Daniss Jenkins scored 18 points in what was his final game eligible under a two-way contract, and the Detroit Pistons dominated from start to finish in a 118-80 rout of the New York Knicks on Friday night, snapping New York’s eight-game winning streak.
Jenkins appeared in his 42nd game of the season, the maximum allowed for a two-way player, and made the most of it by leading Detroit in scoring. The Pistons will need to convert his deal to a standard NBA contract to keep him active for the remainder of the season. Jenkins entered the night averaging 8.2 points and 3.3 assists in a reserve role.
Detroit was without center Jalen Duren due to a knee injury, while New York played shorthanded as well, missing Karl-Anthony Towns (eye) and OG Anunoby (toe).
Tobias Harris and Isaiah Stewart added 15 points apiece for the Pistons, who have now won five consecutive regular-season meetings against the Knicks, though New York eliminated Detroit in six games in last season’s first round.
Mikal Bridges led the Knicks with 19 points, while Jalen Brunson struggled through one of his toughest nights of the season, scoring 12 points on 4-of-20 shooting and missing all eight of his attempts from beyond the arc. The Knicks’ 80 points marked a season low, eclipsing the 90 they scored in a blowout loss to Detroit on Jan. 5.
Coming off an ugly loss to Washington the night before, the Pistons set the tone early. Detroit raced to a 63-42 halftime lead, fueled by uncharacteristically hot 3-point shooting. The Pistons knocked down 10 of 18 attempts from deep in the first half, while New York went just 5 of 19. Brunson was held to 2-of-13 shooting before the break.
Any hope of a Knicks rally faded in the third quarter. New York managed just 18 points in the period, with Brunson going 2-of-7, while Jenkins and Harris each scored seven points as Detroit stretched the lead to 90-60.
Detroit cruised the rest of the way to its most lopsided win of the season, holding New York to its lowest scoring output and delivering a decisive end to the Knicks’ recent surge.
Up next:
The Knicks visit Boston on Sunday, while the Pistons continue their road trip at Charlotte on Monday night.
