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Knicks beat previously unbeaten Pistons 111-97 for first win of season

Karl-Anthony Towns had 27 points and 20 rebounds as New York pulled away after halftime, ending its 0-3 start and Detroit’s unbeaten run.

NewsJaws DeskEditorial desk

Published 28 Oct 2026, 03:07 GMT2 min read

New York Knicks player Karl-Anthony Towns guarded by San Antonio Spurs player Keldon Johnson during a basketball game. — File photograph from Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, showing Karl-Anthony Towns guarded by Keldon Johnson. Towns and Johnson, 2026 NBA Finals — The White House (resized and converted to WebP). Public domain.Image source Image licence: Public domain

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The New York Knicks beat the Detroit Pistons 111-97 at home on Tuesday, October 27, earning their first win of the season after three losses and handing Detroit its first defeat. Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with 27 points and 20 rebounds as the Knicks pulled away after a one-point halftime lead.

How New York pulled away after halftime

New York had trailed by as many as 12 points in the second quarter but reached halftime ahead 51-50, SNY reported. The Knicks then opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run and led 88-63 at its end. Detroit scored 13 points in that period, following a 12-point second quarter; SNY said those were the Pistons’ two lowest-scoring quarters of the young season.

Towns recorded his third consecutive double-double, according to SNY. Jalen Brunson added 23 points, the next-highest total by any player in the game. The Knicks finished with 49 rebounds to Detroit’s 45 and 28 assists to the Pistons’ 23, giving New York an advantage on the boards and in passing even though both teams shot 43% from the field.

The difference was sharper from three-point range and at the foul line: New York shot 33% on threes and 82% on free throws, compared with Detroit’s 24% and 58%, SNY reported. The Knicks also had 10 steals to Detroit’s eight, although they committed 18 turnovers to the Pistons’ 14.

Detroit’s injuries and the teams’ opening records

Detroit entered as the Eastern Conference’s last undefeated team, while New York had lost its first three games. CBS Sports reported before tipoff that the Knicks’ defeats included a 111-102 home loss to Orlando on Sunday. Tuesday’s result reversed those opening streaks, giving New York a first win and Detroit a first loss.

The Pistons played without center Jalen Duren and guard Isaiah Joe, SNY reported. Ausar Thompson returned after missing the previous game with an ankle sprain. CBS Sports had reported before the matchup that Duren was expected to miss at least two weeks because of a right hamstring strain sustained against Miami. His absence left Detroit without a player who had been part of its unbeaten start.

The Knicks were scheduled to begin a two-game road trip in Chicago on Wednesday, according to SNY. That fixture comes immediately after a home result in which New York recovered from its winless opening and Detroit lost its unbeaten record.