Image Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Pistons vs Knicks Turns Chaotic: Paul Reed & Karl-Anthony Towns Brawl Brings Back ‘Bad Boys’ Vibes

Image Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Things got heated once again in the Pistons vs. Knicks series. The playoff matchup between the two sides has had something or the other flaring moment in every game. In game three of the NBA Playoffs 2025, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson collided with Paul Reed.

With dying seconds of the first quarter, Mitchell Robinson held his ground when Paul Reed crashed into him. It’s still unclear what provoked Paul Reed to barrel into Robinson, but the Knicks’ big man wasn’t having any of it. The Knicks Center didn’t like the push, and he retaliated against his counterpart. To make matters worse, Karl-Anthony Towns, who was passing just nearby, joined in the tussle.

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS VS. PAUL REED. 🍿

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— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 24, 2025

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He tried to protect his teammate and pushed away Paul Reed. The Detroit Pistons Center got further frustrated with the Knicks duo teaming on him. The chain of heated events led the officials, staff members, and players to step in and separate Karl-Anthony Towns, Paul Reed, and Mitchell Robinson.

Referees took a long time to assess the events by looking at the replays on the video monitor. The Pistons are increasingly looking more and more like the good old days of the Bad Boys Pistons era.

Early Techs to Discipline the Pistons vs. Knicks Game

The third game didn’t begin calmly as tensions flared up due to the Karl-Anthony Towns, Paul Reed, and Mitchell Robinson incident. The officials gave one technical foul to each of the three players involved in the scuffle.

This also meant that both teams had to tread carefully as three technicals were awarded in the first 12 minutes of the game itself. The New York Knicks especially got two technical fouls on their players. Despite that, the pressure was more on the Detroit Pistons. With Center Isaiah Stewart out of the game, Paul Reed had to keep his head in the game.

The Pistons lacked a big center on the court with Stewart’s absence. And Paul Reed checking out of the game would have made things worse for the side. Pistons’ coach JB Bickerstaff tried to calm Paul Reed down during the first quarter break. The messaging worked as Reed kept calm after the incident and played the game without getting another technical foul.