Tom Thibodeau voiced strong frustration after the New York Knicks’ 100-94 loss to the Detroit Pistons in Game 2, citing a major free-throw disparity as a decisive factor.
“We’ve got to rebound,” Thibodeau said postgame, emphasizing the Knicks’ struggles on the glass throughout the night.
Detroit held a 14–2 free-throw edge in the first half and finished with 34 attempts to New York’s 19, helping them even the series at 1-1.
“There was a huge discrepancy in free throws — huge,” Thibodeau stated. “I don’t understand how on one side, you talk about direct line drives, guys are getting fouled and it’s not being called.”
Thibodeau also raised concerns over the lack of consistency in officiating, saying, “I really don’t give a crap how they call the game — as long as it’s consistent on both sides.”
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 37 points, but New York’s offense sputtered behind him, with OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns each scoring just 10 points after strong Game 1 outings.
Towns didn’t attempt a single shot in the fourth quarter, a situation Thibodeau addressed by saying, “He’s getting touches, but he’s making the right play. If he’s getting double-teamed, I don’t want him just shooting the ball over three people.”
Detroit capitalized behind Cade Cunningham’s 33-point, 12-rebound performance, with the Pistons also receiving 20 points from Dennis Schroder off the bench.
Asked about Cunningham’s impact, Thibodeau responded, “He’s a great player. He got to the line a lot.”
Thibodeau was also critical of New York’s inability to control the boards, noting, “Missed shots are part of the game. But the rebounding — we control that. That’s your effort.”
The Knicks trailed by eight entering the fourth quarter and briefly tied the game on a Josh Hart dunk, but a clutch three-pointer by Schroder with 55 seconds remaining gave Detroit a 97-94 lead.
New York shot 42 percent from the field and just 28.6 percent from three, missing multiple looks down the stretch, including a wide-open attempt by Mikal Bridges.
“It’s the right play,” Thibodeau said. “He shot it good. We didn’t make it.”
The loss halted New York’s momentum after a dominant Game 1 comeback and shifted the series back to Detroit, where the Pistons will host Game 3 on Thursday.
Despite the defeat, Thibodeau maintained focus on adjustments, saying, “Each game is different. You have to reset, whether you win or lose. Reset and get ready for the next one.”
New York finished the regular season 51-31, earning the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, while Detroit surged to sixth after a 44-win turnaround year.
As the postseason pressure builds, Thibodeau stressed the need for composure in the face of adversity: “That’s part of our league. So, make your point and move on. Try to do it during a dead ball.”
