Knicks ride Karl-Anthony Towns’ rare triple-double to crucial Game 4 victory
ATLANTA (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns has long been known as one of the NBA's best-shooting big men. On Saturday night, he showed he can be a pretty good passer, too. Towns had the fifth triple-double in his 11-year career and first in the playoffs, leading the New York Knicks to a 114-98 win over the Atlanta Hawks to tie the first-round playoff series at two wins apiece.
Towns' 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists made him the fourth Knicks player to notch a postseason triple-double, joining Hall of Famers Walt Frazier and Dick McGuire, and teammate Josh Hart. Assists aren't typically a pillar of Towns' game. The 7-foot center led the league with 56 double-doubles this season.
All 56 consisted of double-digit points and rebounds. Instead, it's Jalen Brunson who quarterbacks the Knicks offense, averaging 6. 8 assists per game this season.
Towns, meanwhile, averaged three assists during the regular season. That changed in Game 4. “Opportunities presented themselves, and my teammates made it happen today.
They made great cuts and allowed me to make those plays," Towns said. "It’s a shoutout to my teammates making great moves to the basket and allowing me to utilize my skill. ” Brunson, who had 19 points and three assists, said Towns was the difference maker in building the Knicks' commanding lead.