Brunson could not re-enter for the stretch run, when he so often thrives. It cost the Knicks the opportunity to close out this series, which shifts to Detroit for Game 6.

It’s also time for Tom Thibodeau to amp up the two-man game with Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT showed off his range with clutch shots in Detroit earlier in the series, and the Knicks’ easiest path to points surely involves more of that pick-and-pop action.

On Tuesday night, the Knicks took the floor at MSG in hopes of putting the Pistons away for good. Brunson has been leading the charge in a big way, scoring 30-plus points in each