Karl-Anthony Towns scored 13 of his game-high 27 points during a decisive third-quarter run as host New York rallied past Detroit for its first win of the season, 111-97 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, October 27.
The Knicks outscored the Pistons 37-13 in the third quarter and held off a fourth-quarter rally to avoid becoming the first defending NBA champion to open 0-4 since the Boston Celtics in 1969-70. Towns also pulled down a season-high 20 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson produced 23 points and seven assists.
Paul Reed had 22 points and nine rebounds for the Pistons, who were seeking their first 4-0 start since the 2018-19 season. Cade Cunningham totalled 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in defeat, as Detroit slipped to 3-1.
For the champions, the win was as much about relief as celebration: after three straight defeats to open the defence of their title, the third-quarter surge finally gave the Garden crowd something to cheer — and kept an unwanted piece of history at bay.
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Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.