JB Bickerstaff Again Has Work To Do After Pistons Drop Slugfest To Knicks

DETROIT — That wasn’t just a playoff game. That was a street fight in a suit and tie.

The Pistons scrapped, clawed, shoved, and stared down the Knicks for 48 full minutes in Game 3 — and for 47:59, it felt like they were right there.

But in the end, Detroit came up two points and one bruiser short in a 118–116 loss that had fists flying, whistles blowing, and crowd chants echoing into the midnight Motor City sky.

There were five techs, a flagrant, and probably a few bruised egos. The Knicks’ so-called Big Four — Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges — combined for a ridiculous 103 of New York’s 118 points. Yeah, that’ll do it.

But don’t let the final score or flashy stat lines fool you. This was a brawl. And the Pistons gave ‘em hell.

The Fight

Cade Cunningham got mugged all night — doubled on nearly every touch, shoved off every screen, treated like the superstar he’s becoming. He still put up 24-7-11, even if the turnovers and tough looks piled up. It wasn’t his cleanest night, but it was far from soft. This team rode with Cunningham until the final horn, and the Knicks had to break glass on every defensive scheme to keep him in check.

Tim Hardaway Jr., though? That was a fireball in a jersey. He went for 24 points, 7-of-12 from deep, and most of it in moments when Detroit absolutely needed oxygen. If this was a playoff coming-out party for the Pistons, Hardaway made sure there were fireworks.

Dennis Schroder? Still that annoying, clutch, wire-thin spark plug every fan wants and every opponent dreads. He poured in 18 off the bench and hit two massive threes late.

But…

Malik Beasley bricked his way to a 2-for-10 night. Tobias Harris kept trying to find rhythm, but couldn’t locate the instrument. Detroit shot 16-of-43 from deep, but just couldn’t buy a make when it was really needed. Time after time, down three, down two, one stop away … and New York hit the dagger or Detroit missed the answer.

The Brawl

This game had more elbows than a bowtie factory. A flagrant on Brunson. Three techs after Paul Reed, Mitchell Robinson, and KAT got into a mini-shoving match. Double techs for Schroder and Cam Payne. And Little Caesars Arena? Loud enough to shake windows in Troy.

Knicks fans will call it grit. Pistons fans might call it something else. Either way, it felt like a game New York had to steal with all the polish they could muster. Detroit punched up all night, and damn near won the fight.

Looking Ahead

Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has some work to do. The Knicks are blitzing Cade every chance they get, and he’ll need new counters. Also? It’s time to cross fingers for Isaiah Stewart. Because for all the effort tonight, Detroit missed its enforcer. Beef Stew in the middle would’ve changed a few things — maybe even the final score.

So the Pistons head to Game 4 down 2–1, but not bowed. Not on this night.

This was playoff basketball, the old-school kind. Ugly, loud, emotional — and Detroit was right there.

Game 4 is Sunday afternoon, also in Detroit.