Not-So-Sweet 16; New York Knicks Survive Challenge From Lowly Detroit Pistons

Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle made sure that the New York Knicks didn't become the Detroit Pistons' long-awaited first victim in 16 games.

The New York Knicks nearly sputtered against the Detroit Pistons. Fortunately, they had solid insurance.

Jalen Brunson scored 42 points while Julius Randle added 29 more, allowing the Knicks to escape from New York with a 118-112 victory over the reeling Pistons on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. 

With the win, New York (11-7) capped off a four-game homestand at 3-1 and also moved to a season-best four games over .500. The Knicks have also won each of their last 13 against the Pistons and all nine games against teams with losing records so far this season.

Facing a Motor City group that entered as losers of each of their past 15, the Knicks seemed well on their way to handling business in the early going, leading 31-17 after an opening period featuring 16 points for Brunson. 

Detroit, however, forced its way back into the game with 37 points in the second quarter, shooting over 60 percent (14-of-23) as they officially made their way back into the game. Cade Cunningham and Marcus Sasser united for nine triples on Thursday, seven alone coming in that fateful second where the Knicks shot 4-of-14 beyond the reliability of Brunson and Randle.

Jalen Brunson led the way with 42 points on Thursday night / USA TODAY SPORTS

The Pistons (2-17) even jumped out to a lead by the end of the third quarter but consecutive triples from Donte DiVincenzo with just about five minutes remain permanently placed momentum on the Knicks' side. Careless errors that have defined the Pistons' tragic streak came back to haunt them in the end: Detroit lost 20 turnovers to the Knicks on Thursday night and sent them to the line 28 times. The Knicks' free throw struggles continued to the tune of only 20 makes but the Pistons were a mere 11-of-17 (64.1 percent) in their own trips. 

Cunningham's 31 points led the way for Detroit, which will host the Knicks at Little Caesars Arena in late February. With the loss, Detroit became just the eighth team in NBA history to go winless in a month (min. 15 games). The Pistons' single-digit margin of defeat was also their first since Nov. 20, as their prior three losses had come by a combined 68-point margin.

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With his scoring showcase, Brunson became just the second Knicks guard to post at least six 40-point games, joining franchise record-holder Richie Guerin (14). 

There's no rest for the Knicks, who are subjected to another immediate back-to-back. The latter half of this one takes them up north as they battle the Toronto Raptors in Ontario (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).