Defending champion Knicks earn first win of season over Pistons

The reigning NBA champion New York Knicks beat the Detroit Pistons 111-97 to earn their first win of the season. The Knicks had lost their first three games of the season, and this result ends that run.

The Knicks recovered after trailing by 13 points at the end of the first quarter. Over the next two quarters, they outscored the Pistons 63-25. The Pistons had started the season unbeaten, but this game was their first loss.

Knicks coach Mike Brown said his team had more than three good moments in this game. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns stood out in the lineup. Towns finished the game with 27 points and 20 rebounds. Brunson began to come out of the slump he had fallen into early in the season. In the third quarter, he made his first three shots to start an 11-0 run.

Towns said his team had found its physical style of play and looked like it did last season, but added that they still needed to work to keep improving. The Knicks had already lost more games in their first three this season than they lost in 19 playoff games last season.