NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
Better late than never?
In the last few days of the regular season, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns have played with the kind of rhythm/connection that’s been missing for most of the year.
You saw it in New York’s win in Atlanta on Monday. And it was present again on Thursday night against the Celtics.
Advertisement
With five minutes to play in the fourth quarter, Brunson found Towns for a dunk and a three-pointer on consecutive possessions.
It was the kind of sequence the Knicks probably envisioned when they traded for Towns in the 2024 offseason. They didn’t see much of it in the first 78 games of this season. The narrative around the Knicks was that Towns and Brunson didn’t fit well together.
But if the last two games are any indication, that narrative may be changing.
“They’re getting a rhythm at the right time,” Mike Brown said after New York’s win on Thursday. “Jalen was great without the basketball. He used his ability to get open because he understands angles. He’s second to none with his ability to change directions without the basketball.
Advertisement
“When we have a passer like KAT who can hand it off or pass it late to you, it makes that duo really effective because of those two guys and the characteristics they have as players. What also makes it good is KAT can shoot the three and Jalen can shoot the three and put the ball on the floor. So (Towns’) man has to be up into him. He’s big enough, long enough to protect the basketball and still making the pass,” Brown added. “Now you’re talking about there’s a lot of room that Jalen’s guy has to cover or try to cover with Jalen moving. The rhythm that those two guys have established these last few games is something they’re gonna have to take into the playoffs because it’s a really good combination, obviously.”
What’s changed between Towns and Brunson? Towns cited conversations he’s had with Brunson ahead of games.
“Those convos are showing up in the game, especially in the last two fourth quarters,” Towns said. “In high-pressure situations, we’ve leaned on each other and trusted each other in those…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/knicks-karl-anthony-towns-jalen-050355430.html
Author :
Publish date : 2026-04-10 05:03:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
