New York Knicks continue to fight for top 3 seed: One step closer thanks to career night Donte DiVincenzo

The New York Knicks are right on the verge of jumping up to the 3rd seed in the East, and they got even closer tonight after their 124-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden behind Donte DiVincenzo’s huge scoring performance.

The 27-year-old was on fire in this game as he scored a career-high 40 points including 11 made three-pointers. Jalen Brunson had 28 points while Josh Hart recorded a triple-double, finishing with 11 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists. Isaiah Hartenstein contributed 6 points, 10 boards, 5 assists, and 3 blocks.

Marcus Sasser led his team with 24 points and 6 assists. James Wiseman finished with 14 points and 11 assists while Evan Fournier provided 15 points off the bench. Jaden Ivey struggled in this game, scoring just 9 points on 2/14 shooting.

New York improves to 43-28 with this win and now sit just 0.5 games behind the Cavs for the 3rd seed in the East. Getting into the top 3 is massive because the 4th seed will play against the Celtics in the second round of the playoffs (assuming both teams advance).

Boston is by far the toughest matchup to face so avoiding them till the Conference Finals is most likely the preferred option. The Knicks have been successful as of late, going record over their last 10 games but they still are hopeful for the return of key pieces such as Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson. Their next matchup will be on Wednesday against the Toronto Raptors.

Detroit drops to 12-60 with this loss and remain with one of the best odds to land the #1 overall pick in the upcoming draft. They are looking to turn the corner soon and hopefully by adding another top prospect this summer, they will find a bit more success next season. The Pistons are on a 7-game losing streak and will face off against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.