Karl-Anthony Towns is in New York to live great moments in the most legendary room in the United States, and that night, he lived a crazy evening: a 149-148 victory against the Hawks of Trae Young, and a second Follow -up match at 40 points and more. It's a career in career for him, and yet he almost spoiled everything …
“If we had lost, I would have needed to go to the shrink. I'm not going to lie … “ he quippedwhile the Knicks led six points to 18 seconds from the end of the 4th quarter. “It would have been difficult to approach the cut after a defeat. But I'm just happy that after all that happened, we find ourselves on the right side of the match and with a victory. It makes the cut even more appreciable. »»
Knicks always find a solution
Author of 44 points and 10 rebounds, Karl-Anthony Towns was able to count on the qualities of “Clutch Player” by Jalen Brunson, author of the winner basket at 11 seconds from the end of the extension, but also of Mikal Bridges defender To force Trae Young to serve Georges Niang on the last shot.
“You feel like you are giving a lot, then letting the match escape for your team … Then you fight to take it back …” continues Karl-Anthony Towns. “It just shows a lot of resilience and determination on the part of our team to find themselves in this position and succeed in winning. We found a way to win, and that's something that our team has been doing since the start of the season. »»
The former Wolves can therefore forget this completely failed rebate, at +3 (137-134) a few seconds from the end, but also this rebound lost in front of Onyeka Okongwu in stride, which allows the Hawks to tear off miraculously overtime. Without finally managing to succeed in the heist at Madison Square Garden.
Never seen since 1997
Rather than going to the shrink, the Knicks will spend a little week with a smile on his lips. The players of Tom Thibodeau reach the cut of the All-Star Game with a balance sheet of 36 victories for 18 defeats. Unheard of since 1997! And they are not so far from 2nd place in the East, owned by the Celtics (39 victories – 16 defeats).
“I find it huge,” concludes the Knicks coach. “Obviously, we did not play as well as we would have liked it, but I love the determination that allowed us, despite what happened at the end of the match, to go to overtime and to find a way to win. »»
