The New York Knicks powered past the Detroit Pistons in a 116-113 win that sealed a 4-2 playoff series win.
Jalen Brunson finished with 40 points as the Knicks won through to face defending champions the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000.
Game 1 is Monday night in Boston.
JALEN BRUNSON FROM 3 TO WIN IT FOR THE KNICKS 🔥🔥🔥
KNICKS ARE ADVANCING TO EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIS!!!#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google pic.twitter.com/sGmjcWhNdj
— NBA (@NBA) May 2, 2025
Mikal Bridges scored 25 points and OG Anunoby added 22 for the Knicks, who closed the game out with clutch shots and stops after losing an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter and a 15-point advantage in the second quarter.
“Jalen is at his best when his best is needed and he’s done it all year,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “That’s what makes him special.
“His focus is terrific. He doesn’t get sidetracked with anything but the game. He’s not thinking about what people say, or fans.
“Boston are the defending champion so we’re going to have to be at our best.”
The sixth-seeded Pistons had an unprecedented turnaround during the regular season and ended the NBA’s longest playoff losing streak in their first postseason appearance since 2019, but broke another league mark with a 10th straight setback at home dating to 2008.
Detroit’s Cade Cunningham had 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Cunningham was 0 for 8 on 3-pointers and his backcourt mate Tim Hardaway Jr. was 1 of 6 beyond the arc and scored seven points.
“We did so many things well and gave ourselves a chance,” Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “They just made one more play than we did.”
Clippers level it up
Elsewhere, James Harden scored 28 points as the Los Angeles Clippers took their play-off against the Denver Nuggets to game seven with a 111-105 victory in Inglewood.
The Clippers needed to win in game six to keep their play-off hopes alive but they struggled against a fine display from Nikola Jokic, who weighed in with 25 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for Denver.
But Harden stole the show, adding eight assists and six rebounds as the Clippers aim for their first NBA Championship.
“James did a great job setting the tone early, scoring the basketball and getting downhill and making the right play,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.
“Norman [Powell] made some big shots at the end and Kawhi [Leonard] was steady throughout the game. I thought those guys really stepped up and came ready to play.”
