SAN ANTONIO — Karl-Anthony Towns Faces Referee Challenges

Karl-Anthony Towns seems unstoppable lately, yet the referees have played a role in restricting his game time due to some questionable calls.

Despite this, he contributed significantly to the Knicks’ strong position in the series, giving them a 2-0 lead after a narrow 105-104 win on Friday at the Frostbank Center.

For much of the first three quarters, Towns was clearly outperforming Victor Wembanyama on both offense and defense. Unfortunately, he picked up his fourth foul with 6:01 remaining in the third and had to sit out for the rest of the game.

Still, he ended the night with 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting, grabbed 13 rebounds, and tallied 4 assists, while maintaining a plus-11 rating over 34 minutes of play.

“I’m just glad we found a way to win,” Towns shared. “What really matters to me is our team’s success… This team leans on each other, which is why we’ve come this far.”

He further noted, “That’s how we managed to succeed during the regular season, even when faced with difficulties. When the going gets tough, we stay united. We depend on one another even more.”

Towns had a lackluster regular season, but things shifted dramatically in the playoffs, especially after Coach Mike Brown revamped the offense to focus more on him in the opening game against the Hawks.

Since that change, he has become notably more efficient and aggressive, serving both as a playmaker and a robust defender. The Knicks haven’t seen a loss since.

Brown commented on the adjustments made, saying, “Sometimes plans don’t work. Who’s going to adapt? It’s my responsibility to make those changes.” He emphasized that it’s crucial to align the game strategy with each player’s strengths. “If you’re a great player, I have to tweak the approach a bit more for you.”