In a thrilling Game 5 matchup between the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks, star guard Jalen Brunson found himself sidelined during crucial moments as the Pistons held on to secure a 106-103 victory at Madison Square Garden. Despite being a standout in late-game heroics throughout the series, Brunson was forced to watch from the scorer's table due to a late-game injury tweak. The Knicks' coach, Tom Thibodeau, faced a tough decision on whether to utilize his remaining timeouts to get Brunson and injured teammate Josh Hart back into the game, ultimately opting not to do so.
The Pistons capitalized on the Knicks' absence of their key starters, with second-year forward Ausar Thompson stepping up defensively to contain Brunson and contributing 22 points offensively. Cade Cunningham's late-game heroics also played a crucial role, leading Detroit with 24 points and helping secure a pivotal victory to bring the series to 3-2 as it heads back to Detroit for Game 6. Despite the Knicks' valiant efforts to mount a comeback late in the game, they fell short, leaving fans on the edge of their seats and setting the stage for an electrifying Game 6 showdown.