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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 24: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks looks on during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
The New York Knicks moved to 37-21 on Sunday night, holding off a late Chicago rally to beat the Bulls 105-99. It was not always clean but it was a win, and in a season where expectations have never been higher, wins are what matter.
Karl-Anthony Towns made sure of it. He finished with 28 points and 11 rebounds, including a decisive fourth quarter stretch that sealed the result when Chicago threatened to steal it.
After the game, Towns addressed what this Knicks team is carrying into the stretch run.
Towns Addresses the Weight of Expectations
New York came into this season as one of the Eastern Conference favourites after reaching the conference finals a year ago. The expectations have not been quiet. Towns knows that and does not want them to be.
“It’s a blessing to have expectations,” Towns said. “Means we’re doing something right. Last year we did a lot right, fans are expecting even more. My career has been full of pressure, and I understand criticism comes with that when you’re not succeeding. Rightfully so.”
He did not stop there.
“My whole career has been based on me getting that ring and winning,” Towns added. “And I understand more than ever now in my career that winning trumps everything. It’s gonna take all of us to win a championship.”
There is something poignant about that. Towns has built his entire career around the pursuit of a ring, and his message reveals a player who has grown into a deeper understanding of what that journey requires. Not just individually, but collectively. That kind of honesty resonates in a city that demands everything from its stars.
KAT Delivering in the Clutch
Sunday night was the kind of performance the Knicks need from Towns when the game is on the line. Chicago cut the deficit to one point with three minutes remaining, and Towns answered. He hit a go-ahead triple, converted a charging layup, grabbed a timely rebound and stepped to the free throw line with a four point lead and a minute left to close it out.
Towns finished 5-of-9 from three-point range on the night. For a player whose shooting efficiency has dipped below his career norms this season, that kind of output in a pressure moment is exactly what New York needs heading into the playoffs.
Jalen Brunson added 19 points and nine assists. Landry Shamet contributed 16 points off the bench. When Chicago made its push, it was Towns who made the plays that ended the conversation.
The Road Ahead for KAT and the Knicks
Towns has been at his best in the moments that matter most for New York this season. Sunday night was another example. When Chicago threatened to steal the game, he was the one who stepped forward and ended it.
That is the player the Knicks need in May. Not perfect. Not flawless. Just present, decisive and capable of delivering when the margin is smallest. Towns has shown enough this season to suggest that player is ready. The postseason will give him the stage to prove it on the biggest scale.
The Knicks are among the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference. Towns knows what that means and embraced it publicly on Sunday. Now comes the part where the words have to be backed up.
GettyThe New York Knicks win the NBA Cup.
Final Word for the Knicks
Karl-Anthony Towns has been chasing a championship his entire career. Sunday night, he said so plainly and without hesitation.
The Knicks are ready to make their run. Towns is ready to be one of the leaders behind that. A clutch performance against Chicago and a postgame interview full of clarity and conviction painted the picture of a player arriving at his moment.
It is going to take all of them. Towns knows that. So does New York.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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