There was a lot of talk after the first two games of the Knicks being soft. Of them not matching the Pistons’ intensity, focus and physicality after they were outplayed for the most part in the first two contests of this best-of-seven, opening-round playoff series at the Garden.

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 31 points and Jalen Brunson added 30, including 12 in the fourth quarter, to give the visiting New York Knicks a 118-116 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 31 points, Jalen Brunson had 30 and the New York Knicks held on for a 118-116 win over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round series. OG Anunoby added 22 points for New York.