Stephen A. Smith Walks Off ‘First Take’ After Blasting Knicks for Getting ‘Punk’d’

Overview

• On First Take, Smith declared, “It’s over. They ain’t going to no damn Finals,” accused the Knicks of being “punk’d,” and then left the set in disgust.
• The Pistons’ win at Madison Square Garden pushed them to 41-13 and dropped the Knicks to 35-21.
• Jalen Brunson led New York with 33 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 11 rebounds in the defeat.
• Smith argued the Knicks can only reach the Finals if another team eliminates Detroit first.
• Viewer reaction skewed toward calling the moment performative for a February game, even as some commentary questioned New York’s toughness and Karl-Anthony Towns’ current form.