The Detroit Pistons aren’t an easy opponent by any means, as they feature Blake Griffin, Mason Plumlee, and Killian Hayes. However, the New York Knicks managed to keep them to just 84 points in the first preseason game of the season. Five Knicks had double-digit points, including Julius Randle, Obi Toppin, Nerlens Noel, Elfrid Payton, and RJ Barrett.
However, it was their defense that rose to the occasion in the contest, as the Knicks failed to breach 100 points in an offensively stout league. Their suffocating defense was the talk of the night, though, as Thibodeau frequently called timeout after missed defensive assignments and preached to his players the importance of protecting the basket.