Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley appeared deflated after the loss to the Knicks in Game 6. While recalling the result of the game and the series, he shared his thoughts on this Pistons team and its future. He said:
“It’s been us against the world, our team. So, for us to stay together, for us to build on it, obviously the pain hurts. AT [Ausar] was pissed. He is the best defender in the world. He felt like he should have gotten a stop on that last possession. I’m the best shooter in the world, and I feel like I should’ve gotten the best shot on that last possession.”
“With that being said,” he continued. “You can’t dwell on this too much. You’ve got to get ready for the next season. It’s my favorite part of the season – the offseason, where I get better. Just got to stay in tune with the guys and see if we can get better this whole summer.”
Beasley gave Ausar Thompson his props as a defender, something even Knicks star Jalen Brunson did. Thompson found himself in an unfavorable position guarding the NBA’s clutch player of the year. However, the second-year forward did his best.
Thompson was put on a highlight reel at the end of Game 6 by Brunson, falling victim to the guard’s vicious change-of-direction dribbles. After having his ankles broken, Thompson could only watch as the Knicks star reset his feet to fire a clutch three-pointer to win Game 6 with a 116-113 scoreline.
JALEN BRUNSON FROM 3 TO WIN IT FOR THE KNICKS 🔥🔥🔥
KNICKS ARE ADVANCING TO EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIS!!!#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google pic.twitter.com/sGmjcWhNdj
— NBA (@NBA) May 2, 2025
Malik Beasley ended the game with 20 points, two rebounds, and two assists. Unfortunately, the guard contributed zero points in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Ausar Thompson had 17 points, six rebounds, three steals, and two blocks on the night, along with an assist.
Despite Thompson’s stellar defensive work, the Detroit Pistons saw their postseason come to a crushing end with a 4-2 loss to the Knicks in the first round. Regardless, this season has been nothing short of incredible for the team.
After years of languishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference table, the Pistons made their first meaningful playoff charge this season, led by their star, Cade Cunningham. With talented players such as Thompson and Jalen Duren forming the core of the team, Detroit is poised to be a team worth watching in the coming seasons.
Having recorded their first playoff win since 2008, the Pistons are barely scratching the surface of what they are capable of achieving in the coming years. With lots of room and time for development, Detroit could be a perennial playoff side soon.
This offseason will be an interesting one for the Pistons. With a lot of free cap space, the team can make very interesting movies to bolster their roster strength. Surrounding themselves with the right veterans will be vital as well. Considering that Beasley will be a free agent in the summer, it will be interesting to see how Detroit approaches free agency and the offseason to address roster issues as well.
