DETROIT — An eight-game winning streak didn’t just end Friday night.
It was run out of the gym.
The Pistons reiterated their position atop the East with a 118-80 curb stomp of the short-handed Knicks, who were a disaster on offense while losing for the first time since Jan. 19.
Jalen Brunson low-lighted the evening while shooting just 4-for-20 with 12 points, appearing exhausted after carrying the Knicks in a double-OT thriller two nights earlier.
Brunson was locked down by Ausar Thompson and sat the entire fourth quarter alongside his fellow starters, with coach Mike Brown waving the white flag earlier than ever.
Overall, they shot just 35.8 percent — including 24.2 percent on 3s — with James Dolan making the trip to Detroit and watching the ugliness before leaving his courtside seat for the fourth quarter.
It was the fewest points scored by the Knicks this season, by far.
Their previous low was 90 points — also in Detroit.
The Pistons (38-13), who are now 5 ½ games ahead of the Knicks (33-19) for first in the East, were faster, stronger and more motivated — just like their last matchup about a month ago.
They clearly wanted to send another message after getting eliminated by New York in the first round of last year’s playoffs.
Message received.
Detroit didn’t even need a big night from star Cade Cunningham (11 points, 22 minutes) to dominate.
The Knicks, meanwhile, carried the posture of punting this game.
Jose Alvarado, the new acquisition, didn’t join the team in Detroit.
He’ll likely meet the Knicks in Boston for Sunday’s game.
Karl-Anthony Towns sat because of an eye laceration.
OG Anunoby was a late scratch because of toe soreness.
Josh Hart started but limped off the court in the second half and never returned.
So the Knicks started rookie Mohamed Diawara and Mitchell Robinson and their offense fell off a cliff.
Of course, the Pistons — a team that applies physicality and athleticism at levels above the Knicks — had a lot to do with the struggles.
In two games against the Pistons, the Knicks have averaged 85 points, with their total margin of defeat at 69.
It’s a potentially ominous sign considering the Knicks and Pistons could meet in the playoffs, whether in the second round or conference finals.
But coach Mike Brown doesn’t view it that way.
“I don’t look at regular-season games as a barometer because, come playoffs, it’s a different basketball game,” he said. “Especially when you talk about a seven-game series. I’ve been with different teams that went to the finals or played deep in the playoffs that lost the season series to teams and still won in the playoffs.
“I look at it as it’s our next game,” he added. “It’s very important. These guys handed our lunch to us last time. And so, we need to come fighting. Those are things I’m looking for tonight.
“I don’t look at it like if we win, hey, we’re going to get them come playoff time. Or if they win, they’re going to get us come playoff time.”
The Knicks can fall back on history if we ever get to another playoff series against the Pistons.
They were swept in the regular season by the Celtics last year but toppled them in the second round.
So there’s indeed hope no matter what happens in the regular season.
But there’s no question the Knicks have looked utterly overmatched by Detroit in two ugly games.
On Friday, they managed just 17 points in the first quarter and 42 after the second.
They trailed by 21 at the break, which ended, appropriately, with Brunson getting rejected at the buzzer by Paul Reed.
For the Knicks, it was awful to that point and didn’t get better.
