JB Bickerstaff: ‘This Is What We Expected’ After Resilient Pistons Push Series Back To Detroit

The Detroit Pistons didn’t flinch.

Coming off a gut-wrenching Game 4 loss — one that saw them cough up a double-digit fourth-quarter lead and fall victim to a missed call in the final seconds — the Pistons bounced back with a poised, physical effort Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, earning a season-saving win over the Knicks to force Game 6 in Detroit.

“This is what they’ve always shown to be,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said, per Pistons.com. “I’m not surprised. This is what we expected from them tonight.”

The tone was set early, and the Pistons stayed aggressive throughout. Forward Ausar Thompson sparked the effort, finishing with 22 points and what Bickerstaff called a “phenomenal” defensive performance.

With interior enforcer Isaiah Stewart missing his fourth straight game due to right knee inflammation, Detroit leaned on Jalen Duren and Paul Reed to hold down the paint. Duren handled the bulk of the minutes, and Reed provided a spark off the bench.

“We did a great job of getting to our spots and executing the stuff we knew we could get to that created an advantage for us,” Bickerstaff said.

Detroit has now won both of its games in this series on the road — something that star guard Cade Cunningham says fits the team’s mindset.

“It’s everything you dream of,” Cunningham told reporters. “Playing with a full arena, a bunch of people booing you, that’s everything you dream of.”

And he may have hinted at more than just appreciation for the moment. When asked about returning to New York, Cunningham offered a line that could be read as a quiet promise: “We’ll be back.”

Game 6 is set for Thursday night in Detroit, and if Cunningham is right, this series isn’t done yet.