This time around, Detroit did not fold despite the raucous, pro-Knicks crowd inside the Madison Square Garden.
Finally, the Pistons’ brutal postseason losing streak is over and this meant something more than to superstar Cade Cunningham.
[ALSO READ: Cade Cunningham sparks Pistons' Game 2 response to pull even vs. Knicks]
“It’s a great feeling. It feels good to represent the city like we did tonight,” Cunningham said after dropping a 33-point, 12-rebound double-double in a 100-94 Game 2 win over the New York Knicks.
"Feels good to represent the city like we did tonight."
— NBA (@NBA) April 22, 2025
Cade Cunningham talks winning Game 2 for Detroit 😤
“It’s something that the city [has] been waiting on for a long time, so we feel good about it and we’re ready to get back to the crib and perform in front of them,” the 23-year-old said.
After a somewhat sub-par Game 1, Cunningham responded big-time on his way to becoming the first Piston to record 30 or more points and 10 or more rebounds in a playoff game since Chauncey Billups in 2004.
“He was elite. He played the game tonight as a superstar. He did what he needed to do to help the team win,” Detroit head coach JB Bickerstaff spoke of his four-year guard’s stellar performance.
And Cunningham did not do it alone.
Dennis Schroder finished with 20 markers, including a tie breaking triple with 55.1 ticks left in regulation that put the Pistons ahead at 97-94.
That came after New York rode a 16-4 run to even things up at 94 via a Josh Hart baseline slam off a Jalen Brunson feed.
Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren combined for 26 points and 27 rebounds as the Pistons ended a 15-game playoff losing skid.
“We don’t have guys who give in… who make excuses. We just have guys that show up every single day and lay it on the line for one another. It’s a special group,” Detroit head coach JB Bickerstaff said.
Despite shooting a dismal 6-27 clip from three and recorded more turnovers (16) than assists (11), the Pistons dominated the boards, 48-34, and became more aggressive in the game where they earned 34 free-throw attempts.
Now, the series shifts to Detroit for Games 3 and 4 and Bickerstaff and his squad insisted they are far from over.
“We got bigger things we’re out here for. So our focus, and that’s why our guys have been able to grow and be consistent, because they just think about the now and I thought they did a great job tonight of staying in the moment and doing what we needed to do,” the 46-year-old said.
