Well, that looked like a normal basketball game for the Detroit Pistons versus the New York Knicks. If you haven’t seen the Pistons prior games against them, do yourself a favor and keep it that way.

Whether it was preseason, regular season or just running out of the tunnel, the Knicks have continued to play the Pistons like it’s game seven of the NBA Finals. Something I’ve remarked about since last season, that continues to ring true of the Tom Thibodeau coached Knicks.

In games passed the Knicks would punish the Pistons physically. And this game had the markings of going bad really quick. The Pistons are still without Marvin Bagley, Jalen Duren, and Cade Cunningham, but found out before tip-off that Bojan Bogdanovic wouldn’t be available.

But they battled. The Knicks who once led by 20 points, had to stave off multiple Pistons runs. They closed the gap to under ten points several times in the fourth quarter.

The legend @IsiahThomas is in the building! #Pistons pic.twitter.com/XQYSE6Vg1C

— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) January 15, 2023

“I thought that was the best thing about today. We did compete at a better level than the games before against New York,” Casey Said. ” We made stops, we just couldn’t come up with the rebound which was the difference in the game.”

The Knicks out-rebounded the Pistons by 14 and won the offensive rebounding battle 18-9. Those second chance opportunities were just too much for the Pistons.

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They did a lot of things right, except defend Julius Randle. He grabbed a game high 15 rebounds and scored a whopping 42 points for the visitors. Randle continues to torment the Pistons being the difference maker in just about every game he’s had in a Knicks jersey against them. Knicks prized free agency signing, Jalen Brunson, scored a punishing 27 points. You might remember the Pistons helped the Knicks sign Brunson in the off-season which saw Jalen Duren come to Detroit.

A win would’ve been nice, but it was good to see Saddiq Bey and Jaden Ivey carry the team offensively. They each scored 21 points apiece with Bey shooting 5 of 10 from three, and Ivey stuffed the stat adding six assists and six rebounds.

Those Two have had to figure out their place on an offense that injected Bojan Bogdanovic just before the season began. Team chemistry on offense was a struggle to start the season, but despite the injuries they’ve seemed to figure out that side of the ball. They shot over 40% from three as a team again led by Bey in addition to former Knicks Alec Burks and Kevin Knox.

Now that they have the offense figured out, let’s hope the defense can help them just the same in due time.

This fan said he’s a Detroit sports supporter and puts on for all his teams.

His Pistons’ fandom was put to the test… #Pistons pic.twitter.com/sBc4d04W5q

— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) January 15, 2023