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Karl-Anthony Towns doesn’t miss a beat in return to Knicks playoff-like form

Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a standout preseason performance for the New York Knicks, flashing the playmaking and dominance that defined his playoff run. In just 28 minutes of Thursday’s 122–120 victory over the Toronto Raptors, Towns recorded 13 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists—one assist shy of a triple-double—while controlling the offense from the top of the key.

His early-game burst included six assists and five points in the first 7½ minutes, setting the tone for a stat-stuffing effort that mirrored his impact during the Knicks’ first-round postseason push. Coach Mike Brown emphasized Towns’ role as the team’s primary facilitator, a strategy that proved effective in Thursday’s lone preseason win for New York, which finished 1–3 overall.

The only starter absent was Josh Hart, sidelined with a sore right ankle, though Brown downplayed concerns about his availability for the season opener against the Philadelphia 7ers on Tuesday. Toronto’s Scottie Barnes, the team’s top defender, drew the assignment on Towns in the third quarter and effectively neutralized him, a potential blueprint for opposing teams as the regular season begins.

Towns, who has been in stagnant contract negotiations, called the performance a ‘good dress rehearsal,’ expressing confidence ahead of the Knicks’ first official game of the year.

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