Remarkable Transformation of Karl-Anthony Towns

PHILADELPHIA — Karl-Anthony Towns has undergone quite a change lately.

In Sunday’s Game 4, he delivered 10 assists while helping the Knicks secure a 144-114 victory against the 76ers, effectively closing out the series.

A notable chunk of those assists—nine, to be exact—came during just the first half, spread over 16 minutes of play.

It’s interesting to note that his assist count could have soared, but he only needed to spend four minutes on the court in the second half.

What’s striking is that this marked Towns’ third postseason game with double-digit assists. He managed that only once throughout the regular season.

This performance can be attributed to a strategic adjustment the Knicks implemented just before Game 4. They opted to pressure Towns more, allowing other players on the court to make better cuts and set up screens around him. This tactic really helped elevate the Knicks’ overall game.

Towns expressed gratitude to his team after the game, saying, “Shout out to our team. We figured out how to stabilize the season and adapt to Atlanta. We’re in a better spot now. A big thank you to the coaching staff for spotting those adjustments, and to me, for being trusted.”

Meanwhile, the Knicks have approached OG Anunoby’s injury with caution. Anunoby has missed two games due to a right hamstring issue, and while the Knicks are hopeful for his quick return, they decided to play it safe. Imaging tests showed only a “very mild” strain, as reported earlier.

Given that the team is leading the series 3-0, they felt there was no urgency to rush him back on the court. Anunoby is now taking another week to rest before he plays again.

In his absence, Miles McBride stepped up in the starting role and managed to score 25 points in the last game.

Throughout the series, Knicks fans made their feelings about Joel Embiid clear, frequently chanting against him. After Game 4, Embiid reflected on the experience, particularly how it might affect his son.

“We’re driving along, and they’re chanting,” he said. “I don’t like that he has to hear it, but he needs to realize that this is just how things can be. There will be both negative and positive things in life, and he has to learn to navigate through it. That’s just how it goes.”