Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks
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Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks reacts during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden.
Karl-Anthony Towns did not raise his voice after the New York Knicks’ 126–111 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. He didn’t need to.
The numbers — and the film — spoke loudly enough.
Against a shorthanded Pistons frontcourt missing Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart due to suspension, Towns attempted just three shots in the first half. He missed two of them, including a post-up against a much smaller defender, and his lone basket before halftime came on a putback dunk.
For a six-time All-Star and the tallest player on the floor, it was a jarring stat line — and a telling one.
Towns Points to Brown’s System After Quiet First Half
After the game, Towns stopped short of openly criticizing the offense, but his answer carried weight.
“I mean, our offense is our offense. It’s been that way all year,” Towns said via SNY. “So we have our system and we’re gonna — regardless of who’s in the game or not in the game — we run the system that we have implemented for our team to the best of our abilities.”
Detroit took advantage. The Pistons closed the second quarter on a 7–0 run to seize a 58–48 halftime lead, creating just enough separation to blunt New York’s early second-half push.
Brief Spark, Familiar Result
That push came — unsurprisingly — through Towns.
The Knicks opened the third quarter with renewed urgency, pulling within 62–60 on another Towns putback. He went 3-of-5 from the field during that stretch, finally imposing himself on the offense.
“Just trying to make a play. Be aggressive and play-make,” Towns told reporters. “Got a chance to get some shots up, and I wanted to capitalize on those opportunities.”
It didn’t last.
Veteran sharpshooter Duncan Robinson drilled back-to-back 3-pointers to restore Detroit’s cushion, and the Pistons entered the fourth quarter with a 90–79 advantage they never relinquished.
Outplayed Where It Hurt Most
Towns finished with 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting and 11 rebounds, but outside of that brief third-quarter surge, his impact was muted.
Detroit’s patchwork frontcourt outperformed him. Career backup Paul Reed, starting in place of Duren, delivered 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, seven rebounds and three blocks. Rookie Tolu Smith added four points and physicality despite limited NBA experience.
Collectively, they outworked Towns, who did not record a single block — a glaring shortcoming for the tallest player in the game.
The moment that drew the most attention came late in the third quarter, when Pistons star Cade Cunningham attacked the rim uncontested for a dunk as Towns retreated, avoiding contact altogether.
Pistons Complete Sweep as Knicks Slide
The loss completed a 3–0 season sweep for Detroit, which outscored New York by a combined 84 points in the series — a staggering margin that underscored the growing gap between the teams.
The Knicks fell to 35–21, slipping into a tie for third place in the Eastern Conference, while Detroit improved to 41–13, the best record not only in the East, but in the NBA.
Usage, Production and a Contract Cloud
Towns’ season-long numbers reflect a broader concern. Despite earning his sixth All-Star selection, he is averaging 19.8 points per game, his lowest mark since his rookie season, while attempting a career-low 14.0 shots per game. His 26.0 usage rate is down from 27.4 last season under Tom Thibodeau.
Towns acknowledged that the system has played a role in that decline. Knicks head coach Mike Brown pushed back.
“He’s comfortable,” Brown said via SNY. “We’re continuing to try to do different things to help free him up. And we’ll continue to search to try to do different things to free him up throughout the course of the year.”
That search carries financial stakes.
According to the New York Post, the Knicks declined to offer Towns a two-year, $150 million extension last summer. After this season, he becomes eligible for a four-year deal worth up to $260 million.
For a franchise chasing its first championship in 52 years, the margin for patience is thinning. And nights like Friday — against undermanned opponents, at home, with everything to gain — only sharpen the questions surrounding Towns’ role, value and future in New York.