DETROIT — A month removed from a much-desired win in their first rematch with the New York Knicks, the Detroit Pistons now needed a get-right game.
Coming away from the NBA trade deadline, the Pistons had one of their worst showings of the season in a puzzling defeat to the Washington Wizards.
With a hot Knicks team — who eliminated Detroit from the postseason last year — coming back in town the Pistons needed that hunger again, playing on consecutive nights.
That’s exactly where Detroit has been its most dangerous.
The Pistons held the Knicks to their season-low for scoring in a 118-80 victory Friday night, moving to 8-1 on the season in the second night of a back-to-back.
Daniss Jenkins led the way with 18 points four rebounds and three assists off the bench with Tobias Harris and Isaiah Stewart adding 15 a piece. Even without center Jalen Duren, who was out due to a lingering knee issue, the Pistons dominated after shooting 53% for the night and making 17 three-pointers.
But the win was really thanks to Detroit’s superb defensive effort, headlined by Ausar Thompson. The third-year forward was the primary defender on Jalen Brunson, who was held to 12 points on just 4-of-20 shooting for the night.
Mikal Bridges hit a pair threes on New York’s first two shots of the game, but the Piston defense took over forcing five straight misses and forcing two turnovers to quickly get back in the matchup early.
Cade Cunningham dropped a spot-up three to reach 10 points in nine minutes, but got in foul trouble soon after, limiting his impact later in the first half.
Jenkins would enter for the first time in the closing minutes of the quarter after being inactive Thursday night — as the Pistons work on converting him to a standard contract — and became an instant spark.
He hustled for a rebound on defense and pushed his way up the court, battling through contact against Jordan Clarkson and finishing at the rim with a foul. Jenkins ended the quarter on a high note beating the buzzer from deep and giving Detroit a 28-17 lead as the Knicks were held to 28% shooting in the quarter.
The bench took control to open the second quarter and pushed the Pistons well out in front as Jenkins, Javonte Green, Caris LeVert and big man Paul Reed all hit from three in the first few minutes to go up by 17.
Regardless of who was on the court, the Pistons were wearing down New York on offense and taking advantage of their ball movement to go 10-of-18 from three in the half.
Brunson only managed to go 2-of-13 from the field in the first half, being met with raucous jeers from the LCA crowd every time he touched the ball.
Reed delivered a swift block on Brunson’s last-chance shot before halftime, securing a 63-42 advantage for the Pistons after shooting 55% from the field.
There was not let up in the third as Duncan Robinson hit on a pair of threes while Tobias Harris and Jenkins each added seven for Detroit in the period. The defense remained stifling behind Thompson — seeing the Knicks shoot 38% in the quarter — and the Pistons worked their lead out to 30 points going into the fourth.
The Pistons had no trouble putting the Knicks away in the fourth with Ron Holland adding five points and two steals. With the game well in hand, recent trade acquisition Kevin Huerter got to play out the final eight minutes of the game.
He made good with his time, scoring eight points on six shots as the Pistons cruised to victory and a 2-0 start against the Knicks, who entered the night tied for the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference.
BOX SCORE
Up next: The Pistons get a little time off with their next game in Charlotte against the Hornets on Monday. Detroit won’t return to LCA until Feb. 23, following the All-Star break.