All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns has openly bristled about his decreased offensive production with the New York Knicks, but all involved are feeling better after a strong weekend.
New York, which is third in the Eastern Conference standings, travels to Cleveland to take on the fourth-place Cavaliers on Tuesday night.
Towns totaled 53 points and 18 rebounds as the Knicks gutted out back-to-back wins over the Houston Rockets and at the Chicago Bulls over the weekend. The 7-footer made 20 of 32 field goal attempts, including 8 of 12 3-pointers.
His season averages of 20.1 points and 11.8 rebounds remain well below his numbers from 2024-2025 under former New York coach Tom Thibodeau, while his .474 field goal percentage is a career low.
“Until those numbers change, there’s not much for me to say because he’s getting an opportunity,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “We don’t call a ton of plays.”
Towns rose to the occasion Sunday against Chicago, scoring 11 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter in a 105-99 victory. He also had 11 rebounds and three steals, prompting his teammates to select him as their defensive player of the game.
After the Bulls took a 95-94 lead with 3:42 remaining on a Matas Buzelis 3-pointer, Towns followed with six straight points on a 26-footer, a layup and a free throw to put New York in front for good.
“KAT had a heck of a game for us,” Brown said. “Not only did he get a double-double, he was great for us defensively. He was big and he obviously hit some big buckets for us down the stretch.”
One night earlier, Towns had 25 points and seven rebounds in a 108-106 win over Houston. The Rockets were up 93-75 with 10:53 left before the Knicks belted them with a 30-10 run, capped by Jalen Brunson’s go-ahead jumper with 30 ticks on the clock.
The dynamic Brunson was swarmed by both opponents, but managed 20 points and six assists against Houston and 19 points and nine assists at Chicago.
“Everyone is just doubling JB, at least in the last 4-5 games,” Brown said. “It’s tough to score when you’re being double-teamed, but it means somebody is open. It’s about making the right play. Our guys just found a way.”
The Cavaliers had their longest winning streak of the season snapped at seven games Sunday and lost for the first time in February, 121-113 at the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Sam Merrill scored 20 points apiece, but it was a disappointing loss to a Thunder team that was without NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Alex Caruso.
It also marked Cleveland’s first defeat in six games with Harden in the lineup, but the Cavaliers remain the hottest team in the league with a 12-2 record since Jan. 21 and 19 wins in their last 25 contests.
“It’s not an excuse, but it was a tough schedule game for us playing three in four days and this one starting at noon (locally),” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. “You don’t want to talk about that with the guys coming in, but it is what it is.”
Harden, who was acquired in a trade-deadline deal with the Los Angeles Clippers for Darius Garland, moved past the legendary Wilt Chamberlain into 10th place all-time with his 772nd career 20-point game.
New York is seeking a three-game sweep of the season series, having posted home wins on Oct. 22 and Dec. 25. Mitchell, who grew up near the Big Apple, averaged 32.5 points in the single-digit losses.
–Field Level Media
