Knicks enter Game 3 in Atlanta with Finals-or-bust pressure on Karl-Anthony Towns
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NEW YORK — Karl-Anthony Towns powered through two Atlanta Hawks defenders at Madison Square Garden last Saturday, flexed toward the crowd and completed a three-point play that pushed the New York Knicks ahead by 14 with just under seven minutes left. The sequence summed up the matchup dilemma the 7-footer represents as the Knicks pursue their first NBA Finals berth since 1999 under a clear mandate from owner James Dolan.
New York won that postseason opener 113-102, but Monday’s Game 2 collapse evened the first-round series at 1-1 and refocused scrutiny on Towns. The Knicks travel to State Farm Arena for Game 3 on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET (Prime Video).
High expectations, shifting role
Dolan’s directive—reach the Finals or face consequences—extends to first-year head coach Mike Brown, wing Mikal Bridges and especially Towns. Now 30, the center is averaging 13.8 shot attempts, a career low, and 20.1 points, his lightest scoring output since his rookie season. Brown, hired after Tom Thibodeau’s June dismissal, has emphasized spacing and three-point volume; New York jumped from 27th to 12th in attempts, often leaving Towns outside the post.
Per GeniusIQ tracking, Towns receives 82.9 touches per 100 possessions—virtually unchanged from last season—but attempts 21.9 shots, down from 23.5. He has logged five single-digit scoring games this year after recording just one last season. Despite a sluggish first half, he surged after the All-Star break, hitting nearly 58% from the field and 42% beyond the arc in his final 24 regular-season contests.
Atlanta’s dilemma
Hawks coach Quin Snyder called defending Towns “pick your poison.” Towns averaged 28.5 points on 63% shooting—50% from three—against Atlanta in the regular season, his best numbers versus any opponent. Snyder, however, noted New York’s 23-4 record when OG Anunoby scores 20 or more compared with 26-15 when Towns does, signaling the Hawks’ willingness to gamble on Towns’ volume.
Internal debate in New York
Throughout the season, Brown and Towns have met to discuss the evolving scheme. Brown has tweaked defensive coverages to limit Towns in space, yet foul issues persist; the big man committed nine fouls across the first two playoff games. After Game 2, Brown said Towns “has to impose his will,” while Towns responded that opportunities “just didn’t come around.”
Teammate Jalen Brunson remains the Knicks’ primary option, but executives around the league view Towns as the swing factor in any bid to unseat the top-seeded Boston Celtics in a potential second-round matchup. One Western Conference executive said, “If KAT plays at the highest level, the Knicks are as good as any team in the league.”
Summer outlook
Towns has two seasons left on his contract—$57.7 million guaranteed in 2026-27 and a $61 million player option for 2027-28. New York declined to extend him before the season, keeping open the possibility of using his salary in pursuit of another star, such as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, should the Knicks fall short.
For now, Towns acknowledges the stakes. “He so badly wants things to work here,” a source close to the player told ESPN. As the series shifts to Atlanta, his performance over the next six weeks could determine both the Knicks’ championship hopes and his long-term future at Madison Square Garden.
Source: ESPN
