N.Y. Knicks: Bockers Motor Through Detroit Pistons

From the desk: KICKING CANS DOWN 33rd STREET WITH JIMMY

SUNDAY

Knicks  109

Pistons  90

FINAL

Knicks Win Third Straight; Improve to Game Over Par

Break up the Knicks, who won their third in a row, and the fourth in their last five games to climb one game over .500 for the first time since Jan. 8 when they owned a 5-4 record.

Once again Julius Randle leads the floor with 25 points on 10/18 from the floor and 2/3 from the line and a game-high six assists.  He finished with a game-high plus-21, six assists, and eight rebounds.  Jerami Grant led the Pistons with 21 points in 31 minutes but got canceled out by RJ Barrett's 21 points on 8/13 from the field and 3/3 from the line in 35 minutes.  Making yet another start, Derrick Rose was 6/14 from the field including 2/3 from behind the arc for 14 points with five assists.

Nerlens Noel continues playing big minutes, clocking in a game-high 40 minutes with eight points and a game-high eleven rebounds.

Alec Burks led the bench effort with 16 points and three assists in 26 minutes, and Immanuel Quickley was 4/9 from the field and 3/3 from the line for twelve points in 16 minutes.  Obi Toppin was afforded 19 minutes but only added four points and four rebounds.

Sunday marks the 13th time this season the Knicks have limited their opponent to 100 points or less.  The Knicks remain the stingiest team in the league, limiting opponents to just 104.4 points per game entering Sunday's action.

Their shooting continues improving as well.  Against Detroit, they shot 51.2% from the field and 50% from three.  Against the Pacers, the Knicks shot 49.4% and a likewise 50% from three.  Before that, they shot 58.6% against the Kings ad 52.8% from behind the arc.