NBA reigning champions the New York Knicks secured their first win of the season, overcoming a 13-point first-quarter deficit to beat the Detroit Pistons 111-97 on Tuesday night. The victory came after three straight losses to start the season, with the Knicks outscoring the Pistons 63-25 across the second and third quarters. "We had more good moments in this game in totality than we did the first three games and that's why we got the win," said coach Mike Brown. The Knicks had opened the season with as many losses in three games as they had in 19 playoff contests, raising concerns they could join the 1969-70 Celtics as the only reigning champions to lose their first four games.
With their entire starting five intact, led by NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson and All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks finally found their rhythm. Towns finished with 27 points and 20 rebounds, while Brunson sparked an 11-0 third-quarter run that turned a one-point halftime lead into a commanding 62-50 advantage. "I was just trying to do things to help my team and things will turn eventually," Brunson said. Brown cautioned that the team will face ups and downs throughout the long season as they aim to peak in the playoffs as they did last year.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing