Detroit – At one moment it sounded like a big ve day inside Little Caesars Arena.
Pistons fans had the chance to make it to the playoffs for the first time in 17 years, and believed their team was heading for Game 7 in New York.
Next, it felt like a church. This felt like a building silent by Jalen Branson's clever crossover and a cold-blooded top-of-key three-pointer.
Suddenly, the Knicks were blessed, ending Detroit's best season in nearly 20 years, winning Branson's game with 4.3 seconds left.
“Jaylen's shot, what can you say?” Coach Tom Thibodeau said he finished this chaotic, close-pleasing opening round playoff series in six games, 116-113 in thrilling. “When you need his best, he's in his best. He does it all year round, and that's what makes him special.”
In its third straight season, the Knicks are moving forward in the playoffs thanks to Branson's 40-point, seven-assist masterpiece.
They hope to make it through the Eastern Conference semifinals this time, but Thibodeau's team will be a heavy underdog with the reigning champion Celtics.
Game 1 is a Monday night in Boston.
“I think we've grown, we're growing,” Josh Hart said. “So it's going to be one of the battles.”
On Thursday night, the Knicks were experiencing this gritty victory. They blew a 15-point lead in the second quarter and a fourth-ranked 11-point lead.
They followed Seven when Branson began his series' closure 11-1 run with a three-point play. He added a basket inside, and Mikal Bridge even pulled the Knicks at the tip-in. There was only over 30 minutes left.
The Knicks stopped and Branson went to work.
His crossover sent the Pistons' impressive young defensive stopper Ausar Thompson a few feet to his left. Branson had a clear view of the basket, and he rarely missed.
“I thought it would become Switzerland or he was going to attack some of the ties,” Karl Anthony Towns said.
He sinks the shots and quiets down the massive crowd that untook him throughout the series. They called him a flopper and cried out, “F-you, Branson.”
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He gave him a final laugh when the Knicks won all three games in Detroit, and the first time in franchise history to win three consecutive road playoff games.
“I'm not really going and thinking, 'It's okay, I'm going to do this move.' Branson spoke about his final shot. “He beat me there. He cut me off. Just the other way around. And I found a lot of space and managed to take a shot.”
Branson was a hero and he had a lot of help. The Bridges scored 25 points in the best game of the series.
OG Anunoby added 22 points and 3 steel, while Hart tipped with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. The town added 15 rebounds despite the filming night. Most importantly, the Knicks will force three turnovers while holding the required stops on a stretch and holding the Pistons on one free throw at the final 2:35.
They locked up young Detroit Star Cade Cunningham (23 points, 8 assists) as the game went up for the grab.
The talks throughout this match were Detroit's grit and physicality. That these Nick lacked last year's version of toughness.
But they rallied from a fourth quarter deficit with three wins.
They landed Haymaker on Thursday in the fourth quarter run of the 20-2 Pistons, a final punch, and scored a shot with the Powerhouse Celtics.
“We're a tough group. Not everyone likes to draw us, but we're a tough, physical group,” Hart said. “It was a physical series. It was a tough series. And I think we showed not only our physicality, toughness, but our mental toughness, how we handle adversity.
“During these disadvantaged situations, we banded together. We didn't play as individuals. It was a great series for us.”
