Jalen Brunson drilled the biggest shot of the night with 4.3 seconds remaining, lifting the New York Knicks to a 116-113 win over the Detroit Pistons in Game 6 and securing their spot in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
After shaking free from Ausar Thompson with a step-back move, Brunson sank a three-pointer that silenced the Little Caesars Arena crowd and capped a 40-point night.
“It was earlier than I wanted, but I had space,” Brunson said postgame. “Happy the ball went in.”
The All-Star point guard, who was recently named the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year, followed the shot with a kiss to the stands, a response to the heckling he faced throughout the series.
The Knicks now advance to face the Boston Celtics in the second round, with Game 1 set for Monday night at TD Garden.
Four of the six games in the series were decided by three points or fewer, and Brunson credited the team’s “poise and composure” for their ability to close out close contests.
“We all have each other’s backs,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s about finding a way to win.”
Brunson deflected praise, pointing to his teammates’ effort—especially Mikal Bridges, who tallied 25 points and made key plays in transition and on the glass.
“I wouldn’t be in that position without the way he played tonight,” Brunson said.
OG Anunoby added 22 points, knocking down four threes, as New York’s starting unit combined for 110 of the team’s 116 points.
Detroit was led by Cade Cunningham’s 23 points and eight assists, but the Pistons came up short in the final minute.
Cunningham missed a layup with 22 seconds left and went 0-for-8 from three-point range on the night.
Malik Beasley contributed 20 points off the bench, but his mishandled pass with 0.4 seconds remaining sealed Detroit’s elimination.
Mikal Bridges described the series as “emotionally draining,” but emphasized how the team’s past playoff experiences helped them manage the pressure.
“This game just shows how our season has gone,” Bridges said. “We’ve always taken the toughest path.”
Brunson agreed, referencing the Knicks’ history of grinding out games and surviving physical battles.
“We finally got a lead early, gave it up, got it back, gave it up again,” he said. “But we found a way.”
Now facing the defending Eastern Conference champions, Brunson acknowledged the challenge ahead.
“Every series is different,” he said. “But we’ll learn, make adjustments, and respect each opponent.”
The Knicks will enter the second round battle-tested, with their leader continuing to deliver in the biggest moments.
