The Detroit Pistons got a chance to redeem their game one collapse tonight and came through with a victory over the Knicks to tie the series.
It snapped the Pistons’ 15-game playoff losing streak, which was the longest in NBA history, and they did it in Detroit style, in an old-school defensive battle in which they held the Knicks under 100 points on their home floor.
There were too many heroes to name but it starts with Cade Cunningham, who put on another clinic against the Knicks, scoring 33 points and adding 12 rebounds on a night they were without their backup center.
But just like in game one, the Pistons were shaky at times in the 4th quarter and the Knicks were able to come all the way back and tie the game.
That’s when Trajan Langdon’s best move of the season paid off big time for the Detroit Pistons.
Dennis Schroder is not afraid of the big moment for the Detroit Pistons
The Knicks weren’t going to allow Cade anything easy in the 4th quarter, so the Pistons turned to Dennis Schroder as the primary ball handler, and he delivered.
Not only did Schroder hit the dagger three to seal the game, but he was really a calming presence throughout.
The Pistons started to unravel a bit in the 4th and without Schroder there is little chance they pull off the game two upset.
Trajan Langdon made all the right moves last offseason when he acquired Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr, but his best move might have come at the deadline when he traded for Dennis Schroder.
The Pistons gave up next to nothing in the deal and acquired a solid veteran point guard who has a history of big moments. They got him for this precise moment and he delivered.
He’s seen plenty of action in the playoffs, FIBA World Cup and Olympics and it showed, as he looked like the coolest guy on the floor in clutch time tonight.
There were plenty of heroes tonight, including Jalen Duren, who had a nice bounce-back game after a lackluster game one, and Tobias “Unc” Harris, who dropped 15 points with 13 rebounds and played tough defense on KAT. And how about my man BBall Paul? He is pure chaos and gives me heart issues, but he came up with a huge block and six big points tonight in moments when the Pistons needed them.
But it was Schroder’s 20 points (particularly the last four) that stole the night and put the mute button on Madison Square Garden, which is always nice.
The Pistons accomplished the mission, which was to steal one in Detroit, and they did it the way they’ve been doing it all season, with defense, a big game from Cade and solid contributions from the role players.
There’s nothing left to say tonight except, LET’S GOOOOOOOO!