Overview
- Detroit thumped New York 121-90 at Little Caesars Arena, improving to 27-9 and reinforcing the conference’s top spot in a rematch of last season’s first-round series.
- Cade Cunningham controlled the game with 29 points and 13 assists, exploding for 15 in the third quarter as the Knicks mustered just 15 points in the period.
- Short-handed without Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren and Caris LeVert, the Pistons shot better than 50% from the field and from three, dominated the paint 52-34, and won the boards 44-30.
- Jalen Brunson scored 25 for New York, but the Knicks committed 20 turnovers and dropped their fourth straight; Boston’s win over Chicago pushed the Celtics past New York into second in the East.
- Elsewhere, Charlotte stunned Oklahoma City 124-97 behind Brandon Miller’s 28 points, Toronto beat Atlanta again, and Houston listed Alperen Sengun out with an ankle sprain as Steven Adams remained questionable.