Detroit Pistons score: New York Knicks respond to take Game 3 and series lead, 118-116
Detroit Pistons fans waited six years for an NBA home playoff game.
Little Caesars Arena provided an electric, juiced up atmosphere on Thursday night, but the New York Knicks answered the heckling with their best game of this first-round NBA playoff series.
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Karl-Anthony Towns poured in 31 points and Jalen Brunson scored 30 to push the Knicks past the Pistons 118-116 in a wild Game 3 in Detroit. The Knicks lead the best-of-seven series, 2-1.
There are two off days before Game 4 on Sunday in Detroit (1 p.m., ABC).
The Pistons had a final chance with 0.5 seconds left, but turned the ball over when Jalen Duren tried to inbound the ball near the Pistons bench to Cade Cunningham at halfcourt, but overthrew him.
More: Was Jalen Brunson's apparent turnover left uncalled with Detroit Pistons down 3?
Cade Cunningham was limited to 24 points on 9-for-25 shooting with 11 assists. Tim Hardaway Jr. poured in 24 points, 18 in the first half.
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The turning point came when Cunningham dropped OG Anunoby with a spin move and the Pistons within 108-105 with about 90 seconds left, but Towns met him at the rim, the ball trickled away and Brunson scored a layup on the fastbreak. Hardaway then missed another open 3 and Brunson again scored with 59 seconds left to open a 112-105 lead.
This story will be updated.
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Next up: Knicks
Matchup: Pistons vs. New York, Game 4 of first-round playoff series.
Tipoff: 1 p.m. Sunday; Little Caesars Arena, Detroit.
TV/radio: ABC; WWJ-AM (950)
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pistons score: Knicks respond to take Game 3, 118-116
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