On the other side of the matchup, Pistons superstar Cade Cunningham cashed in 33 points, with Dennis Schroder offering 20 points off the bench. The Knicks simply need to do more offensively. They've got great talent on that side of the floor, but their heliocentric identity around Brunson relies on him being stellar both scoring and playmaking.

Ausar Thompson, the man charged with Detroit’s most difficult defensive assignment of guarding the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, was far from discouraged after watching the film of Game 1.