Apr 28, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) grabs a rebound against Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) during the third quarter of game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
It is not a coincidence that the New York Knicks turned their first-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks around when they started getting the ball to Karl-Anthony Towns.
The Hawks once again had no answers for the Knicks’ big man, who scored 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting with 14 rebounds and six assists in a 126-97 beatdown in Game 5 on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden — putting them one win from a fourth-straight trip to the second round of the postseason. Towns’ big night came on the heels of his first-career playoff triple-double, posting 20 points with 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 114-98 runaway in Game 4.
His emergence in this series simply boils down to what the Hawks are throwing at him. Atlanta head coach Quinn Snyder attempted to put the more athletic Dyson Daniels defender on Towns. But Daniels is five inches shorter than the 7-foot Towns, and he has picked apart the Hawks’ defense by distributing over the top of his defender.
No wonder Games 4 and 5 set playoff career highs in assists for Towns, who never had more than five helpers in his first 53 playoff games
“I feel like passing’s been my thing since I came into the league,” Towns said. “Sometimes the scoring gets more noticed than the passing, but I’m glad I have the opportunity to show what I can do passing-wise. I just gotta continue to stay disciplined, continue to make the right play — regardless if it’s the scoring play or the hockey assist.”
Getting Towns more involved has paid dividends elsewhere on the offense. Star point guard Jalen Brunson has been able to play off the ball more, and he showed what he can do in this system in Game 5. When the Hawks were like deer in the headlights every time Towns got the ball, Brunson took advantage, dropping 39 points on 15-of-23 shooting.
The Knicks have a chance to close out the series down in Atlanta on Thursday.
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