Karl-Anthony Towns comes into Game 5 averaging 16.7 points, 10.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists during the postseason. He was the aggressor over the first two games, both Knicks wins, in his matchup against 22-year-old
San Antonio Spurs’ sensation Victor Wembanyama. As Wiggins did during Golden State’s title run, Towns has lifted the level of his own game at various points in the postseason.
The problem for Towns is that Game 3 — and much of Game 4 — reinforced the labels that have followed him throughout his career. He scored just 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting in Game 3, then battled foul trouble for much of Game 4 before finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds in 26 minutes. Still, as Wiggins did before him, Towns came through in the biggest moments. His five fourth-quarter points helped fuel the Knicks’ comeback from 29 down, and his defensive tip of a Dylan Harper inbounds pass with 1.2 seconds remaining preserved one of the most memorable finals games ever played.
New York Times
