Jalen Brunson, Knicks surge past Pistons to end losing streak after NBA Finals win

New York Knicks fans can finally relax. The defending champions, at long last, have won a game.

After dropping three straight to start the season , the Knicks flew ahead in the second half to beat the Detroit Pistons 111-97 on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns combined for 50 points in the win, and helped power a huge third quarter that allowed the Knicks to roll to the win without much issue down the stretch.

The Knicks had looked, well, a step slow to start the new season. They fell to LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers in their season opener, then dropped single-digit games to both the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic over the next several days.

That made them the first defending champions since the Dallas Mavericks in 2011-12 to open the next season with three straight losses. While that was a shortened season after an NBA lockout, the Mavericks ended up going 36-30 that campaign and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

It looked early as if the Pistons were going to roll to the win in Manhattan. They were in control for much of the first half, and even took a 13-point lead briefly in the second quarter. But the Knicks mounted an 18-3 run to tie the game and eventually take a one-point advantage into the locker room. Brunson scored 11 points in the first 24 minutes, but went only 1-of-9 from the field. Cade Cunningham, meanwhile, was well on his way to a triple-double with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.

Brunson shook off that poor offensive start almost immediately in the third quarter. He drilled a layup and then an easy 20-footer over Cunningham to help power an 11-0 burst out of the break and force a quick Detroit timeout. That gave the Knicks their first double-digit lead of the night.

Things quickly spiraled from there for the Pistons. New York ended up outscoring Detroit 37-13 in the period to take a 25-point lead into the fourth quarter. The Pistons shot just 4 of 19 from the field in the third quarter.

Detroit wasn't coming back from that. The Knicks cruised the rest of the way, and fended off one final push in the fourth quarter, to take the 14-point win. The Pistons never got within single digits again.

Towns led the Knicks with 27 points and 20 rebounds in the win. Brunson added 23 points and seven assists, despite shooting just 5 of 18 from the field. Landry Shamet and OG Anunoby each put up 13 points.

Paul Reed led the Pistons with 22 points and nine rebounds, and Cunningham finished with 19 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. The Pistons were undefeated entering Tuesday's contest, and now sit at 3-1 on the year.

The Knicks have a long way to go to actually defend their championship. No team has pulled that off since the Golden State Warriors nearly a decade ago.

But the Knicks now have a win on the books this fall. That's the first step.