentally resetting.
The Knicks now lead the first-round series 3-1 and have a chance to close it out at Madison Square Garden later this week.
As the series grows increasingly physical, both teams have embraced the old-school playoff intensity, a sentiment Towns described as honoring the competitive spirit of postseason basketball.
