Heroes, zeros from Knicks’ Game 2 loss to Pistons: Dennis Schröder hit the clutch shots

Heroes and zeros from the Knicks’ 100-94 Game 2 loss to the Pistons on Monday:

Hero

After a rough Game 1 in which he shot 8 of 21 from the field, Cade Cunningham bounced back with a huge Game 2 to carry the Pistons’ scoring load.

He got into the paint at will and finished with 33 points on 11-for-21 shooting.

Zero

OG Anunoby was magnificent on both ends of the floor in Game 1, but struggled on both in Game 2.

He finished with just 10 points, missed all four of his 3-point attempts and could not contain Cunningham the same way he did in Game 1.

OG Anunoby reacts during the Knicks’ Game 2 loss April 21. Charles Wenzelberg

Unsung hero

Dennis Schröder finished with 20 points and hit key shots down the stretch, including a 3-pointer with 55.1 seconds left in the game to give the Pistons a three-point lead after the Knicks had tied it.

Dennis Schröder collected 20 points for the Pistons during their Game 2 win April 21. Charles Wenzelberg

Key stat

28: Number of free throws the Pistons made on 34 attempts, while the Knicks attempted a total of 19 — many of which came late — and made 16.

Follow The Post’s coverage of the Knicks in the 2025 NBA Playoffs

• Knicks’ furious rally falls just short as heartbreaking Game 2 loss to Pistons evens series
• Knicks’ Game 2 report card: Trio of stars come up small
• Pistons’ Cade Cunningham awakens to carve up Knicks, OG Anunoby for monster Game 2
• Vaccaro: Jalen Brunson needs to figure out how to get Knicks’ offense working again

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Quote

“Obviously, huge discrepancy in free throws. Huge. I gotta take a look at that. I don’t understand how on one side, you talk about direct line drives, [Brunson] is getting fouled, it’s not being called. I really don’t give a crap how they call the game, as long as it’s consistent on both sides. If [Cade] Cunningham is driving and there’s marginal contact and he’s getting to the line, then Jalen deserves to be getting to the line. It’s really that simple.”

— Tom Thibodeau on officiating