How Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns evolved into a dynamic duo
Jalen Brunson knows any variation of offensive plays featuring both him and All-Star teammate Karl-Anthony Towns can be difficult, nearly impossible for opposing defenses to guard. He doesn’t, however, know why the Knicks took so long to button-mash the actions that could propel them deeper into the playoffs, possibly to the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance in a quarter-century. “No,” Brunson said, when asked if he knew why it took so long to start running those plays.
“It’s a very effective play. ” Better late than never. And maybe it’s right on time.
Because the Knicks’ All-Star duo is rolling right into the playoff picture. The Knicks defeated the Boston Celtics, 112-106, in a second-round playoff preview on Thursday. Brunson finished with 25 points and 10 assists.
Towns added 16 points, 12 rebounds and four dimes on the night. Yet, in between the lines stitching together the box score, the Knicks’ one-two punch has been growing closer, through the adversity that has been the 2025-26 NBA season. They lost in the Eastern Conference Finals in Year 1 of the Towns era.
They won the NBA Cup, lost nine out of 11 games to start the year, then survived a hectic NBA Trade Deadline with Giannis Antetokounmpo’s New York demand hanging in the backdrop. Now, they appear to have bound together for another rodeo, this time to finish business they left on the table last season. “I just think we’ve had [conversations] in the days, and those convos are showing up in the game, especially in the last two fourth quarters,” Towns said after the game.
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