Battle-tested guard Dennis Schroder drills the go-ahead 3-pointer with 55.1 to go, and then sinks one of two free throws after Bridges clanked another potential game-tying trey.

The Knicks are down by four with three seconds left following a Brunson miss.

And that will do it, 100-94, Pistons.

Brunson had 37, and Cunningham finished with 33 in a strong bounce-back performance. KAT was held to a quiet 10 for the Knicks, all in the first half.

It almost happened again, but the series is tied 1-1. Game 3 is Thursday in Motown. See you then.

Anunoby strips Duren, and Brunson finds Hart for a dunk for a 94-94 tie with 1:15 to go. Bedlam.

After the Knicks' swarmig D forced a 24-second violation, Bunson coolly hit a step-back jumper. He then drew a three-shot foul on Harris (hitting two) for a two-point game with 1:48 to play.

Another dumb foul by the Pistons, this time by Cunningham in the back court, leads to two free throws for OG Anunoby. The Garden is cooking now. 8-0 run. Four-point game, 4:27 left. Brunson back in.

Brunson just held up six fingers as he got Ausar Thompson into the air and to foul out before trimming the deficit to eight with two free throws with 5:34 to go.

Following a Duren offensive foul, Brunson then flipped in a floater to cut it to six at the 5-minute mark, and retreated quickly to the locker room. Another sneaker change? Grabbing his cape?

Either way, game on.

Game 1 sparkplug Cam Payne has not played in the second half and only four minutes overall, with zero shots or points tonight. The Knicks trail 90-80 with about six minutes to play.

Pistons wing Ausar Thompson, who mostly has guarded Brunson tonight, sat down with his fifth foul with 10:33 left in the fourth. Detroit by 9.

The Knicks went nearly five minutes without scoring in the third to fall behind by 15, but after they got multiple defensive stops, Bridges and McBride sank key 3-pointers as part of a 14-7 closing run to claw within 75-67 entering the final quarter.

There also were behind by eight after three quarters before stealing Game 1 with a 21-0 run in the fourth.

Even with physical presence Isaiah Stewart unavailable, the Knicks haven't been able to keep Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson and Tobias Harris off the offensive glass. That trio has combined for 10 offensive boards, and the Knicks suddenly are down by a game-high 15, 68-53, barely midway through the third.

Mikal Bridges has given an effortful performance, with three steals and have several hustle plays on loose balls or to keep plays alive, including a diving attempt early in the third. He also is up to 16 points already, doubling his Game 1 output. The Knicks are still down by five four minutes into the second half.

Jalen Brunson's sister Erica is no fan of the 14-2 disparity for Detroit in free-throw attempts at the half.