Detroit beat New York 126-111 on February 19, 2026, at Madison Square Garden. This Knicks vs Detroit Pistons match player stats report covers the latest completed regular-season meeting between both teams.
Detroit entered first in the Eastern Conference at 40-13. New York held third place with a 35-20 record.
The Pistons played without suspended centres Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. Miles McBride remained unavailable following core muscle surgery.
Detroit controlled the shooting comparison, created second-chance points, and produced 68 second-half points. Cade Cunningham directed the result with 42 points and 13 assists.
Match Overview
Detroit secured its third victory over New York during the 2025-26 regular season. The result improved Detroit to 41-13.
New York fell to 35-21 after allowing at least 28 points during every quarter. The game attracted a sellout attendance of 19,812.
| Match detail | Information |
| Date | February 19, 2026 |
| Venue | Madison Square Garden, New York |
| Competition | 2025-26 NBA regular season |
| Final score | Pistons 126, Knicks 111 |
| Detroit record | 41-13 after the game |
| New York record | 35-21 after the game |
| Attendance | 19,812, sellout |
Pre-Match Context
Detroit entered the game with the league’s best record and a three-game winning streak. Its 108.3 defensive rating ranked second.
The Pistons had already beaten New York twice by a combined 69 points. Those victories came at Little Caesars Arena.
New York entered with the league’s third-ranked offensive rating. The Knicks remained involved in a close race for the East’s second through fourth seeds.
New York had a 21-7 home record before this game. However, it had scored only 89.9 points per 100 possessions against Detroit.
Duren served the final game of his suspension. Stewart remained suspended, forcing Paul Reed into Detroit’s starting centre position.
McBride remained out for New York following pelvic and core muscle surgery. OG Anunoby returned from a toe issue and started.
Quarter-by-Quarter Score
Detroit won every quarter and gradually expanded its advantage. The Pistons led by ten points at halftime and eleven entering the fourth.
Their 36-point final quarter prevented New York from establishing a sustained comeback.
| Team | First | Second | Third | Fourth | Final |
| Detroit Pistons | 28 | 30 | 32 | 36 | 126 |
| New York Knicks | 26 | 22 | 31 | 32 | 111 |
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter
Detroit missed nine of its opening ten shots but recovered behind Cunningham. He scored 14 first-quarter points and made three three-pointers.
New York produced 26 points, led briefly, and attacked the paint. Detroit finished the period ahead 28-26.
Second Quarter
Detroit increased its advantage through a 30-point quarter. The Pistons scored the final seven points before halftime.
Ausar Thompson completed that closing sequence with a layup. Detroit entered halftime leading 58-48.
New York missed its final 15 three-point attempts of the half. That perimeter drought limited its response before the break.
Third Quarter
Karl-Anthony Towns converted a putback that reduced Detroit’s lead to 62-60. The basket came with 8:54 remaining.
Detroit answered through its perimeter shooting and transition offence. Ronald Holland II made a three-pointer before adding a reverse layup.
Those consecutive scores moved Detroit ahead 88-75. The Pistons carried a 90-79 lead into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Caris LeVert made a three-pointer that extended Detroit’s lead to 97-81. Daniss Jenkins later produced a putback following a turnover.
That basket created the game’s largest margin at 104-85. Cunningham then reached 40 points with a step-back three-pointer.
His basket placed Detroit ahead 112-97 with 4:37 remaining. New York never reduced the deficit enough to threaten the result.
Team Stats Comparison
Detroit held advantages in field-goal percentage, three-point accuracy, rebounds, assists, and second-chance points.
New York committed three fewer team turnovers. However, its 22.9 percent three-point shooting restricted its scoring throughout the game.
| Statistic | Detroit Pistons | New York Knicks |
| Points | 126 | 111 |
| Field goals | 48-93 | 41-87 |
| Field-goal percentage | 51.6% | 47.1% |
| Three-pointers | 13-30 | 8-35 |
| Three-point percentage | 43.3% | 22.9% |
| Free throws | 17-20 | 21-28 |
| Free-throw percentage | 85.0% | 75.0% |
| Total rebounds | 44 | 38 |
| Offensive rebounds | 11 | 11 |
| Assists | 30 | 24 |
| Team turnovers | 15 | 12 |
| Steals | 9 | 9 |
| Blocks | 8 | 7 |
| Points in the paint | 58 | 56 |
| Second-chance points | 19 | 9 |
| Fast-break points | 18 | 16 |
| Biggest lead | 19 | 7 |
Key Numbers That Decided the Game
The main statistical differences appeared in three-point shooting, second-chance production, and Detroit’s playmaking.
- Detroit shot 43.3 percent from three, while New York converted 22.9 percent.
- The Pistons created 19 second-chance points, compared with nine for the Knicks.
- Detroit recorded 30 assists on 48 made field goals.
- Cunningham contributed 42 points and assisted 13 additional baskets.
- Detroit scored 68 points after halftime, including 36 during the fourth quarter.
Full Box Score: Detroit Pistons
Cunningham accounted for one-third of Detroit’s points while leading every player in assists. Reed scored efficiently after replacing Duren in the lineup.
