Josh Minott takes shot at Karl-Anthony Towns’ ‘physicality’ following Nets’ near upset of Knicks appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks narrowly escaped embarrassment throughout Friday’s 93-92 win over the shorthanded Brooklyn Nets. Despite enjoying towards a rotation comprised primarily of rookies, two-way gamers and a two-day signee, Mike Brown’s squad struggled towards Brooklyn’s aggressive protection for a lot of the sport.
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Towns and Jalen Brunson rebounded from gradual begins to stave off a Brooklyn comeback within the remaining minutes. Following the matchup, Nets ahead Josh Minott said Brooklyn tried to make Towns uncomfortable by ramping up their physicality.
“I played with KAT for two-and-a-half years [in Minnesota]. I know him like [the back of my hand], and he don’t like physicality,” Minott mentioned. “I love KAT, but he don’t like physicality. That’s my boy, too. I hope this angers him. But we were just real connected on bringing that physicality to him. He started snapping in the second half. He’s a really talented player. But we were gonna do everything in our power to stop him.”
After going scoreless throughout a primary quarter that noticed the Knicks rating simply 14 factors, Towns gained his rhythm late to steer New York to the slender victory.
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Karl-Anthony Towns rebounds from poor begin throughout Knicks’ slender win over Nets
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
He completed with 26 factors and 15 rebounds on 7-of-16 capturing from the sector and 11-of-13 from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Minott scored a team-high 22 factors on 8-of-13 capturing from the sector and 6-of-9 from three to steer Brooklyn.
Towns has struggled to replicate his production from last season in the course of the Knicks’ erratic 2025-26 marketing campaign. He’s averaged 20.1 factors and 11.9 rebounds on .491/.365/.851 capturing splits throughout 66 appearances.
The All-Star huge man has been adept at drawing fouls on drives, making an attempt a career-high 9.0 free throws per 100 possessions. However, he’s struggled to transform across the rim. Towns has shot a career-low 60 % inside 4 ft, the NBA’s worst proportion amongst 20 huge males who’ve performed over 1,700 minutes this season, per CleansingTheGlass.
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The Knicks are attempting to catch the Boston Celtics for the Eastern Conference’s second seed because the common season winds down. A five-game profitable streak has pulled New York inside two video games of Boston with 12 remaining.
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