Knicks Notes: Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart

Karl-Anthony Towns may have been the biggest reason the Knicks walked away with a Game 1 victory.

While Jalen Brunson grabbed most of the headlines after scoring 30 points, Towns quietly controlled large portions of the game at both ends of the floor.

Offensively, he repeatedly punished smaller defenders when the Spurs tried to keep Victor Wembanyama away from him. Defensively, Towns ended up spending far more time guarding Wembanyama than many expected.

According to NBA matchup data, Towns was Wembanyama’s primary defender for most of the night. The Spurs star managed just two field goals on 11 attempts against him and committed five turnovers.

After the game, Towns reflected on the experience and admitted he felt unusually calm on the NBA’s biggest stage.

The Knicks big man said he believes some of that peace came from thinking about his late mother, Jacqueline Cruz, who passed away in 2020.

“I felt really confident about today,” Towns said. “I felt good. I felt like a kid.”

No concerns about Brunson

Knicks fans held their breath more than once in Game 1.

Brunson appeared to injure his knee during the first quarter and later had an awkward ankle incident in the second.

Fortunately for New York, neither issue appears serious.

Reports from Thursday’s practice indicated Brunson showed no lingering effects and looked like his normal self while preparing for Game 2.

That’s obviously good news for a team whose championship hopes begin with its All-Star point guard.

Alvarado ready when called upon

Jose Alvarado hadn’t played much entering the NBA Finals.

That changed quickly Wednesday night.

The veteran guard logged 11 minutes after Brunson briefly exited following a knee scare and responded with seven points and four rebounds. Alvarado admitted his first reaction when Brunson went down was simple.

“He better come back,” he said.

Still, he never doubted his own readiness.

“This is what I do,” Alvarado said. “I wasn’t scared of the moment.”

His energy helped stabilize New York’s second unit during a critical stretch of the game.

Villanova connection keeps paying dividends

The chemistry between Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges continues to be one of the defining stories of New York’s season.

The three former Villanova teammates have spent years playing together, and that familiarity continues to show on the court.

“We genuinely like playing together,” Brunson recently said.

It’s hard to argue with the results. The Knicks are now three wins away from a championship, and their Villanova trio remains at the center of everything they’re doing.

At this point, it’s more than a storyline. It’s become one of New York’s biggest strengths.