Jalen Brunson delivered another iconic Madison Square Garden moment, sinking a game-winning three-pointer with 3.2 seconds left to give the New York Knicks a dramatic 108-106 victory over the Detroit Pistons in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series.
The Deciding Play
With the score tied 106-106 and the shot clock winding down:
✔ Brunson shook defender Cade Cunningham with a step-back move
✔ Launched from 26 feet over Cunningham’s outstretched arm
✔ Sent the MSG crowd into a frenzy as the ball swished through
“I live for those moments,” Brunson said postgame. “This is why you work all summer—for one shot with everything on the line.”
Series-Clinching Performance
Brunson’s heroics capped a stellar series:
- 34 points in Game 6 (12/22 FG, 6/11 from three)
- 28.5 PPG average for the series
- 45% three-point shooting in elimination games
Key Contributors
- Julius Randle: 22 pts, 12 rebounds
- Donte DiVincenzo: Clutch defensive stop on final possession
- Mitchell Robinson: 14 rebounds, 4 blocks
What This Means
- Knicks advance to second round for second straight year
- Pistons’ promising season ends despite Cunningham’s 29-point effort
- New York awaits winner of Celtics-Heat series
Reactions
✔ Tom Thibodeau: “That’s an MVP-level play from an MVP-level player”
✔ Cade Cunningham: “Tip your cap—Brunson made an impossible shot”
✔ Spike Lee (from courtside): “MSG magic is BACK!”
