Knicks Know They’ll Need More From Karl-Anthony Towns To Get Past Feisty Pistons

What to watch heading into Game 3 between the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons? Well, we can probably start with Karl-Anthony Towns.

The Knicks’ big man was unusually quiet in Game 2 — just 10 points and six boards, far below his season averages — and didn’t even finish the first half. When asked why, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau didn’t mince words: “Because (Mitchell Robinson) was the one guy who was rebounding.”

That’s not ideal if you’re New York.

Also something to keep an eye on: the whistles. The Pistons shot 34 free throws in Monday’s win. The Knicks? Just 19. That’s a significant margin, and one the Knicks are bound to be chirping about behind the scenes. Or in the case of Thibodeau, even publicly.

So yes, Game 2 looked a whole lot like Game 1 — until it didn’t.

The Knicks again stormed back after trailing by eight to start the fourth. They even tied the score with under a minute to go. But this time, Dennis Schroder stepped in and hit a tiebreaking three with 55 seconds left. That proved to be the difference.

Final: Pistons 100, Knicks 94. Series tied 1-1.

What felt like a possible quick series suddenly feels like a slugfest — and for the Pistons, a huge moment. That’s their first playoff win since 2008. Game 1’s meltdown may have been a postseason lesson, but Detroit’s response Monday showed something else entirely. Namely, grit, growth, and just maybe … some staying power.

Game 3 is Thursday in Detroit (7 p.m. ET, TNT). And yes, the Pistons now have home-court.