BOSTON – Karl-Anthony Towns had the Knicks in the spotlight while his teammates faced challenges. He stepped up, bringing them remarkably close when it mattered most.
In the Celtics’ narrow 91-90 win in Game 2 at TD Garden on Wednesday, he tallied 21 points on 9-for-16 shooting and grabbed 17 rebounds.
“Kat’s start was crucial for us,” said Jalen Brunson. “He’s been one of our best teammates all season. He energizes us, and his contributions can often go unnoticed.”
Towns scored 14 of his 21 points in the first half. Meanwhile, Brunson managed only seven points by halftime, with OG Anunoby at five and Mikal Bridges failing to score.
The Knicks suffered a 50-41 setback, but it could have been worse if not for Towns carrying the scoring load.
There was a moment, as the Knicks were down 86-82, when Towns rebounded a missed layup by Josh Hart and was fouled by Al Horford. He converted a free throw, trimming the deficit to 86-85 with 2:33 left in the game. Then, Brunson took charge.
“The ball came to me,” Towns reflected. “I was just focusing on scoring and was fortunate to have some good chances. At the start of the third quarter, I noticed our energy was low, so I aimed to spark it. Those early shots helped us realize we were still in the game, and we commenced the third much better than in the previous match.”
Towns had been relatively subdued in the prior two games against the Pistons, scoring just 10 and 14 points each. This performance, however, underscored the significance of the trade that brought him to the Knicks.
“I wanted to do everything possible to help our team win,” Towns added. “I pushed hard in the first half and didn’t want to let off the gas in the second. I aimed to be a source of energy.”
