Thibodeau cites free-throw discrepancy in Knicks' Game 2 loss to Pistons
NEW YORK, United States – The New York Knicks rallied again in the fourth quarter for the second straight game. But this time, the Detroit Pistons had an answer.
Veteran point guard Dennis Schröder hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 55 seconds left as the Pistons took down the Knicks, 100-94, on Monday (Tuesday Manila time) at the Madison Square Garden.
Cade Cunningham rebounded from his subpar performance in Game 1 to lead the Pistons with 33 points on 11-of-21 shooting from the field and 11-of-12 from the free throw line in their Game 2 win, much to the chagrin of New York coach Tom Thibodeau.
"Obviously, huge discrepancy in free throws,” Thibodeau said. “Huge. I’ve got to take a look at that. I don’t understand how on one side — talking about a direct line of drive — the guy’s getting fouled and not being called. Look, I really don't give a crap how they call game as long as it's consistent on both sides.
“If Cunningham's driving and marginal contact and he's getting to the line, then Jalen [Brunson] deserves to be getting to the line. It’s really that simple.”
Brunson led the Knicks with 37 points and made 9 of 11 free throws. But Thibodeau felt it should have been more, as Brunson repeatedly kissed the Garden floor on his several drives.
Still no call. pic.twitter.com/IywmoSFm9A
— alder almo (@alderalmo) April 22, 2025
Detroit had 15 more free-throw attempts than the Knicks for a 12-point edge at the bonus line in a six-point game.
New York did not get to the free throw line in the first half until the closing seconds.
Jalen Brunson lets out a scream as he goes to the line for the Knicks first FTs of the game. 17.4 secs left in the first half. pic.twitter.com/swmXjuM8tF
— alder almo (@alderalmo) April 22, 2025
But the Knicks also shot themselves in the foot by getting outrebounded 48-34.
"Rebounding was problematic the whole night,” Thibodeau said. “So, that's probably the difference in the game."
Detroit’s physicality once again kept the Knicks from building an offensive rhythm outside of Brunson.
Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby were both held to 10 points apiece. Towns did not score in the second half.
Despite their subpar performances, the Knicks still had the opportunity to take a commanding 2-0 series lead after they tied the game at 94 on a Josh Hart dunk off a Brunson assist.
But Schröder came to the Pistons’ rescue with the clutch 3-pointer.
Schröder, who only arrived in Detroit at the trade deadline, came off the bench to drop 20 points. He single-handedly outscored the entire Knicks bench.
Only Miles McBride scored from the Knicks’ thin bench with eight points.
New York’s Game 1 hero Cam Payne only played four minutes and did not attempt while committing three fouls.
Game 1 hero Cam Payne getting his shots up 90 mins before tip-off. pic.twitter.com/RL5LUCh47u
— alder almo (@alderalmo) April 21, 2025
The win snapped the Pistons’ NBA record 15-game losing streak in the postseason. It did not come easily. They had to weather another Knicks’ fourth-quarter comeback.
Brunson drew Ausar Thompson’s sixth foul midway through the final quarter, which sparked the Knicks’ run that fell short.
“We've got bodies we can keep throwing at him,” Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “If the game is physical and we keep bumping, bruising, our aim is to wear guys down.
“We don’t need to be on our heels because we’re worried about foul calls. We need to be who we are, and we need to be Ausar to be who he is. But again, there were cheap ones we could find our way to be away from, but we want to continue to be physical.”
The onus is on the Knicks to adjust to the physicality in the first-round series that is shaping up to be a war of attrition.
Game 3 is on Thursday (Friday Manila time) in Detroit.
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Alder Almo is a former senior sportswriter for Philstar.com and NBA.com Philippines. He is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey, and writes for US-based publication Heavy.com.
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