Knicks' Alvarado Dismisses Regular Season Losses to Pistons Ahead of Playoffs

Knicks guard says 'Playoffs are a whole different ballgame' after Detroit's season sweep

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The New York Knicks suffered a 126-111 defeat to the Detroit Pistons, completing a season sweep for the Pistons. Despite the regular season struggles, Knicks guard Jose Alvarado emphasized that the playoffs will be a 'whole different ballgame' and that the team is not focused on their previous losses to Detroit.

Why it matters

The Knicks' inability to solve the Pistons during the regular season raises concerns about their ability to compete against Detroit in a potential playoff matchup. However, Alvarado's comments suggest the Knicks are adopting a fresh mindset focused on the postseason, rather than dwelling on past defeats.

The details

Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 42 points, 13 assists and 8 rebounds, continuing his dominant play against the Knicks this season. The Knicks struggled from three-point range, shooting just 23% on 35 attempts. Despite the regular season sweep, the Knicks remain in third place in the Eastern Conference, while the Pistons lead the conference at 41-13.

  • The Knicks lost to the Pistons 126-111 on Thursday, February 20, 2026.

The players

Jose Alvarado

A guard for the New York Knicks who emphasized that the playoffs will be a 'whole different ballgame' compared to the regular season.

Cade Cunningham

The star player for the Detroit Pistons who scored 42 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and dished out 13 assists in the win over the Knicks.

Jalen Brunson

A guard for the New York Knicks who had a strong individual game, scoring 33 points and adding 8 assists.

Karl-Anthony Towns

A player for the New York Knicks who acknowledged that the Pistons' regular season success could build their confidence heading into a potential playoff matchup, while also providing the Knicks with valuable film to identify effective strategies.

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What they’re saying

“Playoffs is a whole different ballgame. We're not going to sit here and say, 'oh, they beat us in the regular season.' We're not thinking like that.”

— Jose Alvarado, Knicks guard (theconwaybulletin.com)

“It's a new year.”

— Jalen Brunson (theconwaybulletin.com)

“It builds a confidence going into a series. You also have great film to see what did work.”

— Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks player (theconwaybulletin.com)

The takeaway

Despite the Knicks' regular season struggles against the Pistons, Jose Alvarado's comments suggest the team is focused on the playoffs and not dwelling on past defeats. The Knicks possess the talent and experience to overcome their regular season setbacks, but will need to make significant adjustments to counter Cade Cunningham and the Pistons' familiarity with their vulnerabilities.