Knicks Notes: KAT, Reserves, Bridges, Brunson, Hart

Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns delivered another solid performance in Game 2 of the Finals, supplying 21 points, 13 rebounds and four assists in 34 minutes in New York’s thrilling 105-104 victory.

He was also a plus-11 in his 34 minutes, Zach Braziller of the New York Post notes. Towns has gotten the better of Spurs star Victor Wembanyama most of the series. The only thing that held him back was foul trouble, which limited his third quarter minutes.

“For me, I’m just happy to be finding ways to win,” Towns said. “I’m just worried about the team result, which is winning. … This team leans on each other. I think that’s why we’ve gotten here. That’s why we had the success we had during the regular season, even when things weren’t going great because at the end of the day when things do get tough, and the trials and tribulations do present themselves, this team doesn’t disband. They don’t go away from each other. We lean into each other even more.”

Towns has been drawing inspiration from his late mother, Jacqueline Cruz, who died in 2020, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic writes.

Here’s more on the Knicks:

• New York’s bench accounted for 27 points and 10 rebounds in Game 2, and Mitchell Robinson defended Wembanyama when the Spurs’ star missed a jumper in the closing seconds that would have won the game. “Our effort, it’s been crazy,” Robinson said,  per Raul Dominguez of the Associated Press. “We just came out there just fighting, you know, talking to each other. Communication, that’s been key for us.” Landry Shamet, Miles McBride and Jose Alvarado also contributed to the bench’s success. “Somebody is always there,” coach Mike Brown said. “Again, a lot of contributions from a lot of guys, and that’s why you like having a team, because it could be anybody’s night on any given night. Our guys don’t care. They sacrifice for one another and we found a way to get a win.”
• Mikal Bridges played another key role in the Knicks’ 13th straight playoff win. He had 20 points on 13 shots along with six rebounds and six assists. The Knicks still owe the Nets four first-round picks, courtesy of the Bridges trade, but it’ll be worth it for a championship, SNY’s Ian Begley writes. Bridges has excelled in the postseason. “Just that desperation,” Bridges said. “You know, that desperation of trying to be the last team standing and trying to do whatever it takes to help my team win. There’s nothing after June. You don’t play again until October. So just try to give it all that I got and do whatever it takes for this team.”
• Jalen Brunson wound up hitting the game-winning free throw after a Wembanyama turnover, masking his rough shooting night. He went 7-for-25 from the field and also missed the second free throw, which gave San Antonio a chance to win on the final possession, Howie Kussoy of the New York Post notes. “For J.B., you call it rough shooting nights, I see him hitting the free throw to give us the game,” Towns said.
• They overcame Josh Hart‘s scoreless outing, Braziller notes. Hart only played 18 minutes due to foul trouble, which thwarted his usual all-around impact, Braziller writes.