3 fire takeaways from Knicks’ rout over Pistons in preseason opener

It was a painfully slow six months without New York Knicks basketball, but they opened up the 2022-23 season with a bang in the preseason. In a couple of weeks, the Knicks will take on the Pistons in their regular season home-opener, but first, New York handed Detroit a 117-96 loss.

It’s just the preseason, but there was a lot to like about what the Knicks put on display. From Jalen Brunson scoring the first basket to Miles McBride’s peskiness on defense that resulted in six steals, New York put on a show for the basketball-craved fans at Madison Square Garden.

There were more than three things to like about the Knicks’ win, but here are the three biggest positives from New York’s preseason opener.

3 fire takeaways from Knicks’ 117-96 rout over Pistons in preseason opener

3: Isaiah Hartenstein is a true stretch five

This is not a drill, but New York has a center that can hit three-pointers. The Knicks have a true stretch five. No, this is not some sort of cruel joke.

New York’s first move in free agency was signing former Clippers center Isaiah Hartenstein to a two-year, $16 million deal. In 2021-22, he shot 46.7% from the three-point line, but it was on less than half an attempt per game. It’s been known that Hartenstein brings a dynamic to the offense that Mitchell Robinson doesn’t, but he exceeded expectations in his debut.

The seven-foot big man finished with eight points and eight rebounds in 27 minutes, and six of his points came from behind the arc within the span of a minute.

Hartenstein’s versatility was a highlight in his first game with New York as he was all over the floor. After hopping around the league in his first four years in the league, the 24-year-old has a chance to find stability with the Knicks.