The competition between the New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons is fierce in the 2025 NBA playoffs. Detroit won the match by 3 points in Game 5 against New York by scoring 106 to 103 and Cade Cunningham scored 24 and Ausar Thompson scored 22.
Although, the Knicks received good contributions from OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns turnovers and free throw misses were their downfall. Since the series has returned to Detroit for the Game 6, players’ statistics should play an important role in the game. Here we will know Knicks vs Pistons player stats.
Knicks vs Pistons: The Matchup
The Knicks and the Pistons are in the first round of playoffs, and the Pistons have won the game 3-2 after their recent 106-103 victory
| Game | Knicks | Pistons |
| 1 | 123 | 112 |
| 2 | 100 | 94 |
| 3 | 118 | 116 |
| 4 | 94 | 93 |
| 5 | 106 | 103 |
.The Pistons made the comeback with the help of Cade Cunningham who scored 24 points and Ausar Thompson 22. Tobias Harris score 17 points and Jalen Duren led the team with 14 boards. In addition, Detroit Pistons physicality and timely shooting have been the major factors that have helped them make the comeback.
And for the Knicks, OG Anunoby had 19, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mikal Bridges both scoring 17. Jalen Brunson was not so effective and made poor shots and contributed 16 points. New York Knicks lost several shooting opportunities, especially free throws shooting where they shot 11 of 27.
This contest has become a classic one that can be compared with the Knicks-Pacers battles of the 1990’s. This is a sign that the two teams consist of young talented players who possess the desire to compete against each other.
As the series returns back to Detroit, the Pistons seek to extend the series to a Game 7, meanwhile the Knicks are keen on sealing the series. Performance levels of the players and changes on strategies will define the flow of this exciting game.
Key Player Performances for the Knicks
Several players from the Knicks performed well during the match in the game 5 of the playoffs of the Knicks vs Pistons series, but the team failed 103 – 106.
OG Anunoby scored 19 points for the Knicks and was able to demonstrate his scoring and defensive talent.
Karl-Anthony Towns also put 17 points on the scoreboard and grabbed 11 rebounds while dominating the paint. Mikal Bridges also contributed 17 points and showed that he can be used effectively in both offense and defense.
Jalen Brunson was off his shooting spree and had only 16 points when he shot the ball from the field 16 times, he left early in the third quarter due to a sprained ankle.
Josh Hart also fouled out in the last few minutes and his absence affected the team’s bench players.
The Knicks’ free-throw shooting let the team down as the team scored only 16 of 27 (59.3%) and this was one of the reasons for the loss.
All these issues are likely to come to reality as the series progresses forcing the Knicks to overcome them through their star players.
Standout Player Stats for the Pistons
In Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, the Detroit Pistons produced fine performances to defeat the New York Knicks 106–103 to remain in the playoffs contention.
Cade Cunningham was once again the leading scorer with 24 points and was highly effective on the team when it was time for them to score. He was also a playmaker who had the capacity to set the pace for the game and make the decisive moments required for the Pistons to win.
Ausar Thompson shined in the game and reached the season’s best mark of 22 points. Defensively, he was also up to the task, and managed to tame one of the Knicks’ best players, Jalen Brunson to only 16 points out of 4-for-16 shooting.
Tobias Harris added 17 points, which is an experienced player and a great scorer that helped to improve the Detroit team’s attack.
Jalen Duren was the leader on the glass with 14 boards, seven of them on the offensive end of the floor and contributed nine points as well. In this regard, his energy and effort in the paint were most essential in learning second-chance opportunities.
Dennis Schroder scored 14 points from the second unit and provided crucial baskets that extended the Pistons’ advantage during crucial moments of the match.
All these collective efforts show that the Pistons have the depth and determination going into game 6, and with the hopes of evening the series and proceed with their playoff.
Comparing Scoring Leaders in the Knicks vs Pistons Game
During the NBA playoffs of the year 2025, in game 5, New York Knicks was defeated by Detroit Pistons 106–103, thus the series was reduced to 3–2. The staking received outstanding scores from the key players in the two teams who were observed from the contest.
Detroit Pistons
- Cade Cunningham: scored 24 points, with 8 rebounds and 8 assist for the Pistons. His free throws in the last few seconds were vital in finalizing victory.
- Ausar Thompson: Achieved a new high of 22 points and also played an excellent defense on Knicks’ Jalen Brunson who was held to 16 points on a field goal shooting of 4-16.
- Tobias Harris: Contributed 17 points, providing veteran leadership and consistent scoring.
- Dennis Schroder: Scored 14 points from the bench, which were crucial in ensuring that the Pistons stayed in the front during key moments of the match.
New York Knicks
- OG Anunoby: Scored 19 points for the Knicks, demonstrated his scoring skills and his defensive style.
- Karl-Anthony Towns: Accumulated 17 points and 11 rebounds, he was assertive in the paint.
- Mikal Bridges: Scored 17 points and proved that he is a great player in offense and defense.
- Jalen Brunson: Shot poorly for 16 points on 4/16 FGs and left the game midway through the fourth quarter with an ankle injury.
The Pistons were able to achieve good shooting all around and a strong defensive performance while the Knicks struggled with shooting and injuries. The two teams will have to look for their stars to come out to play as the series progresses.
In the 5th match of the NBA Playoffs of the year 2025, Detroit Pistons won against the New York Knicks 106–103 thus making it 3–2 in the series. Other than scoring, other statistical factors such as rebounding, assist and other features were instrumental in the game.
Rebounds
The Knicks managed to have a slight lead in terms of the total number of rebounds, 45-44, of the Pistons. Mitchell Robinson, fouling on the defensive end for the New York Knicks, had 11 rebounds, eight of which were on the offensive side, which gave second chances. Karl-Anthony Towns also played well by getting 11 rebounds. In the Detroit Pistons, Jalen Duren collected 14 rebounds, of which seven were on the offense, helping the team to dominate the paint.
Assists
Forcing, passing and ball movement: The Detroit team was able to record 26 assists while New York managed 21. The best performer on the floor was Cade Cunningham who registered eight assists to help the Pistons’ offense. The Knicks’ distribution was much more evenly spread with the ball, several players were involved and none of them reached five assists.
Other Key Stats
- Turnovers: The Knicks made 15 turnovers from which the Pistons made 18 points. Detroit was able to commit as few as 11 turnovers which means New York could not enjoy many fast-break points.
- Free Throws: New York shot below average shooting free throws with 16 of 27 (59.3). On the other hand, Detroit was accurate in free throws making 18 out of 22 attempts (81.8%) , especially Cunningham who scored in the last few seconds.
- Blocks and Steals: The Pistons achieved six blocks and seven steals with Ausar Thompson adding two blocks and three steals to help to deny the Knicks. The Knicks committed five blocks and six steals where OG Anunoby was the leader with two blocks.
These statistical differences especially in assists, turnovers and free-throw shooting exposed the Pistons and their ability to fight and use their strategy to take the series to a new level.
Final Word
The Knicks vs Pistons game was a great example of the talents of the players and the important statistics that led to the win. In particular, Detroit demonstrated great performance during the crucial moments of the game and the teammates’ cooperation was impressive, while New York missed their opportunities and this was a significant factor that led to their defeat. In terms of rebounds, assists and other factors, they all had a lot of stories to tell.
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