Detroit used ten players. Every participant scored, and four bench players produced at least seven points.
Detroit Player Production
| Player | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Tobias Harris | 31:35 | 11 | 10 | 5 |
| Ausar Thompson | 30:50 | 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Paul Reed | 29:24 | 18 | 7 | 2 |
| Cade Cunningham | 38:28 | 42 | 8 | 13 |
| Duncan Robinson | 20:40 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Ronald Holland II | 12:10 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| Daniss Jenkins | 18:11 | 8 | 2 | 2 |
| Javonte Green | 20:10 | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| Tolu Smith | 18:29 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Caris LeVert | 20:03 | 8 | 2 | 3 |
Detroit Shooting and Plus-Minus
| Player | FG | Three-pointers | Free throws | Plus-minus |
| Tobias Harris | 4-16 | 1-5 | 2-4 | +17 |
| Ausar Thompson | 4-8 | 0-0 | 2-2 | +10 |
| Paul Reed | 7-9 | 0-1 | 4-4 | +14 |
| Cade Cunningham | 17-34 | 5-11 | 3-3 | +12 |
| Duncan Robinson | 3-6 | 3-6 | 0-0 | +3 |
| Ronald Holland II | 3-3 | 1-1 | 0-0 | -1 |
| Daniss Jenkins | 3-4 | 0-0 | 2-2 | +5 |
| Javonte Green | 2-4 | 1-3 | 4-5 | +4 |
| Tolu Smith | 2-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | +1 |
| Caris LeVert | 3-6 | 2-3 | 0-0 | +10 |
Detroit Defensive and Possession Stats
| Player | Steals | Blocks | Turnovers | Fouls |
| Tobias Harris | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Ausar Thompson | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Paul Reed | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Cade Cunningham | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Duncan Robinson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ronald Holland II | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Daniss Jenkins | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Javonte Green | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Tolu Smith | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Caris LeVert | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Full Box Score: New York Knicks
Brunson led New York’s scoring and playmaking. Towns supplied the team’s only other 20-point performance and collected five offensive rebounds.
Anunoby, Bridges, and Hart combined for 27 points. New York’s ten participating players combined to shoot 8-for-35 from three.
New York Player Production
| Player | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| OG Anunoby | 31:35 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Josh Hart | 27:49 | 11 | 4 | 3 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 30:55 | 21 | 11 | 4 |
| Mikal Bridges | 25:28 | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Jalen Brunson | 37:44 | 33 | 6 | 8 |
| Landry Shamet | 28:14 | 15 | 2 | 2 |
| Mitchell Robinson | 19:10 | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Mohamed Diawara | 8:38 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Jose Alvarado | 20:31 | 6 | 4 | 5 |
| Jeremy Sochan | 9:56 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
New York Shooting and Plus-Minus
| Player | FG | Three-pointers | Free throws | Plus-minus |
| OG Anunoby | 3-13 | 1-8 | 1-2 | +1 |
| Josh Hart | 5-8 | 0-0 | 1-2 | -13 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 7-14 | 1-4 | 6-6 | 0 |
| Mikal Bridges | 4-9 | 0-3 | 0-0 | -6 |
| Jalen Brunson | 12-20 | 3-7 | 6-6 | -9 |
| Landry Shamet | 4-10 | 3-8 | 4-6 | -13 |
| Mitchell Robinson | 2-4 | 0-0 | 3-6 | -15 |
| Mohamed Diawara | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -6 |
| Jose Alvarado | 3-8 | 0-5 | 0-0 | -12 |
| Jeremy Sochan | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -2 |
New York Defensive and Possession Stats
| Player | Steals | Blocks | Turnovers | Fouls |
| OG Anunoby | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Josh Hart | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Mikal Bridges | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Jalen Brunson | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 |
| Landry Shamet | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Mitchell Robinson | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Mohamed Diawara | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jose Alvarado | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Jeremy Sochan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Game Leaders and Top Performers
Cade Cunningham
Cunningham scored 42 points on 17-for-34 shooting. He also recorded 13 assists, eight rebounds, two blocks, and five three-pointers.
He scored 14 points during the first quarter. His fourth-quarter three-pointer moved him past 40 points and restored a 15-point lead.
This was Cunningham’s third 40-point game of the season. He also recorded his 28th double-double.
Jalen Brunson
Brunson led New York with 33 points and eight assists. He shot 12-for-20 overall and made all six free throws.
He also collected six rebounds and two steals. His six turnovers represented half of New York’s individual player turnovers.
Paul Reed
Reed started at centre because Duren remained suspended. He scored 18 points on 7-for-9 shooting.
Reed added seven rebounds, three blocks, and one steal. Detroit outscored New York by 14 points during his minutes.
Karl-Anthony Towns
Towns finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds. He made all six free throws and collected five offensive rebounds.
His third-quarter putback reduced Detroit’s lead to two points. Detroit answered before the Knicks could equalise.
