The New York Knicks entered the fourth quarter Saturday night trailing the Detroit Pistons by eight points and in real danger of surrendering homecourt advantage in their Eastern Conference playoff series. But reserve guard Cam Payne turned up his intensity on the opening inbound play of the final period, causing the Pistons to commit a five-second violation, which proved to be the turning point of the game.
New York outscored Detroit 40-21 over the final 12 minutes en route to a 123-112 victory — a stretch that included an incredible 21-0 Knicks' run. Jalen Brunson scored 34 points, while Cam Payne had 11 of his 14 in the fourth quarter, lifting the Knicks to a thrilling win in Game 1 of their playoff series at Madison Square Garden.
Brunson, who had been struggling with a sprained right ankle, found his rhythm in the second half, scoring 23 of his points after halftime. Despite appearing to re-injure his ankle in the third quarter, he managed to rally, contributing significantly to the Knicks' comeback.
“We found a way to turn it on, got to give a shout out to Cam Payne with the energy,” Brunson told ESPN’s Lisa Salters. “He was big time for us.”
The Pistons, who were looking to end their NBA-record 14-game postseason losing streak, held a 98-90 lead with just over nine minutes remaining. However, the Knicks' defense tightened, and the offense exploded in the final period. Payne's three-point play ignited the run, and he followed it up with two crucial three-pointers, tying the game and then putting the Knicks ahead.
Payne's performance was unexpected, as he had not been a significant part of the Knicks' playoff rotation initially. However, his experience shone through in this high-pressure situation. He finished with a game-high plus-23 rating and was instrumental in forcing the Pistons into mistakes, including the pivotal five-second violation.
“The thing about him, he knows exactly who he is,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said of Payne. “He comes in with great energy every game, carries himself well each and every day. He gave us a huge spark, that’s been who he is.”
Payne’s contributions were not just on the offensive end. He also played a key role in defending Pistons star Cade Cunningham, who struggled to find his rhythm, shooting just 8-for-21 and finishing with 21 points and 12 assists.
In addition to Brunson and Payne, Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby each contributed 23 points, with Towns also grabbing 11 rebounds. The Knicks' depth was evident as they outscored the Pistons significantly in the fourth quarter after being outpaced in the third.
“I thought Cam gave us a huge lift in the fourth quarter there,” Thibodeau said. “And I thought our offense was really good in the fourth, and our defense was really good. We gotta do it for 48 minutes.”
As the clock wound down, the Madison Square Garden crowd erupted in cheers, giving Payne a standing ovation as he exited the game with 1:58 left. The energy in the arena was palpable, with fans reveling in the Knicks' dramatic turnaround.
Payne expressed his joy after the game, highlighting the importance of having fun on the court. “I just try my best to bring my energy and it’s infectious. Everybody feeds off it. That’s a good feeling,” he said.
The Knicks will look to carry this momentum into Game 2, set for Monday night, April 21, 2025. They are eager to build on their success and aim for a commanding lead in the series.
“It’s one win and then we gotta reset and get ready for the next one,” Thibodeau stated. “Understand what goes into it, and there’s a lot of things we can do better.”
As for the Pistons, they must regroup quickly to avoid falling into a deeper hole in the series. Their inability to capitalize on a strong start will be a point of focus as they prepare for the next game. Will they bounce back, or will the Knicks continue their playoff surge? The answers will unfold in the coming days.
