DETROIT The New York Knicks, aware of the criticisms surrounding their toughness, approached Game 3 against the Detroit Pistons with a renewed sense of determination. Eager to demonstrate their grit, the Knicks emerged victorious with a close score of 118-116 at Little Caesars Arena, showcasing their ability to stand up to the physical play that the Pistons had employed in the previous games of the series.

The tension escalated early in the first quarter when Mitchell Robinson and Paul Reed found themselves entangled in a confrontation. Paul Reeds aggressive demeanor drew in Karl-Anthony Towns, who intervened by pushing Reed away. The situation quickly intensified, leading to officials having to separate the players after Reed attempted to retaliate against Towns. In the aftermath of this skirmish, both Robinson and Reed were assessed double technical fouls, while Towns received an additional technical for his involvement. This sequence allowed the Pistons an opportunity for a free throw, but unfortunately for them, Cade Cunningham missed the crucial shot. At this point, the Knicks were leading 30-27 and ended the first quarter with a score of 33-27.

Towns later commented on the altercation, stating, Reed just came to fight. I wanted to give ourselves the best chance to win. We gotta match their physicality. I thought we did a good job of that tonight. His reflection captures the essence of playoff basketball, where emotions run high, and physicality often dictates the outcome of games.

Earlier that day, Pistons forward Tobias Harris threw a subtle jab at the Knicks' toughness. Having faced the Knicks in last years playoffs while he was with the Philadelphia 76ers, Harris alluded to a shift in dynamics, saying, Its a different dynamic, for sure. Thats all Im gonna say... Its part of our game plan. However, despite his intentions, Harris struggled offensively during the game, managing only five points on 2-for-9 shooting from the field. His inability to effectively guard Towns allowed the Knicks center to take advantage of his size, leading to a strategic shift by Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who decided to have Jalen Duren take on the challenge of guarding the formidable Towns.

Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau praised Towns for his versatility, saying, I think hes comfortable playing inside and outside. The smaller guy goes on him, he goes into the post. The bigger goes on him, you take him away from the basket. This adaptability is crucial in the playoffs where matchups can often dictate the flow of the game.

The first quarter also saw some contentious moments as Jalen Brunson was called for a Flagrant 1 foul after making contact with Tim Hardaway Jr.'s face during a shot attempt. This incident sparked a chorus of loud Fk you, Brunson chants from the Pistons fans, further emphasizing the high stakes and heated atmosphere of playoff basketball.

Unlike the previous games in the series, where the Knicks had found themselves on the defensive, they took the initiative right from the start in this game, establishing their physical presence. This shift was a welcomed strategy for the Knicks, who have often been criticized for their perceived lack of toughness.

Thibodeau summarized the essence of the game by stating, Thats playoff basketball. Thats part of it. Play with emotion, but controlled emotion. As the Knicks aim to build momentum in the series, their ability to embrace the physicality of playoff basketball could be the key to their success moving forward.