Pistons’ Beasley Plays Mind Games Ahead of Crucial Game 6

DETROIT — Malik Beasley is stirring up the drama as the Detroit Pistons prepare for their pivotal Game 6 against the New York Knicks. He believes his playful jabs at the Knicks could give Detroit a crucial mental edge.

“Mental battle, coach has been preaching this whole year,” Beasley said Thursday morning during a shoot-around. “We’ve gotta be mentally stronger than everybody. I think we are that mentally stronger team.”

After the Pistons’ performance at Madison Square Garden, Beasley trolled Knicks forward Mikal Bridges on social media. In response to a fan’s post claiming Bridges would score 44 points in Game 6, Beasley tweeted, “Minutes?” along with a laughing emoji. When asked about his post the following morning, he replied, “No comment.”

Beasley has also previously taunted the Knicks by suggesting Little Caesars Arena would be more electric than Madison Square Garden. The Pistons’ official social media even featured a picture of him with that very message.

Despite the fun, Beasley doesn’t consider himself a villain. “I’m not an antagonist,” he said. “I’m just having fun. That’s just me, who I am.”

With Game 4 approaching on Sunday, the stakes are high for both teams. The Knicks currently lead the series 3-1 and look to maintain their momentum, while the Pistons aim to capitalize on their home-court advantage.

As the series progresses, every comment and gesture from players can reverberate through the minds of their opponents, adding layers to the competition. It remains to be seen if Beasley’s tactics can tilt the psychological scales in favor of the Pistons for a comeback.