The New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons have a rivalry that doesn’t get the same attention as Celtics-Lakers or Bulls-Knicks, but it’s packed with physical battles, clutch shots, and unforgettable drama. While most fans remember the Bad Boys vs. Pat Riley’s Knicks in the ’90s, there are hidden gems in this matchup that rarely get discussed.
Here are five underrated moments from Knicks vs. Pistons history that deserve a spotlight.
1. The Night John Starks Dropped 38 on the Bad Boys (1993)
📅 Date: February 16, 1993
🔥 Why It’s Forgotten: Overshadowed by playoff battles
- In a regular-season game at The Palace, John Starks went nuclear, scoring 38 points on 7-of-10 three-point shooting.
- The Pistons (still featuring Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars) had no answer for his explosiveness.
- The Knicks won 112-90, but this performance is rarely mentioned in Starks’ legacy.
2. Chauncey Billups’ Game-Winner at MSG (2006)
📅 Date: January 7, 2006
🎥 Why It’s Forgotten: Buried in a midseason game
- With 3.2 seconds left, Chauncey Billups hit a step-back three over Stephon Marbury to win 109-106.
- The shot was so cold that even Knicks fans gave him a standing ovation.
- One of the most clutch shots in Pistons-Knicks history, but rarely replayed.
3. The Brawl That Almost Happened (1997)
📅 Date: March 23, 1997
💥 Why It’s Forgotten: No punches landed, so it faded
- After a hard foul by Rick Mahorn on Charles Oakley, both benches cleared.
- Larry Johnson and Grant Long got into a shouting match, but refs and coaches prevented a full brawl.
- If this had escalated, it could’ve been as infamous as Pacers-Pistons ‘Malice at the Palace’.
4. Derrick Rose’s Emotional Return to Detroit (2021)
📅 Date: May 3, 2021
❤️ Why It’s Forgotten: Knicks were in a playoff push
- Derrick Rose, traded from Detroit to New York midseason, returned to Little Caesars Arena.
- The Pistons played a tribute video, and Rose got a standing ovation before dropping 14 points and 5 assists in a Knicks win.
- A rare classy moment in a usually heated rivalry.
5. The Time Jeremy Lin Outdueled Brandon Knight (2012)
📅 Date: February 29, 2012 (Leap Day Game)
📈 Why It’s Forgotten: Linsanity overshadowed everything
- In the peak of “Linsanity,” Jeremy Lin dropped 21 points and 7 assists against rookie Brandon Knight.
- The highlight? Lin crossing over Knight so badly that he fell to the floor before Lin hit the jumper.
- One of the most embarrassing (but hilarious) moments in Pistons-Knicks history.
Final Thoughts
While Knicks-Pistons doesn’t have the glamour of other rivalries, these five forgotten moments prove it’s been must-watch basketball for decades.
Which moment stands out to you? Let us know in the comments!