Knicks Blow Out Pistons 102-89 Despite Kristaps Porzingis Sitting

102. 27. 89. 64. Final

Saturday night the New York Knicks played without rookie sensation Kristaps Porzingis, who is suffering from a lower left leg contusion. X-rays were taken on the lower left leg, coming back negative per Knicks public relations. So everyone can breathe a sigh of relief.

Derrick Williams stepped into the starting lineup, but was relatively unimpactful. Who was impactful though was Arron Afflalo and Robin Lopez! The two combined to score the first 17 points for New York, it wasn’t until the two minute mark of the first quarter that another Knick finally scored.

Both players were on fire from the field, especially Afflalo; who a perfect 5-for-5 in the opening period. Including a sick crossover, where he broke Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ankles! And then got the friendly bounce from mid-range.

New York only led by one-point after the opening period, but a 9-0 run to start the second quarter gave the Knicks a early double-digit lead; 31-21. New York would lead by as many as 15 points in the first half, thanks to a 12-2 run to end the second quarter in which the Pistons were held to one field goal in the final three minutes.

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New York really played well defensively Saturday night, after a poor performance on that end Friday night. The Knicks held the Pistons to 37% shooting in the first half, while shooting an astonishing 73.7% in the second quarter. New York outscored Detroit 35-21 in the second quarter!

The Pistons exchanged baskets with the Knicks for most of the third quarter, but back-to-back three-pointers by Steve Blake to end the period started to shift momentum in Detroit’s favor. Blake’s three-pointers cut the Knicks’ lead down to single digits heading into the last quarter; 79-70.

A mini 7-0 run by the Pistons to start the fourth quarter got Detroit within four points; 81-77. That would be as close as the Pistons would get though because as with much of the night, Afflalo answered – knocking down a shot from 25 feet and then another one from 18 feet. This pushed the Knicks’ lead back up to double-digits with 8:12 remaining in the game; 88-77.

Afflalo curls off the screen & sinks the jumper! Afflalo now w/ 20p & the #Knicks push their lead to 92-79. pic.twitter.com/9TRZfN3fOZ
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 6, 2016

Then superstar Carmelo Anthony proceeded to put the game on ice, scoring eight of his 24 points in the fourth quarter. Anthony collected his 21st double-double of the season Saturday night with 24 points and 10 rebounds.