Karl-Anthony Towns Shines in Preseason Finale

Karl-Anthony Towns played like he was gearing up for the playoffs, racking up six assists and five points within the first 7 ½ minutes of the Knicks’ 122-120 win over the Raptors on Thursday. He did a fantastic job of using his height and court vision from the top of the key to really set the stage for a memorable performance.

This game felt a bit reminiscent of his strong playoff showing, where he emerged as a triple-double threat, boosting the Knicks’ offense during the first round. Coach Mike Brown hinted at using Towns as a central focus again this season, and it was evident early on that this strategy could pay off. Despite the offseason distractions regarding his extension talks, Towns wrapped up the game just one assist short of a triple-double, with 15 rebounds and 13 points in 28 minutes of play.

When asked about his rhythm, Towns responded, “Yeah, I feel good. I feel really, really good.” His performance on Thursday marked his best of the preseason, and although the Knicks’ overall record was 1-3, that single win had a silver lining.

Interestingly, Towns was nearly unstoppable until he faced the Raptors’ top defender, Scottie Barnes, in the third quarter, who effectively closed him down. This tactical adjustment might be a crucial factor as the Knicks head into the season — opponents are sure to study the film and find ways to counter Towns’ influence.

The Knicks are set to kick off the regular season against the Sixers on Tuesday during their Banner Night, where Towns will likely return to this pivotal role. Thursday’s game demonstrated that this approach could continue to be effective.

“I thought today was a good dress rehearsal,” Towns noted. “It was cool, very nice to get back out there, find our flow, and play well. Of course, there’s a lot to improve on, but it was a solid way to wrap up the preseason.”

Meanwhile, Josh Hart was the only starter who didn’t take the court for the preseason finale due to a sore right ankle, but Brown reassured that it shouldn’t affect Hart for the season opener.