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Detroit Pistons save season, shock MSG crowd with Game 5 win vs New York Knicks, 106-103

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Detroit Pistons save season, shock MSG crowd with Game 5 win vs New York Knicks, 106-103


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NEW YORK — The Detroit Pistons entered an elimination Game 5 on the road with a simple mindset — it’s just one game. 

They went out and executed, defeating the New York Knicks 106-103 to force a Game 6 in Detroit on Thursday. Cunningham scored 13 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, including a pair of free throws with 5.4 seconds remaining in the game to give the Pistons a three-point cushion to hold onto the win. 

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Ausar Thompson had his best playoff game thus far with 22 points (on 8-for-10 shooting), seven rebounds and a pair of blocks. 

Cade Cunningham starts slow, finishes strong 

The franchise player had arguably his worst first half of the series, entering halftime with four points, three rebounds, two assists and three turnovers on 2-for-8 overall shooting. It was an uncharacteristic two quarters for Cunningham, who’s been the Pistons’ best player by far but, at times, has had issues with the Knicks’ physicality and long-armed defenders. 

The third quarter was better — he only made one of three shot attempts but went 5-for-6 at the free throw line, with four assists, two steals, a block and just one turnover. An alley-oop to Thompson a minute into the period gave the Pistons the lead, 51-50, and ran the show as the Pistons used an 18-6 run to take their biggest lead of the night, 69-59, at the 4:58 mark. 

In the final period, Cunningham scored seven-straight points — a coast-to-coast layup, pair of free throws and a 3-pointer — to give the Pistons the lead again, 95-90, with 4:17 left in the game after the Knicks battled back at the end of the third. The Knicks tied it at 95 with a layup from Mikal Bridges and 3-pointer from Karl-Anthony Towns. Cunningham had the answers down the stretch, though. 

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A Cunningham-to-Duren alley-oop gave the Pistons the lead again, 97-95, and hit a floater a possession after a second-chance layup from Duren to build a six-point lead with under two minutes left, 101-95. With 27.4 seconds left, he answered a Knicks bucket by finding Thompson open under the rim to push it to six again, 103-97, before making the winning free throws. 

Ausar Thompson delivers series-best performance

Before the game, J.B. Bickerstaff acknowledged the challenge of playing Thompson in the fourth quarter. He’s the Pistons’ only viable defensive option against Brunson, who has torched the Pistons late in games. However, his lack of shooting and proclivity for turning the ball over during the playoffs led to the coaching staff prioritizing shooting and ball-handling in crunch time. 

In the Pistons’ last three games, Thompson played fewer than three minutes in the final period with Bickerstaff leaning toward Schroder, Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. instead. In Game 5, Thompson was so good that they had no choice but to play him with the game on the line.

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Thompson delivered his best performance of the playoffs, showing his usual strong defense on Brunson while consistently finding opportunities on offense. He struggled at the free throw line (6-for-12), but otherwise was one of the Pistons’ most reliable scorers. 

The Pistons opened the game with a 9-2 run, forcing an early timeout after Thompson mirrored Brunson and forced him to miss to end to set up a fastbreak 3-pointer on the other end for Harris. In the second quarter, he consistently made himself available for outlet passes in transition and in the dunker’s spot in halfcourt situations. He was the recipient of several entry passes from Duren, leading to open dunks. 

With 41 seconds to play in the first half, he tracked Brunson in transition and swatted his layup attempt from behind. At halftime, Thompson was tied with Harris in leading the Pistons with 10 points. 

With 7:35 remaining in the final period, he checked in for Schroder and remained in the game before the coaching staff alternated between Thompson and Schroder in the final 25 seconds, as the Knicks threatened a come-from-behind win.

Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on X and/or Bluesky.

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Detroit Lions rule out All-Pro safety, list 7 others as questionable vs. Rams

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Detroit Lions rule out All-Pro safety, list 7 others as questionable vs. Rams


ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions will be without safety Kerby Joseph again this weekend, while listing seven other players as questionable.

