Karl-Anthony Towns may have been frustrated when the Knicks shut down extension talks before the season, but it hasn’t shown up in his production. The Knicks big man is putting together a strong start, averaging 19.9 points, 13.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 57.3 percent from the field.
Towns said his focus has stayed on the bigger picture.
“I came into the season wanting to defend the championship at all costs,” he said. “Like I said before, the city hasn’t seen that trophy here in New York for 53 years, and all of us in this locker room, especially myself, don’t intend for it to leave. Being the No. 1 pick, [reaching] the Finals and getting your title, and having to go out there and try to figure out how to do it again, that’s enough motivation for me.”
Elsewhere in the Atlantic Division, LeBron James had a rough night in his return to Cleveland. He scored eight points on 3-for-12 shooting and committed six turnovers in the Sixers’ 119-96 loss to the Cavaliers. James passed on a third run with Cleveland to join the Sixers this season, and afterward he pointed to his own lack of rhythm.
“Yeah, I definitely did not feel in a good rhythm offensively,” James said. “We didn’t look like much offensively. … Too many turnovers on my behalf, and I didn’t feel in a rhythm.”
Joel Embiid’s night was even tougher. He missed all nine of his shots, including two attempts from beyond the arc, and he still hasn’t found his 3-point touch.
Embiid has not hit a 3 since the second game of the season and is 3-for-28 from deep overall. “I believe in myself but when you’re in these moments and nothing is going in … it’s hard not to look at yourself and be down,” he said, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
The Nets got a different kind of lift in their win over Charlotte, where second-year big man Danny Wolf and guard Terance Mann finally saw extended run. Neither has been a regular part of the rotation this season, but both made the most of Wednesday’s opportunity.
Wolf posted 12 points, five rebounds and three assists in 18:36, finishing at plus-17, while Mann was plus-11 in 15:47. Both stayed on the floor for the entire fourth quarter.
“I ain’t gonna lie, the difference tonight was T-Mann and Danny Wolf, I would say. They haven’t been in the rotation much, came in ready to play,” Michael Porter Jr. said.
Mann is in the second season of a three-year, $47MM deal.
Toronto also got a breakthrough performance while dealing with injuries to Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley. Against Milwaukee, second-year guard Alijah Martin exploded for a career-high 27 points, topping his season total in one night. He shot 9-for-11 overall and 6-for-7 from 3-point range.
Jamal Shead chipped in 10 points and a career-best 16 assists, and he said Martin was ready for the moment.
“Tonight was awesome because you know when guys are ready for their moment, they pop, and (Martin) popped tonight,” Shead said, per Michael Grange of Sportsnet. “He’s been there waiting, waiting and it was cool to see him get his shine.”
Martin signed a two-year, $4.8MM contract this summer after spending his rookie season on a two-way deal.
In Other News...
Knicks Suddenly Have A Jose Alvarado Problem Off The Bench
Jose Alvarado was supposed to be part of the Knicks familiar second-unit edge after helping fuel last seasons Finals run, but the early part of 2026-27 has looked different. His minutes have dipped, and backup point guard Tyler Kolek has started to carve out the role with steady playmaking and a strong assist-to-turnover ratio, giving coach Mike Brown a reason to lean in that direction in recent games.
For a bench already crowded with guards, the situation adds another layer to a roster that may need some trimming or rebalancing as the season moves along. Alvarados contract makes him a movable piece if the Knicks decide they need to address the size of the second unit, and his reduced role is suddenly part of a larger question about how Brown wants to shape the back end of the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Enter Heated Cavs Rematch With One Key Balance Shift
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Jarrett Allens status is one of the injury notes worth watching on Clevelands side, while Sam Merrill is among the Knicks-related health considerations heading in. Even with those questions hanging over the matchup, the bigger picture is clear enough: these teams know each other, the memories are still fresh, and this rematch has the ingredients to feel like a measuring stick for both sides. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Face A Knicks Test That Could Change The Narrative
The Cavaliers are coming off a convincing 24-point win over the 76ers and now turn to a regular-season matchup with the Knicks that feels bigger than the calendar would suggest. Cleveland has been rolling with Donovan Mitchell driving the offense, while the broader conversation around the team has also included the kind of coaching chatter that tends to follow a strong start, with Kenny Atkinsons name in the mix. Even before the opening tip, this has the look of a game that can say something meaningful about where both teams stand.
For the Knicks, the matchup brings a familiar playoff-style test, especially with Karl-Anthony Towns looming as a central figure in the frontcourt battle. Jarrett Allens availability matters here, because Clevelands ability to handle that size and physicality could shape the tone of the night. Add in the ripple effect of a win or loss on the Easts narrative, and this one feels like more than just another regular-season stop. [Read more 🡒]