Knicks finally get their first win of the season

The New York Knicks claimed their first win of the season by beating the Detroit Pistons 111-97 at Madison Square Garden.

The side coached by Mike Brown broke last season’s negative trend, when they lost their series against Detroit 3-0 with an aggregate differential of -26 points.

The victory calmed things down a little in New York despite a lack of sparkle in their play, and the poor shooting of Jalen Brunson, who finished the game 5/18 from the field.

“We just have to keep making the easy shots,” admitted the Knicks captain.

“It’s about getting to the rim, scoring the easy baskets and focusing on the small details until we find our rhythm,” he acknowledged.

The Knicks overwhelmed the visitors across the second and third quarters with a 63-25 run.

During that spell they recalled the championship-calibre team that racked up 13 consecutive victories during the post-season.

There was also a plus point for Mikal Bridges, who hit his first three-pointer after going scoreless on his previous three. He finished 4/8 from long range.

“Overall we had good moments during the game that allowed us to beat them,” said Mike Brown.

“Our focus and our intensity on Detroit’s shooters were much better than in the previous game,” he added.

Towns steps up

Regardless of all the fuss over his new contract, Karl Anthony-Towns performed at the level expected of him.

The Dominican big man stepped up against Paul Reed to notch his 14th 20-20 game in the NBA and his fourth as a Knickerbocker.

At half-time Brown asked him for more intensity on defence and on the boards against Reed, who is currently filling in for the injured Jalen Duren.

“To be honest, I told him: this guy is destroying us on the boards. Every time he grabs one, he shoots again. If he receives it on the perimeter, you have to guard him tightly,” Brown stressed.

“And he did that. His change of mentality was essential to getting this win,” he acknowledged.

Towns was the standout for the New Yorkers with 27 points and 20 rebounds on 12/21 shooting from the field.

Stopping Cunningham

Stopping Cade Cunningham was a must for the Knicks, since on his last visit to New York the Pistons star hung 40 points on them.

And he did start the game rather well, with 9 points and 6 assists in the first quarter alone.

But from then on he sank for the rest of the night, shooting 4/14 from the field.

The lights went out for the Pistons once Cunningham was contained, with no real second offensive option to turn to.

“Is everything solved? Far from it. Actually, nothing is solved. What tonight showed is that we are more than capable if we put our minds to it. And that’s the foundation we should keep building on,” concluded Mike Brown.

Other standouts

  • Cunningham: 19 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists.
  • Paul Reed: 22 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
  • Duncan Robinson: 12 points.
  • Brunson: 23 points and 7 assists.
  • O.G. Anunoby: 13 points.
  • Landry Shamet: 13 points.
  • Mikal Bridges: 12 points.

(Cover photo: Reuters)

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