Joseph and fellow safety Brian Branch were the only players ruled out ahead of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. Branch is out for the season due to an Achilles injury, but has not been placed on injured reserve yet. And Joseph, who will now miss his eighth straight game, suffered a setback and could be a candidate for injured reserve, per Dan Campbell.

The Lions listed tight end Shane Zylstra (knee), running back Sione Vaki (thumb), wide receiver Kalif Raymond (ankle), guard Christian Mahogany (fibula), safety Thomas Harper (concussion protocol), left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder/rest) and guard Kayode Awosika (foot) as questionable.

Decker has not practiced this week. But he’s been dealing with a shoulder injury all season and is coming off playing three games in less than two weeks. Awosika missed last week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys due to his foot injury. The veteran guard has practiced in a limited capacity all week long.

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Trystan Colon and Miles Frazier split duties at left guard last week for Awosika. The Lions will have a decision to make there between those three options, but perhaps for only another weekend.

Mahogany returned to practice this week. He seems like a longshot to play this weekend based on his injury. But the Lions are listing him as questionable after logging three limited practices in his first action back on the field.

Zylstra has been back at practice for two weeks in his return from injured reserve. Heading into the weekend, the Lions have only one tight end on their 53-man roster (Anthony Firkser) and hope to get Zylstra back.

Campbell said Harper has a chance to play against the Rams despite spending the week in concussion protocol. The Lions could sure use Harper, with Branch and Joseph both out, to hold things down at safety with Avonte Maddox against the high-powered Rams.

“Harper will be out there at practice today, so feel pretty good about him, but we’ll see,” Campbell said on Friday morning. “There again, I can’t give you definitives right now, but that’s kind of where we’re at.

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“So, we’ll be good. Look, (Erick) Hallett’s been taking reps, (Daniel Thomas) DT’s been taking reps, Maddox has been taking reps. We’ve got plenty of guys. They’re getting valuable reps, so we’re good.”

Raymond has missed two consecutive games due to an ankle injury suffered against the New York Giants. He has a shot to return after working back into practice, and should reclaim his role returning punts.

Vaki has continued to play through his thumb injury. He hasn’t returned kickoffs since suffering the injury, with Tom Kennedy and Jacob Saylors taking over.



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Oilers turn in smart, defensive game and Hyman hat trick for 4-1 win over Detroit: Cult of Hockey Player Grades

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Oilers turn in smart, defensive game and Hyman hat trick for 4-1 win over Detroit: Cult of Hockey Player Grades


CONNOR McDAVID. 9. In a quiet first minutes of this one McDavid had the most dangerous shot for, glancing off Talbot’s shoulder and out. Terrific patience on the doorstep before dishing to Hyman for the 1-0. Nearly outwaited Talbot again later in the frame. Dished the disk back to Ekholm on the 2-0. Pranced in and rifled a backhand off Talbot. Hi-lite reel assist on the 3-1, where he knocks down a puck then puts a backhand through his own legs to a waiting Hyman alone in the slot. An assist on the 4-1, for his forty-third four-point game. 63% on faceoffs. Second Star.



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SAY Detroit unveils plans for new play center on city’s west side

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SAY Detroit unveils plans for new play center on city’s west side


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SAY Detroit had a surprise in store during its 14th annual fundraiser.

The charity founded by Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom announced plans for a new SAY Detroit Play Center on the city’s west side during its annual radiothon, taking place on Thursday, Dec. 11. The after-school educational center will be built on the campus of St. Cecilia’s church, which includes the historic St. Cecilia gym, also known as the Mecca of Detroit basketball.

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The new facility will be called the SAY Detroit Play Center at St. Cecilia.

This will be the organization’s second play center, with the first opening in 2015 along Van Dyke Avenue on the city’s east side. The center provides educational and recreational opportunities for kids from 8-18 at Lipke Park.

The announcement was made during the foundation’s 15-hour radiothon, which raises money for SAY Detroit and other affiliated charities. Last year’s radiothon raised a record $2.23 million, with the fundraiser bringing in over $16.5 million in total since it was launched in 2012.

SAY Detroit was founded in 2006 by Albom and operates the play center and free family health clinic, along with providing a housing program for Detroit families and other direct efforts with the community.

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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.



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