The New York Knicks return to Madison Square Garden with a 3–1 series lead over the Detroit Pistons, standing just one win away from advancing to the second round after a gritty and dramatic Game 4 victory in Detroit, and now fully intent on finishing the job in front of their home fans. Jalen Brunson continues to embody the heart and soul of the Knicks’ playoff push, battling through an ankle injury to score 15 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter of Game 4, providing the leadership and poise that have defined New York’s postseason identity, while Karl-Anthony Towns has stepped up in a major way, averaging a career-playoff best 22.8 points per game and hitting timely shots to help the Knicks close tight games. Head coach Tom Thibodeau’s defensive schemes have largely stifled the Pistons when it matters most, packing the paint and aggressively contesting perimeter shots, and the Knicks’ ability to tighten the screws late has been a defining factor in their success throughout the series. Detroit, for their part, have remained competitive, with Cade Cunningham emerging as the clear future star of the franchise, posting a triple-double in Game 4 and consistently creating offense even as the Pistons have struggled with late-game execution and turnovers in critical moments. Tobias Harris and Tim Hardaway Jr. have provided flashes of scoring punch for Detroit, but the Pistons have lacked the overall consistency needed to sustain leads, often undone by missed opportunities and New York’s suffocating defense in crunch time.

As the series shifts back to New York, the Knicks will look to leverage their outstanding home record (27–14 during the regular season) and the energy of the Madison Square Garden faithful to deliver the final blow, with Brunson and Towns leading an offense that has proven capable of scoring in bunches when needed while maintaining the defensive discipline demanded by Thibodeau. Detroit’s path to extending the series is clear but difficult: they must execute flawlessly in the half court, minimize turnovers, and find a way to consistently crack New York’s defensive shell while hoping that their own defensive intensity can disrupt Brunson’s rhythm and Towns’ inside-out scoring versatility. Special attention will need to be paid to the Knicks’ role players as well, with OG Anunoby and Josh Hart continuing to make critical hustle plays that swing momentum and ensure that New York wins the “effort” categories such as rebounding, loose balls, and transition defense. Statistically, the Knicks are just 20–22–1 against the spread when favored by 5.5 points or more this season, suggesting that Detroit could keep things close, but ultimately the combination of playoff experience, defensive toughness, and late-game execution heavily favors New York to close the series out in Game 5. With the stage set, expect an intense, physical battle where every possession matters, but one where the Knicks are poised to ride the emotion and intensity of their home crowd toward a well-earned trip to the next round.