Karl-Anthony Towns focuses on getting touches earlier after cold stretch in NBA Finals’ late moments

Karl-Anthony Towns has carried much of the narrative for the New York Knicks as the postseason has progressed, including a shift toward an offense designed to involve the center more often. In the NBA Finals, though, the storyline has taken a turn in the late moments. According to reporting, Towns has managed only 11 shots over a stretch covering five quarters, and in that span the Knicks have been outscored by 12 points, a swing that has made his fourth-quarter involvement a pressing concern.

The problem appears most concentrated in the last frame. In the Finals, Towns has logged roughly 30 minutes in the fourth quarter across three games and has not scored. Reporting also states he has taken six fourth-quarter shots while producing one assist in that span. While Towns has remained active on the floor, the numbers suggest that late-game possessions have not converted as reliably as they have earlier in games.

Knicks coach Mike Brown addressed the issue in terms of touches and engagement rather than technique. Brown said it is “extremely important” that Towns is getting touches, not only in the fourth quarter but throughout the game, and added that he needs to do a better job of getting him involved both earlier and later. The comments frame the current challenge as a continuity problem within the offensive game plan, not a sudden loss of ability from Towns himself.

Towns, for his part, sidestepped the idea that the solution is to force more late shots immediately. He said the Knicks have a game plan and want to execute it, and that making the plan work at the highest level in the fourth is vital, as reported. That emphasis is consistent with the broader playoff approach New York has used, where Towns’ efficiency has often been linked to how consistently the offense runs through him in the flow of a game.

There is also context for why the Knicks view this as more than a personal slump. Reporting indicates the Knicks are 12-1 in the playoffs when Towns records four or more assists, underscoring that his late-game effectiveness is not just measured in points. In a Finals, where late defensive possessions and matchup adjustments intensify, playmaking from the center can also change what the defense gives the rest of the roster.

New York’s remaining challenge is to blend the involvement that has worked in earlier stretches with the late-game situations that have stalled Towns. The Knicks have to find ways to get him into high-leverage touches before the fourth quarter narrows the margin for error. If the offense can involve Towns earlier, it may also set up better options late, whether that is efficient post touches, higher-quality jumpers off his gravity, or kickouts that keep the ball moving.