DETROIT — The Knicks heard all the chatter about their toughness, or lack thereof. They came out for Game 3 determined to bully the bullies.
Despite the Pistons’ efforts to impose their will and get under the Knicks’ skin, as they did in Game 2 and parts of Game 1, it was the Knicks who outmuscled Detroit in their 118-116 Game 3 win Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena.
With just under a minute left in the first quarter, Mitchell Robinson and Paul Reed got in a dust-up before Karl-Anthony Towns came in and shoved Reed.
Reed aggressively tried to go back at Towns, but was held back by officials.
Robinson and Reed were issued double technicals, while Towns was issued an additional technical as well. That gave the Pistons one free throw, but Cade Cunningham subsequently missed it.
The Knicks led 30-27 at the time and finished the first quarter up 33-27.
“[Reed] just came to fight. I wanted to give ourselves the best chance to win,” Towns said. “We gotta match their physicality. I thought we did a good job of that tonight.”
Earlier Thursday morning, Tobias Harris had taken a slight dig at the Knicks’ toughness.
“It’s a different dynamic, for sure,” Harris, who also played against the Knicks in the playoffs last year with the 76ers, said of how this year’s Knicks team compares to last year’s. “That’s all I’m gonna say. … It’s part of our game plan.”
A fight breaks out between Paul Reed (7) and Karl-Anthony Towns after Towns pushes Reed off of Mitchell Robinson (23) during the first quarter of the Knicks’ 118-116 Game 3 win over the Pistons on April 24, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg/New York PostBut Harris finished with five points on 2-for-9 shooting from the field. And after holding his own guarding Towns the first two games, Towns was finally able to use his size advantage and score on Harris inside.
That resulted in Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff switching to having Jalen Duren guard Towns.
A fight breaks out between Paul Reed (7) and Karl-Anthony Towns (32) oafter Towns pushes Reed off of Mitchell Robinson (23) during the first quarter of the Knicks’ Game 3 win over the Pistons. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post“I think he’s comfortable playing inside and outside,” Thibodeau said of Towns. “The smaller guy goes on him, he goes into the post. The bigger goes on him, you take him away from the basket.”
In the first quarter, Jalen Brunson was given a Flagrant 1 foul for hitting Tim Hardaway Jr. in the face while the latter was taking a shot.
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That prompted loud “F–k you, Brunson” chants throughout the arena.
After fighting off their back foot the first two games of the series, the Knicks threw the first punch this time around.
Ausar Thompson drives to the basket against OG Anunoby
during the Knicks’ Game 3 win over the Pistons. Getty Images“That’s playoff basketball,” Thibodeau said. “That’s part of it. Play with emotion, but controlled emotion.
