As Duren cut-off Brunson’s lane, Bridges created one of his own: His man, Malik Beasley, turned his head towards the paint, and Bridges darted to the top of the key. An escape hatch for Brunson, then trapped in no man’s land.

Considering the role they are supposed to assume and the price the New York Knicks paid for them, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges were no-shows when it mattered most in Game 2 of their first-round series against the Detroit Pistons on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.