DETROIT — James Dolan declared Monday that the Knicks must “absolutely” reach the NBA Finals.
Then his team was absolutely embarrassed.
On the same day Dolan set the bar higher than any previous finish in his ownership, the Knicks were blasted by the Pistons, the Eastern Conference leaders, 121-90, which included disappearing acts from two prominent starters.
Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby combined for just 11 points on 2-for-7 shooting, with neither particularly aggressive nor engaged.
In fact, Towns, who scored six points, played just 22 minutes and it wasn’t because of foul trouble. It continued a downward trend in Towns’ roller-coaster season.
All the Knicks were outplayed by Pistons star Cade Cunningham, who finished with 29 points and 13 assists in 29 minutes. Cunningham sent the Knicks (23-13) to their season-worst fourth straight defeat, a stretch that’s been defined by Swiss cheese defense.
Their porousness continued at Little Caesars Arena, but issues abounded on both sides of the ball.
Through three quarters — and with the Knicks trailing by 20 heading into the final period — Jalen Brunson was the only Knick with more than 10 points. They were stagnant, slow and overwhelmed by Detroit’s physicality and athleticism while totaling a paltry 15 assists. The Pistons lead ballooned to 33 points in the fourth quarter, just a couple of hours after Dolan told WFAN that the Knicks “should win the Finals” and “getting to the Finals, we absolutely got to do.”
The owner also said he doesn’t anticipate a big move before the trade deadline next month, whether for Giannis Antetokounmpo or somebody else.
A few more performances like Monday should change minds.
It was New York’s first matchup this season against the upstart Pistons (27-9), who have risen early to the top of the East behind an MVP-like start from Cunningham.
The Knicks fell from second to third and are four games behind the Pistons. It felt like a litmus test except there were a few disclaimers: the Pistons were shorthanded without two injured starters (Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris) and were also playing on the second game of a back-to-back, having flown from Cleveland following a Sunday afternoon contest at Rocket Arena. The Knicks, meanwhile, are in a slump and clearly missing the presence of Josh Hart, who sat his sixth straight game.
All things considered, the Knicks are clearly behind the Pistons — in the standings, in head-to-head matchups and in momentum. That first-round series from May felt like a distant memory Monday.
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Brunson (25 points, no assists) made some shots Monday but was a big part of the scarce ball movement.
The Pistons fans have found an enemy in Brunson, an identity forged in last season’s playoffs. Brunson was booed every time he touched the ball Monday, and showered intermittently with chants of, “F–k you, Brunson,” and, “You’re a flopper.”
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The Knicks point guard was also hounded by Detroit’s top perimeter defender, Ausar Thompson, who took the assignment with enthusiasm. Thompson picked up Brunson full court. He darted around screens. He stripped Brunson twice in the second quarter.
There must have been revenge on the mind of Thompson, who was famously crossed up by the Knicks point guard before the deciding shot of the first-round playoff series.
Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff confirmed the obvious — his players were motivated by the opponent.
“It’s true, they’re motivated,” Bickerstaff said. “There are matchups they’re looking for.”
The Knicks, meanwhile, couldn’t have looked further from fulfilling the owner’s message.