Top Performers Summary
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Cade Cunningham | Detroit | 42 | 8 | 13 |
| Jalen Brunson | New York | 33 | 6 | 8 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | New York | 21 | 11 | 4 |
| Paul Reed | Detroit | 18 | 7 | 2 |
| Tobias Harris | Detroit | 11 | 10 | 5 |
Starting Lineups
Detroit replaced Duren with Reed at centre. The Pistons surrounded Cunningham with two forwards, Reed and perimeter shooter Duncan Robinson.
New York used its regular five-man group after Anunoby received clearance to play.
| Position | Detroit Pistons | New York Knicks |
| Forward | Tobias Harris | OG Anunoby |
| Forward | Ausar Thompson | Josh Hart |
| Centre | Paul Reed | Karl-Anthony Towns |
| Guard | Cade Cunningham | Mikal Bridges |
| Guard | Duncan Robinson | Jalen Brunson |
Injury and Availability Report
Detroit’s two unavailable centres were serving league suspensions rather than recovering from injuries. Reed replaced Duren in the starting lineup.
New York played without McBride after pelvic and core muscle surgery. Anunoby had carried a toe-related game-time designation but started.
Players assigned to the G League are excluded because they were not regular injury absences.
| Player | Injury or reason | Status |
| Jalen Duren | League suspension | Out |
| Isaiah Stewart | League suspension | Out |
| Miles McBride | Pelvic injury, core muscle surgery | Out |
| OG Anunoby | Toe issue | Game-time decision, played |
Duren’s absence moved Reed into a larger role. Stewart’s suspension removed another frontcourt defender and rebounder from Detroit’s rotation.
Reed provided 18 points and three blocks. Detroit still won the rebounding comparison 44-38.
Season Series and Head-to-Head
Detroit completed a 3-0 regular-season sweep and won those games by 84 combined points.
The result extended Detroit’s regular-season winning streak over New York to six games. New York had won the previous 16 meetings.
The Knicks had defeated Detroit 4-2 during the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs.
| Meeting | Location or stage | Winner | Score |
| 2025 playoffs, Game 1 | New York | Knicks | 123-112 |
| 2025 playoffs, Game 2 | New York | Pistons | 100-94 |
| 2025 playoffs, Game 3 | Detroit | Knicks | 118-116 |
| 2025 playoffs, Game 4 | Detroit | Knicks | 94-93 |
| 2025 playoffs, Game 5 | New York | Pistons | 106-103 |
| 2025 playoffs, Game 6 | Detroit | Knicks | 116-113 |
| January 5, 2026 | Detroit | Pistons | 121-90 |
| February 6, 2026 | Detroit | Pistons | 118-80 |
| February 19, 2026 | New York | Pistons | 126-111 |
Eastern Conference Standings
Detroit entered first in the East and six games ahead of New York. The Knicks entered third in a close three-team seeding race.
The result increased Detroit’s record to 41-13. New York moved to 35-21 while remaining among the leading Eastern teams.
| Team | East position | Pre-game record | Post-game record | Pre-game games behind |
| Detroit Pistons | First | 40-13 | 41-13 | 0 |
| New York Knicks | Third | 35-20 | 35-21 | 6.0 |
Broadcast and Stream Information
The game started at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Prime Video carried the national stream, while MSG served New York’s local audience.
New York radio coverage aired on 880 ESPN. Detroit radio coverage aired through 97.1 FM The Ticket.
| Coverage type | Platform |
| Start time | 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time |
| National stream | Prime Video |
| New York local coverage | MSG Network and Gotham Sports App |
| New York radio | 880 ESPN New York |
| Detroit radio | 97.1 FM The Ticket |
Conclusion
Detroit completed its regular-season sweep by maintaining consistent scoring across all four quarters.
Its three-point accuracy and second-chance production created separation. Cunningham’s scoring and passing controlled Detroit’s half-court offence.
New York remained third in the East but finished the season series without a victory. Its perimeter shooting limited several attempted responses.
Detroit was scheduled to visit Chicago next. New York was scheduled to host Houston in its following game.
For more match updates, read: Bengals vs Pittsburgh Steelers Match Player Stats
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the Knicks versus Pistons game?
Detroit defeated New York 126-111 at Madison Square Garden on February 19, 2026. Detroit improved to 41-13 after the result.
Who scored the most points in the game?
Cade Cunningham led all players with 42 points. He made 17 field goals and five three-pointers during 38 minutes.
What were Cade Cunningham’s complete statistics?
Cunningham recorded 42 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds, two blocks, one steal, and five turnovers. His plus-minus was positive 12.
How many points did Jalen Brunson score?
Brunson scored 33 points on 12-for-20 shooting. He added eight assists, six rebounds, two steals, and six turnovers.
How did each team perform from three-point range?
Detroit made 13 of 30 three-pointers for 43.3 percent. New York made eight of 35 attempts for 22.9 percent.
Which important players missed the game?
Detroit missed suspended centres Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. New York guard Miles McBride remained out following core muscle surgery.
Did Detroit sweep the regular-season series?
Yes. Detroit won all three 2025-26 meetings by a combined 84 points and extended its regular-season streak to six victories.
