Porzingis scores career high in Knicks' win over Pistons
NEW YORK -- Kristaps Porzingis scored a career-high 35 points as the New York Knicks held on for a 105-102 victory over the Detroit Pistons Wednesday night.
Porzingis had his eighth career game with at least 25 points and scored in a variety of ways. He shot 13 of 22 from the floor, tying a career high for field goals made.
Carmelo Anthony added 22 for the Knicks (5-6), who have won three of their last five games. Joakim Noah bounced back from not playing the second half Monday with an active performance of 15 rebounds while Derrick Rose contributed 16 points.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led Detroit with 21 points but missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer before the buzzer. Tobias Harris spent time guarding Porzingis and added 19 while Jon Leuer added 17.
Being unable to contain Porzingis continued the inconsistencies for the Pistons, who are 5-0 at home but 1-6 on the road.
Porzingis helped the Knicks take the lead for good midway through the second quarter with an electrifying sequence of 10 straight points in a span of 2:03. With the Knicks trailing 33-29, Porzingis had consecutive turnaround jumpers, a fast break alley-oop dunk over Leuer plus the foul shot and a step back 3-pointer with 7:40 left.
Porzingis' spurt gave him 19 points but the Pistons came right back before he had another impressive sequence as the Knicks took a 54-49 lead at halftime. Porzingis scored six more points, including two free throws after he pulled off a cross-over move on Harris and was fouled.
Porzingis tied his season-high on another exciting sequence with 6:20 remaining in the third. He missed a 3-pointer from the top of the key, grabbed his own rebound, drove by Caldwell-Pope and Morris, missed the layup but grabbed another rebound and dunked over Smith for a 68-59 lead.
On the next possession, Anthony knocked down a 3-pointer and the Knicks about a minute later, Porzingis tied his career high with a mid-range step back jumper for a 73-61 lead.
After Porzingis rested the remainder of the third, the Knicks held an 81-74 lead. Porzingis surpassed 30 points with 10:08 left in the fourth when he hit a spinning nine-foot fadeaway from the left side while Leuer guarded him.
About five minutes later, the Pistons were within 94-89 following consecutive turnovers by Anthony. After Anthony knocked down a 19-footer, Porzingis was knocked to the floor on a hard foul by Morris, who was charged with a flagrant foul.
Porzingis split the two free throws with 4:45 remaining as portions of the crowd chanted "MVP, MVP".
On the next possession, Porzingis gave the Knicks a 100-89 lead with a top of the key 3-pointer with 4:33 left.
Still it was a struggle to finish it off as the Pistons were within 104-102 with 33 seconds remaining on a 3-pointer by Ish Smith. After Rose hit a free throw with 3.6 seconds remaining, the game ended when Caldwell-Pope missed a 3-pointer as time expired.
NOTES: Asked about ESPN's report of Dallas, Memphis and Milwaukee boycotting Trump hotels, Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said, "I think every team has got to take a look at that and you know I think teams are getting tuned in a little bit politically and everything else. And give the players a great deal of credit. I've been really proud of our own players but players throughout the league that they're attuned to what's going on and they're going to stand up to their values and I think that's impressive. ... Detroit G Reggie Jackson (left knee) participated in portions of Wednesday's walk-through. He did several running drills and also took part in full-speed shooting drills but not in any defensive drills. Van Gundy said he doesn't think next week is a realistic return day for Jackson, who also did those things in Tuesday's practice. ... New York F Lance Thomas (sore left ankle) missed his second straight game. ... The Knicks used their same starting lineup for the 11th straight game. It is the ninth time since 1964-65 New York has begun a season with the same starting five for more than 10 games.