The Knicks avoid joining the 1969-70 Celtics with a 111-97 win over the Pistons

The New York Knicks fell behind by as many as 13 points on Tuesday night while sitting one loss from an unwanted record. A 37-13 third quarter carried them past the previously unbeaten Detroit Pistons 111-97 at Madison Square Garden.

A loss would have dropped the defending champions to 0-4. According to the Associated Press, only the 1969-70 Boston Celtics have started a season that way after winning a title. New York had already lost to Philadelphia, Boston and Orlando, matching the three losses it took in 19 playoff games on the way to the championship.

Detroit scored 38 points in the first quarter, and Jalen Brunson, who came in shooting 39% for the season, went 1 for 9 in the first half. The Knicks still led 51-50 at the break after a 26-12 second quarter.

Brunson then made his first three shots of the third quarter, and Mikal Bridges, who hadn't made a 3-pointer all season, hit one during an 11-0 run that made it 62-50. Bridges finished 4 of 8 from deep. Karl-Anthony Towns scored seven straight New York points later in the period, and Josh Hart's 3 at the buzzer made it 88-63. The quarter ended 37-13.

Towns finished with 27 points and 20 rebounds, though he also had seven turnovers. Brunson scored 23 on 5-of-18 shooting and lived at the line, making 13 of 16 free throws. That was enough on a night Detroit made 9 of 37 threes and 14 of 24 free throws.

The Pistons beat New York three times last regular season by 31, 38 and 15 points and had won six straight regular-season meetings, according to the AP. They were playing without center Jalen Duren, and Paul Reed filled in with 22 points. Cade Cunningham had 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

The Knicks are 1-3, and Brunson's shooting and Towns' turnovers are the things to watch next. They visit Chicago on Wednesday night, and Detroit, now 3-1, hosts Charlotte.