Detroit Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff addressed the media following his team’s 116-113 defeat to the New York Knicks on Thursday, which eliminated the franchise from the postseason in six games.
Jalen Brunson’s 40-point performance, punctuated by a step-back three with 4.3 seconds left, capped off a late 11-1 Knicks run and sealed Detroit’s fate at Little Caesars Arena.
Bickerstaff praised Ausar Thompson for his defensive effort against Brunson, calling the matchup one of the most difficult in the league.
“I give Ausar a ton of credit for what he was doing out there defensively,” Bickerstaff said, adding that the Knicks guard “just did what he does and made the one.”
Despite the loss, the Pistons mounted a fourth-quarter comeback, erasing an 11-point deficit to take a 113-106 lead with under three minutes remaining.
“They don’t quit and they never have,” Bickerstaff said of his team’s fight, emphasizing their collective mentality and ability to respond as a unit under pressure.
The Knicks’ closing surge included Brunson scoring five straight points to swing momentum, while Detroit went scoreless from the field in the final 2:07.
Asked whether the game’s end came down to individual brilliance or team breakdowns, Bickerstaff pointed to both execution and luck.
“There were some balls that just didn’t bounce our way,” he said. “But our guys fought their tails off.”
Detroit finished the regular season 44-38, ending a long playoff drought, and pushed the more experienced Knicks in multiple close contests throughout the series.
Cade Cunningham had 23 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds in Game 6 but struggled from beyond the arc, going 0-for-8 and missing a potential go-ahead layup in the final minute.
Malik Beasley added 20 off the bench but mishandled a pass with 0.4 seconds left, eliminating any chance at a final shot.
Bickerstaff deflected personal praise when asked about comments from owner Tom Gores, who called him a steadying force behind the team’s resurgence.
“I just don’t feel that way about the job,” he said. “It’s about those guys in the locker room and helping them grow.”
Reflecting on the series, Bickerstaff acknowledged his team’s inexperience while crediting their growth through each game.
“You don’t get playoff experience until you get playoff experience,” he noted. “I thought the guys did a tremendous job of learning from moment to moment.”
The Pistons now turn to the offseason with a foundation in place, led by Cunningham, Thompson, and an emerging supporting cast.
New York advances to face the Boston Celtics in the second round, beginning Monday night at TD Garden.
