Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns discover difficult-to-find teamwork

Knicks Overcome Hawks in Thrilling Fashion

In Atlanta, with roughly three and a half minutes left, the Knicks were trailing the Hawks by five points, a situation they knew they had to turn around to gain some momentum and build confidence.

With only 92 points on the board, they had to shift their strategy, focusing on half-court plays as the game pace slowed down—much like playoff conditions.

And then, they discovered something that clicked.

During their next six possessions, they ran a similar play five times (the only interruption being quick transition scores off turnovers). It started with Brunson bringing up the ball and passing it to Karl-Anthony Towns, stationed on the wing at the three-point line, where he faced defensive pressure.

The location was consistent each time.

From there, their options multiplied, and they executed efficiently.

Brunson managed to hit a couple of plays, finding open lanes with give-and-gos. Towns, meanwhile, drew a foul after cleverly maneuvering around a defender. Brunson got an open three-point shot following a handoff because defenders couldn’t keep up with Towns.

Remarkably, half of Towns’ six assists came within a crucial 40 seconds. This performance helped the Knicks bounce back from five losses, sealing a 108-105 victory over the Hawks.

This matchup showcased the synergy between KAT and Brunson, two skilled offensive players collaborating effectively instead of taking turns as they had done earlier in the season.

“I thought we did a great job [Monday],” Towns commented. “When it mattered, our coaches and teammates trusted us to execute that two-man game.” It indeed paid off.

Towns, clearly jubilant post-game, looked thrilled with the play calls. Together, he and Brunson amassed 51 points and 19 assists, frequently utilizing pick-and-roll plays that had been expected to solidify them as a strong offensive duo—not just this game, but previously as well.

“It’s crucial knowing that a player like Jaylen can score and make those shots. He’s skillful, both with and without the ball,” said coach Mike Brown. “Pairing him with KAT as a passer creates challenges for opponents. And let’s not forget, KAT is an excellent shooter. When you have those two working together, it forces the defense to make tough decisions.”

Nevertheless, the Knicks have often refrained from putting both players in this situation throughout the season. Perhaps it’s not surprising that both Brunson and Towns have seen dips in their statistics, especially for Towns.