Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks handles the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round 1 Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Nathaniel S. Butler, Getty Images via AFP 

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 31 points and Jalen Brunson added 30 to spark New York over Detroit, 118-116, on Thursday for a 2-1 lead in their NBA playoff series.

O.G. Anunoby added 22 points and Mikal Bridges contributed 20 as the Knicks seized the edge in the Eastern Conference best-of-seven first round series after splitting the first two games in New York.

Game 4 will be Sunday in Detroit.

The loss extended a stinging futility run for the Pistons, who have not won a playoff series in 17 years and have not won a home playoff game since May 2008.

Brunson added nine assists and seven rebounds while hitting 11-of-13 free throws and Towns had eight rebounds and went 7-of-7 from the free throw line and 4-of-8 from three-point range.

Physical intensity showed late in the first quarter as Towns, New York's Mitchell Robinson and Detroit's Paul Reed all traded shoves and received technical fouls.

The Knicks closed the second quarter on a 23-6 run for a 66-53 half-time lead, with Anunoby netting eight points and Bridges seven in the spurt.

Detroit answered with a 20-9 run to open the third quarter, pulling within 75-73, but the Knicks responded with a 9-2 run on the way to a 93-83 lead entering the fourth quarter.

A 12-4 Pistons run lifted Detroit within 108-105 with 2:07 remaining but back-to-back Brunson baskets lifted New York ahead 112-105 with 59 seconds remaining and the Knicks held off Detroit to the finish.

Cade Cunningham and Tim Hardaway Jr. each scored 24 points to lead the Pistons.

NBA wins leader Oklahoma City, the Western Conference top seed, tries to seize a 3-0 series lead later at Memphis. Also later will be Denver at the Los Angeles Clippers after they split two games in Denver.

© Agence France-Presse