Knicks, Pistons get into early Game 3 dustup as physicality turns up a notch

DETROIT — The Knicks heard all the chatter about their toughness, or lack thereof.

They came out for Game 3 determined to bully the bullies. 

With just under a minute left in the first quarter of their clash against the Pistons Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena, Mitchell Robinson and Paul Reed got in a dust-up before Karl-Anthony Towns came in and shoved Reed.

Reed aggressively tried to go back at Towns, but was held back by officials. 

Robinson and Reed were issued double technicals, while Towns was issued an additional technical as well.

That gave the Pistons one free throw, but Cade Cunningham subsequently missed it. 

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The Knicks led 30-27 at the time and finished the first quarter up 33-27. 

Earlier Thursday morning, Tobias Harris took a slight dig at the Knicks’ toughness. 

“It’s a different dynamic, for sure,” Harris, who also played against the Knicks in the playoffs last year with the 76ers, said of how this year’s Knicks team compares to last year’s. “That’s all I’m gonna say. … It’s part of our game plan.”