Key Takeaways:
- Cade Cunningham tallied 42 points and 13 assists as Detroit defeated New York 126-111
- The Pistons have now bested the Knicks in all three fixtures between the sides this season
- Jalen Duran and Isaiah Stewart missed out for Detroit due to suspensions following a brawl against Charlotte on February 9
Match Analysis
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham put in a stellar performance on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, powering his side to a 126-111 win over the New York Knicks. Cunningham racked up 42 points and distributed 13 assists as Detroit outclassed New York for the third time this regular season.
The contest opened brightly for the Knicks, who established an early 9-2 advantage. However, Detroit soon responded with a 21-8 run, seizing the initiative for the remainder of the evening. The Pistons entered half-time on the back of a 7-0 burst, stretching their lead to 58-48 – the first double-digit margin of the night.
YKTPWA pic.twitter.com/hLxxsE39IK
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) February 20, 2026
After the interval, New York rallied with Karl-Anthony Towns reducing the deficit to 62-60, but Detroit swiftly reasserted themselves. Duncan Robinson knocked down consecutive three-pointers, helping the visitors restore a comfortable cushion. The Pistons carried a 90-79 lead into the final period and eventually built an advantage as large as 19 points when Daniss Jenkins converted a tip-in with 7:50 left to play.
The Knicks mounted a late surge, cutting the margin to 11 on Jalen Brunson’s three-pointer in the closing moments, but Detroit never looked in danger of relinquishing control.
Player Performances and Team Statistics
| Detroit Pistons | PTS | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cade Cunningham | 42 | 8 | 13 |
| Paul Reed | 18 | 7 | 2 |
| Tobias Harris | 11 | 10 | 5 |
| Ausar Thompson | 10 | 5 | 4 |
| New York Knicks | PTS | REB | AST |
| Jalen Brunson | 33 | 6 | 8 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 21 | 11 | 4 |
| Landry Shamet | 15 | 2 | 2 |
| Josh Hart | 11 | 4 | 3 |
On a night when New York struggled from beyond the arc, converting just 8 of 35 attempts for 22.9%, Jalen Brunson paced the home side with 33 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns provided 21 points and 11 rebounds. Landry Shamet chipped in 15 points and Josh Hart contributed 11, but the Knicks were unable to keep pace offensively.
Paul Reed impressed for Detroit with 18 points, Tobias Harris posted a double-double (11 points and 10 rebounds), and Ausar Thompson offered further scoring support with 10 points.
Team News and Upcoming Fixtures
The Pistons were compelled to take to the court without Jalen Duran, the team’s leading rebounder and second-highest scorer, and Isaiah Stewart, both sidelined due to suspensions stemming from their roles in a brawl versus Charlotte on February 9.
Looking ahead, Detroit will face the Chicago Bulls on the road on Saturday, while the Knicks are scheduled to host the Houston Rockets the same day.
