KAT might've received the biggest boost thus far after shooting his way out of a slump
The New York Knicks came out on top with a big win over the Brooklyn Nets, highlighted by an immaculate performance from Karl-Anthony Towns. The 30-year-old finished with 37 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks on 70% shooting from the field and 75% from three. In what was easily his best game of the regular season from start to finish, Mike Brown had no hesitation praising his big man afterward.
“He was really good, trying to move him around quite a bit—at the elbow, at the post, in the pick-and-roll game… his comfort level is starting to get there.”
What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger
Towns needed this breakout more than anyone on the Knicks roster, as he has battled shooting struggles throughout the season. In the three games prior, he hadn’t shot above 50% from the field or 35% from long distance. On the year, he’s been shooting just 45% overall and 33.7% from deep—both career lows.
Against Brooklyn, he didn’t just look more comfortable; he played with a renewed confidence fans hadn’t seen since his 39-point outburst against the Miami Heat. In a matchup he knew he needed to dominate, Towns did exactly that—taking his time in the post, staying patient, and minimizing the low-percentage threes. Coach Brown also credited Towns’ teammates for putting him in positions to succeed.
“His teammates are understanding our key statements, which is spacing. And if our spacing is right, given the room we incorporate, he’s going to have room to drive… great game by KAT—picking his spots, driving it, shooting it, spraying it—but also the rest of our guys doing a fantastic job of making sure the floor is spaced correctly.”
Confidence Goes A Long Way
The Knicks are relying on Towns more than ever, especially with Guerschon Yabusele’s struggles and Mitchell Robinson continuing to battle injuries. Towns logged just 33 minutes, checking out around the five-minute mark as New York’s lead ballooned.
It’s clear how dramatically Towns can swing a game depending on whether he’s hot or cold. He’s publicly stated he’s still adjusting to Brown’s system, and that his confidence in catch-and-shoot opportunities has fluctuated. At this stage, the game has to come to him—not the other way around.
Towns’ next chance to build on this performance will come Wednesday night against the Charlotte Hornets. The expectation should remain the same, as Charlotte is still a relatively young team with mismatched experience.