The Knicks pulled out a wild Game 6 on the road in the first round for the second straight year to advance to a marquee date with the Celtics in the second round beginning Monday in Boston.

Jalen Brunson's 3-pointer in the closing seconds helped the Knicks overcome a 7-point deficit with 2:30 remaining after they'd blown their own 12-point lead earlier in the fourth quarter for a 116-113 win over the Pistons in Detroit.

Brunson finished with 40 points to bounce back from a 16-point performance in Game 5 to help the Knicks get through the opening round for the third consecutive year. Mikal Bridges had a strong two-way game with 25 points and OG Anunoby added 22 for the Knicks.

The defending-champion Celtics won all four regular-season meetings this season, but the Knicks also had dropped three of four to the upstart Pistons. They took all three games in Detroit, with the road team winning the final five of the six games of the hard-fought series.

Thompson lost his balance on a Brunson step-back, and the NBA's Clutch Player of the Year drilled a 3-pointer for a 40-point game and a stunning 116-113 lead for the Knicks with 4.1 seconds remaining.

Bridges just tipped in a Brunson miss to pull the Knicks even with 35.1 ticks left.

Cunningham missed at the other end, and Hart grabs the rebound. Thibodeau calls timeout with 20.6 seconds on the clock, going down to the final possession.

Towns picked off a Cunningham pass and was fouled, but he missed the second free throw with a chance to tie. KAT secured the offensive rebound, but the Knicks committed a 24-second shot clock violation.

Towns then fouled out, Duren sank 1-of-2, and the Knicks trail by two with the ball with 49.8 seconds to play

Brunson was fouled by Schroder as he hits a fadeaway jumper from the baseline. The call is upheld and he sinks the free throw. He then banks one in, and the Knicks are within two with 1:38 left.

Hart had his pocket picked for the Knicks' fifth turnover of the quarter, and Thompson sank a layup in transition. The Pistons suddenly are up by five with barely three minutes left. It's 25-9 for Detroit in the fourth. Disastrous.

That's what the road crowd is chanting now at Brunson, who initially was ruled to be fouled by Hardaway. The Detroit fans then erupted in cheers when the challenged call is successful and overturned. 5:14 left.

Towns has had a quiet offensive game with nine points, and he just threw a pass for OG out of bounds. Cunningham's jumper at the other end makes it a 16-2 run and puts the Pistons back on top at the 5:30 mark.

Turnovers by McBride and Bridges helped lead to seven more points in a row by the Pistons, and the pizza joint is rocking again with a 103-103 tie after a 3-pointer by Hardaway and a transition layup by Thompson midway through the fourth.

Crazy game, crazy series.

With apologies to Van Halen for stealing that "Panama" lyric, the Pistons continue to scrap with their season on the line. A 7-2 spurt following buckets by Cunningham and Thompson have them within 103-96 with 7:40 left.

Anunoby's drive and free throw put the Knicks up by 12 with 9:30 to go. He has 22, with more stellar defense on Cunningham.

Hart has had another active game with 11 points and eight boards, but he comes off after picking up his fifth foul 21 seconds into the fourth quarter. McBride is in for him. Cam Payne is also in for a resting Brunson.