The Knicks, on the other hand, have been here before. They have their flaws, but if nothing else, they are ready for this moment as a team that was built, very specifically, for this time of year. New York's brass looked at the Boston blueprint and, with every resource at its disposal, replicated it.

The Pistons, with a young core led by Cade Cunningham making its playoff debut, acquitted themselves well most of the night before the stunning collapse. It was the Pistons’ first postseason game since 2019 and their NBA-record playoff losing streak was extended to 15 games dating back to 2008.