Karl-Anthony Towns took a Houdini when the Knicks needed it more.
Towns, after a strong game 1, disappeared at the end of the defeat of the game 2 100-94 of the Knicks on Monday night in the Madison Square Garden, that the series in one is each one of return to Droit.
It ended with only 10 points in 5 of 11 shots from the field and its two attempts of 3 points were lost.
In particular, he did not try a single shot in the last quarter despite playing 12 minutes.
“Just trying to make the game do what it does, just execute what we are talking about,” Towns said about his lack of participation in the final stretch. “I think we get some great photos, some great looks, you live with them, son of great shots and great looks, especially when you have fought in the game.”
Towns was mainly protected by Tobias Harris, a wing with which Towns has a size advantage.
But it was not aggressive at all when trying to intimidate Harris in painting or try to use his strength to cut the edge.
Harris also received help.
The Pistons have lasted Jalen, their center, coincide with Josh Hart in defense during the first two games.
Taking or camping in painting, leaving Hart, a poor 3 -point shooter, open outside the perimeter.
Hart does not have to do and the Pistons really pay for that strategy.
That has allowed to protect the edge and help in Towns or Jalen Brunson.
“[Towns] I was receiving touches, but he’s doing the right play, “said the Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau,”. If double equipment is being done, I don’t want to shoot the ball to three people. That doesn’t make sense to me. “
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Towns was key to the 21-0 race of the Knicks and the return of the fourth quarter in game 1, ending with 23 points in 10 of 14 shots with 11 rebounds, five assists, four robberies and two blockages.
That activity without score was also absent on Monday.
The cities had only six rebounds, without assists, without robberies and a block.
“I was running what we said we wanted to do,” Towns said. “Just maybe, you would always want to be able to get one of those long rebounds, loose balls. It was something that got us, they obtained those 50-50 balls. We simply did not understand today. He put us in a turght, we put in the game, fought, fought, fought, fought, fought, fought, fought.