Pistons Crush Knicks 118-80 as Two-Way Star Daniss Jenkins Delivers Career Performance

Daniss Jenkins put together the performance of his young career at the perfect time, scoring 18 points to lead the Detroit Pistons to a dominant 118-80 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night at Little Caesars Arena. The blowout win ended New York's eight-game winning streak in stunning fashion. Jenkins, playing in his 42nd game of the season, has now reached the maximum number of games allowed under his two-way contract. The Pistons must decide whether to convert his deal to a standard NBA contract to keep him on the roster for the remainder of the season. His clutch performance against one of the Eastern Conference's hottest teams made a compelling case for his promotion. The Knicks entered the game riding high after eight consecutive victories, but they were completely outplayed from start to finish. All-Star guard Jalen Brunson endured a nightmare shooting performance, finishing with just 12 points on 4-for-20 shooting, including a dismal 0-for-8 from three-point range. The Pistons' defense smothered New York's offensive flow all night. Detroit received balanced scoring contributions throughout the lineup, with Tobias Harris and Isaiah Stewart each adding 15 points. The Pistons also dominated from beyond the arc, converting 10 of 18 three-point attempts (55.6 percent), while holding the Knicks to just 5 of 19 (26.3 percent). This marked a significant role reversal, as Detroit normally ranks among the league's worst three-point shooting teams. Mikal Bridges led the Knicks with 19 points in the losing effort, but New York struggled to find any offensive rhythm against Detroit's aggressive defense. The 38-point margin of defeat represented the Knicks' worst loss during their recent stretch of strong play and raised questions about their ability to maintain consistency against determined opponents. The victory provided a significant confidence boost for the Pistons, who have shown flashes of potential throughout the season but struggled with consistency. Jenkins' emergence as a reliable scoring threat gives Detroit another weapon as they continue to develop their young core and build toward future competitiveness in the Eastern Conference.