Pistons Fans See Knicks Grab 3-1 Series Lead

By George B. Eichorn

and Mike Whitaker

It had the makings of a great couple of NBA Playoff games in Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit.

The stars came out. Isiah Thomas, Jared Goff, Dan Campbell, Rip Hamilton, Chauncey Billups, Ben Wallace, Tim Hardaway Sr., A.J. Hinch, Tarik Skubal, Spencer Torkelson and others.

Detroit was geeked in hosting Games 3 and 4 at LCA against first-round series foe the New York Knicks. Public address announcer Mason turned the clock back to “The Final Countdown” introductions. The Pistons entered the playoffs for the first time since 2019. And the city loved this!

Several landmarks and businesses hitched on the Pistons bandwagon, decorating with “lighting the city Pistons blue” during the best-of-seven series which opened in the Big Apple with a split. The Knicks took Game 1, 123-112, as all-star Jalen Brunson scored 34 to lead the way.

Game 2 at the Garden was a thriller for long-suffering Pistons fans as the club won 100-94 led by all-star Cade Cunningham’s 33 points (11-of-21 shooting) and 12 rebounds. Dennis Schroder had an outstanding game with 20 points off the bench including a clutch three-point shot with 55.1 seconds in the game. Detroit’s win ended an NBA record 15-game playoff losing streak dating back 17 years.

The Pistons and their fans filled LCA last Thursday for a Game 4 showdown. It was an opportunity to seize the series lead for both teams. Pistons player introductions featured The Final Countdown much like in the 1980s and 1990s when the Bad Boys era gripped The Palace of Auburn Hills, the Pistons’ former home court.

The 2024-25 Pistons swagger resembles much of the three Pistons World Championship teams. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has emphasized defense and physical play; the players bought in; imagine that! Sadly, for their fans the Pistons lost a heart-breaker 118-116 to New York. Led by Karl-Anthony Towns and his 31 points the Knicks staved off Cunningham’s 24 points and Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 24 points also. The Knicks seized a 2-1 series lead. Many rude fans chanted vulgarity when Brunson had the ball. Tasteless.

The Game 4 Sunday matinee was in front of an ABC national audience at LCA. Again, the Detroit crowd was fired up. The nearby Comerica Park crowd for the Tigers game made for a traffic jam around downtown streets yet it was a good problem to have.

The Pistons and Knicks went back and forth – one team was hot and then the other. It figured that this crucial showdown would again go down to the last few minutes or perhaps get settled in overtime. Yet no one could have imagined NBA referee David Guthrie and his two fellow refs would help determine the winner.

After a miss by Cunningham on a shot with a great look was a mad scramble for the rebound. With seconds ticking the ball squirted to Hardaway Jr. who took a shot from the 3-point arc. While he was shooting, Hardaway Jr. was on the receiving end of contact by the Knicks’ Josh Hart.

Guthrie was asked by pool reporter Coty Davis of The Detroit News what did the ref see on that last series and why wasn’t there a foul called on Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 3-point attempt?

“During live play, it was judged that Josh Hart made a legal defensive play. After postgame review, we observed that Hart makes body contact that is more than marginal to Hardaway Jr. and a foul should have been called. After postgame review, we observed that Hart makes body contact that is more than marginal to Hardaway Jr. and a foul should have been called.”