New York breaks the game open after halftime
Karl-Anthony Towns delivered 27 points and 20 rebounds as the New York Knicks beat the Detroit Pistons 111–97 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, October 27. The result, completed on October 28 in the Philippines, gave New York its first win of the season and ended Detroit’s unbeaten start.
The defending champions improved to 1–3 after a 37–13 third quarter transformed a close contest. Detroit slipped to 3–1. New York had trailed by 13 in the opening period before its bench helped restore the balance before halftime.
Andre Drummond and Landry Shamet supplied the first 11 points of a 19–8 Knicks run that closed the second quarter. Two Jalen Brunson free throws put New York ahead 51–50 at the interval, its first lead since the early stages.
Brunson then found his rhythm after shooting one for nine in the first half. According to the Associated Press, he made his first three attempts of the third quarter, helping New York open the period with 11 unanswered points. Towns scored 13 during the decisive quarter, and Josh Hart’s buzzer-beating three extended the lead to 88–63.
Brunson finished with 23 points and seven assists. OG Anunoby and Shamet added 13 apiece, while Mikal Bridges scored 12 and Drummond contributed 10. Paul Reed led Detroit with 22 points and nine rebounds; Cade Cunningham added 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
Detroit cut the deficit to 11 late in the fourth, but the damage from the third quarter proved decisive. New York avoided an 0–4 start and regained a measure of stability after three opening defeats.
Both teams were scheduled to play again Wednesday, October 28, in the United States. The Knicks visit Chicago, while Detroit hosts Charlotte.