Jalen Brunson scored 32 points and Karl-Anthony Towns delivered two crucial late baskets as the New York Knicks held off the Detroit Pistons, 94-93, to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series yesterday (Philippine time).

The game ended amid controversy, the Pistons protesting that Tim Hardaway, Jr. was fouled by Josh Hart on a last-gasp three-point attempt to win it.

Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff was fuming along with Pistons fans but had no challenge remaining and the Knicks will have a chance to close out the best-of-seven first-round series at home on Tuesday, April 29.

The Pistons, fueled by a 25-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double from Cade Cunningham, erased an early 16-point deficit and led by 11 early in the fourth quarter.

Brunson, who departed briefly after tweaking his right ankle late in the third quarter, returned to score 15 points in the final period as the Knicks clawed back.

Towns, who finished with 27 points, pulled them within two points with a fiercely contested basket then drilled a three-pointer that put New York up 94-93 with 47 seconds left.

The Pistons had two chances to win it, Cunningham missing before Hardaway came up empty. (Agence France-Presse)