Knicks use a 21-0 run in the 4th quarter to beat the Pistons 123-112 in Game 1

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Brunson was hobbling and Madison Square Garden had gone quiet as the New York Knicks fell deeper into a hole late in the third quarter.

Brunson then left the court for what appeared to be a change of sneakers, though maybe that wasn't all.

“I think he grabbed his cape,” coach Tom Thibodeau said.

Brunson and his teammates were sure super from there.

Brunson scored 34 points, Cam Payne had 11 of his 14 in the fourth quarter and the Knicks stunned the Detroit Pistons with a 21-0 run to rally for a 123-112 victory Saturday night in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 23 points and 11 rebounds in his first playoff game with the Knicks and OG Anunoby also scored 23 points for the No. 3 seeds, who will host Game 2 on Monday night.

The Pistons held up well for more than three quarters of their first playoff game since 2019 and had a 98-90 lead, a little more than nine minutes from ending their NBA-record, 14-game postseason losing streak.

By the time they scored again, the Knicks were ahead by 13 points, the delirious fans in the arena roaring louder with every Pistons miscue after they played with such poise for much of the game.

Payne converted a three-point play to start the run, Brunson scored and Payne made a 3-pointer to tie it at 98, and the onslaught would last for nearly five minutes. Payne and Brunson combined for the first 17 points before Josh Hart had the final two baskets to make it 111-98 with 4:50 remaining.

“I been kind of waiting on that all year,” Payne said. “I've been waiting on this game, how I played today, all year.”

Tobias Harris scored 25 points for Detroit, but just three in the second half. Cade Cunningham had 21 points and 12 assists, but the Knicks limited the star guard to 8-for-21 shooting in his playoff debut.

Brunson, who missed 15 games late in the season with a sprained right ankle, was just 4 for 15 in the first half and appeared to tweak the ankle again. But he changed out of his green sneakers and found another gear in the fourth along with the Knicks.

“Obviously, we didn’t end the third quarter the way we wanted to, but there was never a doubt that we’re going to just lay down and not fight,” Brunson said. “We had to find a way to figure things out and keep battling and I mean, it turned around quickly.”

The Pistons remained winless in the postseason since Game 4 of the 2008 Eastern Conference finals.

“Obviously, for this group, guys having first-time playoff experience, just understanding yeah, it stinks to lose, but it’s all about how you come back,” Harris said.

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New York Knicks guard Cameron Payne reacts during the second half of Game 1 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) falls during the second half of Game 1 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns hugs his dad, Karl Towns, Sr., following Game 1 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

New York Knicks guard Cameron Payne reacts during the second half of Game 1 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson reacts during the second half of Game 1 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts following Game 1 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

New York Knicks guard Cameron Payne reacts during the second half of Game 1 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

New York Knicks guard Cameron Payne reacts during the second half of Game 1 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) shoots past New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) during the first half of Game 1 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson reaches for the ball during the first half of Game 1 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley reacts during the first half of Game 1 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Detroit Pistons guard Dennis Schroder (17), left, moves past New York Knicks guard Pacome Dadiet (4), right, during the first half of Game 1 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

New York Knicks guard Cameron Payne reacts during the first half of Game 1 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) shoots past Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) during the first half of Game 1 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson reacts after a three point shot during the first half of Game 1 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

DETROIT (AP) — Javier Baez hit his second go-ahead, three-run homer in the 11th inning for his first multi-homer game in Detroit, lifting the Tigers to a 10-9 win over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.

The AL-leading Tigers were ahead in the first, third, fourth and sixth innings and lost the lead each time.

After falling behind in each of the two extra innings, they came back to win a second straight game against Boston and 10th in 13 games.

Kristian Campbell hit a two-run homer in the 11th and Greg Weissert (1-1) failed to keep a two-run lead. He allowed Jace Jung to hit a leadoff single and Baez to turn on a no-doubt shot to left.

Beau Brieske (1-1) picked up the win after giving up two runs — one earned — and one hit in the 11th.

Boston went up by a run in the 10th on Ceddanne Rafaela's RBI groundout and Trey Sweeney's two-out single in the home half of the inning made it 7-all.

Baez, who has revived his career this season after struggling the previous three seasons in Detroit, also had a three-run homer in the sixth.

Hamilton's two-run blast off Tommy Kahnle pulled the Red Sox into a 6-all tie in the eighth. Boston had a chance to take the lead later in the inning with runners in scoring position, but Kahnle struck out Rafael Devers.

Boston's Alex Bregman, who was booed during each at-bat because he turned down an offer to sign with the Tigers in the offseason, hit a solo home run in the fourth.

Baez put both his hands in the air in the moment after he sent the game-winning home run to left and the crowd chanted “Ja-vy! Ja-vy!” for a player they previously jeered.

Spencer Torkelson has 11 homers in 43 games, a season after hitting just 10 in 92 games.

Detroit LHP Tarik Skubal (4-2, 2.08 ERA) and Boston RHP Hunter Dobbins (2-1, 2.78) are scheduled to pitch Wednesday night in the series finale.

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Boston Red Sox pitcher Brennan Bernardino throws against the Detroit Tigers in the seventh inning during a baseball game, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Boston Red Sox's David Hamilton, right, celebrates his two-run home run with Carlos Narváez (75) against the Detroit Tigers in the eighth inning during a baseball game, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers' Javier Báez hits a three-run home run agains the Boston Red Sox in the sixth inning during a baseball game, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)