For the first time in this fun series, the Knicks played with a lead in Thursday’s Game 3 and played like they deserved to win. It started in the opening quarter, with Mikal Bridges or Josh Hart frequently bringing up the ball while providing Brunson a respite — while Karl-Anthony Towns soaked up the majority of scoring opportunities.

The Pistons have delivered on their claims of mimicking the Bad Boys era of Detroit basketball, playing a physical and sometimes over-the-borderline style. But in Game 3, in an arena that seemed more suited to a WWE match than an NBA game, the Knicks matched them push for push, shove for shove.