Win and advance.
It’s that simple for the Knicks, who took a 3-1 series lead after a 94-93 Game 4 win.
The series is back at Madison Square Garden, where the Pistons managed to steal Game 2.
Jalen Brunson shook off a right ankle injury in Game 4 and is expected to play Tuesday, with a win giving the Knicks some extra time off before the next round.
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Brunson’s team-high 32 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, were key to the Knicks’ Game 4 victory.
Will the Knicks be able to close things out at home?
Or will Cade Cunningham and Detroit take it back home for a Game 6?
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Knicks’ grades from Tuesday night’s Game 5 106-103 loss to the Pistons as Detroit now trails 3-2 in the best-of-seven series: Struggled all night and didn’t get a chance to strap on his cape because he was off the court for the game’s most pivotal moment, when he was subbed out with three minutes left because of an injury and didn’t come back until there were 27 seconds remaining and a six-point deficit. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau didn't go into too much detail when asked about failing to call a timeout late in the game to get Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart back on the floor. "Just where we were with our timeouts," he said. "Coach's decision." Asked to elaborate further on what went into the decision -- and why the Knicks didn't foul Detroit to get a stoppage -- Thibodeau said, "Time, score, penalty, timeouts. All of the above. What's happening in the game." Brunson and Hart left the game with 2:57 to go, both appearing to suffer respective injuries, and didn't check back in until just under 30 seconds were left, despite being ready to do so shortly after exiting. Thibodeau said he hadn't talked to the medical staff yet when asked about each player's respective health.Knicks’ Game 5 report card
By Stefan Bondy Jalen Brunson, D
Tom Thibodeau explains timeout usage: 'Coach's decision'
By Ethan Sears
There will be a Game 6 on Thursday.
The Pistons staved off elimination and beat the Knicks 106-103 at Madison Square Garden after a piece of questionable game management down the stretch from Tom Thibodeau.
After Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart both suffered unknown injuries and briefly left the game, the pair appeared ready to check in with about two minutes left, but the Knicks didn't call timeout or foul. Without either player on the floor, the Pistons extended their lead to six.
A late pair of threes from Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby pulled the Knicks close, but Detroit stayed cool at the free-throw line with Cade Cunningham knocking down a pair with 5.7 seconds to go after Anunoby's three.
The Knicks had a chance at a final shot to tie, but Miles McBride was intentionally fouled and missed both free throws.
Right when we mention his struggles, Mikal Bridges hits a huge 3-pointer on the move to cut Detroit's lead to 103-100. There's some life in the Knicks yet.
Not over yet, but that might be all she wrote for the Knicks after an Ausar Thompson layup puts the Pistons up 103-97 with 27.4 to go.
Brunson and Hart will check back into the game after the timeout, but their absence proved crucial down the stretch as the Knicks couldn't find any offense without the pair of them on the floor. Mikal Bridges, who has had the ball in his hands often down the stretch, has struggled all night and is shooting just 6-of-15 from the floor.
Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart are both at the scorer's table ready to check back into the game. The brief window they've missed, however, could end up being significant.
Josh Hart is in pain, and headed up the tunnel with 2:57 to go in the game after falling hard defending Jalen Duren. Jalen Brunson was also in some pain and left the game.
In better news for the Knicks, a mini 5-0 run tied the game at 95 before Duren put the Pistons back up 97-95.
If the Knicks are going to close out the series, now would be the time to get into gear.
This hasn't been the most convincing fourth quarter performance from the Knicks so far, and Cade Cunningham now has five straight points to put Detroit ahead 95-90.
That's the fifth foul for Robinson as well, who's staying in the game. Both big men for the Knicks are close to fouling out.
With just under eight minutes to go, Karl-Anthony Towns just picked up his fifth foul and is headed to the bench.
J.B. Bickerstaff has lost his challenge with 10:25 to go in the game after referees ruled that a foul on Tobias Harris was correctly called. Bickerstaff was then handed a technical foul.
Luckily, the Pistons have no recent experience with what can go wrong when using their challenge before the last few minutes of a game.
The Knicks and Pistons are tied at 79.
Just like every other game of this series, Game 5 will come down to the fourth quarter.
The Knicks would very much like to avoid a trip to Detroit for Game 6 and close this out in front of their home crowd.
