Pistons earn first Playoff win since 2008, Leonard topples Nuggets

The Detroit Pistons defeated the New York Knicks on Monday to end a streak of 15 straight losses in the NBA playoffs, while Kawhi Leonard returned to his best to lead the Clippers against the Nuggets.

Both first-round series are now tied 1-1, with Game 3 on Thursday.

In New York, the Pistons won a thrilling Game 2 against the Knicks, 100-94, thanks to their star player, Cade Cunningham.

The young point guard led the way with 33 points and 12 rebounds in Detroit's first Playoff win since the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Celtics.

Since then, the iconic "Bad Boys," three-time NBA champions, were swept in the first round in 2009, 2016 and 2019, accumulating a streak of 15 consecutive losses.

Cunningham, in his first postseason appearance, was unstoppable in the fast break and attacking the Knicks' zone, stuffing defenders who took turns slowing him down with personal fouls.

The All-Star point guard shot 10-12 from the free-throw line, and the Pistons had 34 total shots from the charity stripe, compared to 19 for the Knicks.

"Obviously huge discrepancy in free throws. Huge. I've got to take a look at that," Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau claimed.

Jalen Brunson was the game's leading scorer with 37 points for New York, while Dominican-American Karl-Anthony Towns was held to 10 points, none of them in the second half.

The home side always trailed, but the memory of the Knicks' 21-0 run that suddenly turned the first game around hung in the air.

The Knicks cut an 11-point deficit with six minutes remaining to tie it at 94 with just over a minute to go.

The Madison Square Garden stands roared in support of their players, but Brunson and Mikal Bridges missed two 3-pointers in the final minute that would have tied the score, and German point guard Dennis Schröder sealed the game from the free throw line.

"We approached it with a business-like mentality and learned from the fourth quarter the other night, but we just did what we were supposed to do," Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the game.

Kawhi beats Jokic

In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Clippers also scored an away win by beating the Denver Nuggets 105-102, with a 39-point performance from Kawhi Leonard.

Weighed down in recent years by injuries, Leonard once again looked like the star who led the Spurs and Raptors to titles in the past decade.

The 33-year-old forward posted his highest scoring output of the season, on an astounding 15-19 (79%) from the field, including four 3-pointers.

James Harden ceded the offensive role to him this time and was limited to a more humble 18 points and 7 assists.

On the other side, Serbian center Nikola Jokic recorded a triple double of 26 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists but also committed 7 turnovers and looked uncomfortable throughout this second battle against a tough Clippers team.

After Saturday's opener, in which Denver defended its home court in overtime, both teams fought another thrilling duel 18 lead changes that was resolved in a heart-stopping finish.

A 3-pointer by Jamal Murray (23 points) tied the score at 100 going into the final two minutes, but Norman Powell responded with another 3-pointer to put the Clippers ahead.

In the final minute, Leonard capped his display with a layup and a steal off a pass from Jokic to seal the victory.

"Great guys around [Jokic], [Jamal] Murray and they're all playing great. Tough fight. That's what the Playoffs are about," summed up the forward.