New York Turns to Karl-Anthony Towns as Injured Brunson Sits, Knicks Secure First NBA Cup Victory
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Karl-Anthony Towns poured in 39 points—31 before intermission—to carry the New York Knicks past the Miami Heat on Nov. 16, giving the club its first win of the NBA Cup while All-Star guard Jalen Brunson nurses an ankle sprain.
The All-NBA center erupted early, then ceded touches when Miami doubled him in the second half, allowing reserves Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson and Josh Hart to finish the job. “I wanted to pick up the offense that Jalen gives our team, and in the first half I did a good job of that,” Towns said. “In the second half I wasn’t trying to force it … Landry Shamet is a big reason.”
Shamet’s Career Night
Shamet delivered the highest-scoring performance of his career in the win, a payoff for re-signing with New York over the summer. The guard has started three games this season and is head coach Mike Brown’s preferred fill-in when center Mitchell Robinson is unavailable. “Is he shooting the pull-up, which he can make, or is he getting to the rim and dunking on you?” Brown said. “I was definitely a fan of his.”
Brown Stresses Focus After Magic Loss
Brown criticized his roster’s composure two nights earlier in Orlando, where the Knicks fell to the Magic while repeatedly arguing with officials. “In the first half, everything that happened on the court, we blamed the officials,” he said. Towns added that avoiding distractions from perceived missed calls remains an emphasis.
Assist From the Bench
Both Brown and Towns credited assistant coach Rick Brunson for urging the offense to keep flowing through Towns against Miami. “He was the first one to say it—‘Hey, keep playing through KAT,’” Brown said.
Source: Hoops Rumors
