DETROIT — The story of a suddenly cohesive unit pummeling an outmatched opponent was told in the opening six minutes.

• Backdoor intercepted on Karl-Anthony Towns’ layup.
• Towns to Jalen Brunson, an over-the-shoulder, no-look pass for a reverse layup.
• A side street from Brunson to OG Anunoby.
• Josh Hart’s song after Mikal Bridges plays.
• Brunson’s backdoor cut off a layup with an assist from Bridges.

At the end of this offensive clinic, the Knicks were already up by 10 points and were swept away by the upset Pistons, who folded like a double-seven poker hand and lost their 16th straight game to New York in a 128-all game Friday night. 98 wire-to-wire destruction.

The Knicks (3-2) led by 26 points after the first quarter and built the team’s second-largest advantage ever through the first 12 minutes.

They were ahead by 33 points at halftime.

The Pistons never got closer to 22 after that.

When Leon Rose created the Knicks in the offseason, Friday night — only the fifth game of the season — is what he hoped would happen from the starting lineup.

Captain Jalen Brunson tore apart Detroit’s defense, scoring 26 of his season-high 36 points in the first half.

Karl-Anthony Towns, who was listed as questionable with an ankle sprain before tipoff, added 21 points with 11 rebounds and 7 assists two nights after scoring 44 points for the Heat.

He continued to defy the “soft” label by holding off Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart for a layup attempt, an offensive rebound, and a step-back through contact in the second quarter.

Towns is shooting a ridiculous 65 percent on 3-pointers to start the season, and he was 3 of 6 on Friday.

$212 million OG Anunoby recorded 21 points and 6 assists.

Mikal Bridges scored 15 points with 7 rebounds. Josh Hart played with 13 points and 9 rebounds.

The Knicks finished the game with 16 steals, including four from Miles McBride.

There was ball movement, a sacrifice, a cut, a full shot.

It was the Knicks’ first Thanksgiving.

They were visitors to Little Caesars Arena and they all feasted.

The Pistons (1-5), the shining example of the East’s incompetence this decade, haven’t beaten the Knicks since 2019.

Tom Thibodeau has never lost to them in New York, and he also has new Detroit coach JB Bickerstaff, who was hired in the summer after a four-year stint with the Cavs.

Bickerstaff’s weakness in Cleveland likely stemmed from his team being beaten by the Knicks in the 2023 playoffs, and he knew the Knicks were different but the same.

“They are different. Adding players like Towns and Bridges gives them a different dynamic of guys that can individually impact the game at a high level. Both of those guys are capable of having big nights, but I think what they did was protect the heart and soul of the team and their spirit is the same,” Bickerstaff said. “I think losing Donte (DiVincenzo) is a little bit of a change. I thought he did a great job for them as well, but when you have the Josh Harts of the world and the Jalen Brunsons of the world, they maintain that fight and spirit that gave them the opportunity and is kind of what they’re known for. .

“With Anunoby and Bridges, they were able to maintain their defensive identity as two-way players. They will always be well trained. Thibs does a great job with his teams, but I don’t think their mindset of who they are changes with the personnel changes.”