The New York Knicks are heading into the NBA Playoffs with momentum after overcoming early-season doubts to secure the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. Finishing with a 51-31 record, the team added firepower late in the year with the acquisition of All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns—marking his first season away from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Ahead of their first-round series against the surging Detroit Pistons of Cade Cunningham, Towns expressed confidence in the Knicks’ readiness for postseason play.
“I just think that our team has done a great job of finding ways to win all year,” Towns told Newsday. “You don’t get 51 wins winning the same way every single night. So just continuing to utilize that experience, utilize the ebbs and flows of the regular season, and cashing in on that in the postseason. Execute, execute, execute—it’s all about that.”
Towns eyes deep playoff run
After falling just short of the NBA Finals last season with a loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks are hungry to take the next step. The franchise hasn’t appeared in the NBA Finals since 1999—a drought the front office hopes to end with the addition of Towns.
Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles during the first half against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on January 20, 2025.
“For us, we just wanted to come in here and help this team succeed and win,” Towns said. “Obviously, the regular season—we found a way to get 50 wins—and now we have to make sure that translates to the playoffs. The regular season gave the team a chance to see how we can contribute in different ways—whether it’s scoring, playmaking, or off-the-ball impact.”
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Towns appears fully healthy ahead of the playoffs after missing the final two games of the regular season with a knee issue. He is no longer listed on the injury report and is expected to be active for Game 1 against Detroit.
With Towns now in the mix and the Knicks coming off another strong campaign, expectations are high in New York for a potential return to the NBA’s biggest stage.
