Up 2-0 with a chance to take a commanding 3-0 series lead at Madison Square Garden, New York came out flat in Game 3. The No. 3 seed Knicks (51-31) never led, falling behind by as many as 31 points to the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics (61-21).
Making matters worse, Karl-Anthony Towns hurt his left ring finger on a drive midway through the second quarter, favoring it for the remainder of the contest.
The five-time All-Star still managed to record a double-double with 21 points and 15 rebounds, but shot just 5-for-18 (27.8%), sparking concerns about his Game 4 availability.
Towns Not Listed on Knicks’ Injury Report Entering Game 4 Against Celtics
After suffering the injury on Saturday, the big man received an encouraging update ahead of Monday’s critical Game 4 home showdown.
According to New York coach Tom Thibodeau, Towns was a full participant in Sunday’s practice and is expected to suit up on Monday.
“He’s fine,” Thibodeau said.
The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy also reported on Sunday that Towns has been omitted from the Knicks’ Game 4 injury report, alleviating worries about his status. This aligns with Towns’ postgame interview, where he pledged to try to continue playing through the setback.
“It is what it is. I just want to do whatever I can to be out there,” Towns said. “It is what it is. I’m gonna keep finding ways to play, so I ain’t tripping.”
With Towns ready to go, New York has no players featured on its injury report. The complete squad will look to defend its home court and take a 3-1 series lead before returning to Boston for Game 5.
How Has Towns Fared in the Semifinals Against Boston?
Towns has delivered as a consistent and productive inside threat against the Celtics, recording double-doubles in each of the series’ first three games.
His strong presence in the paint has helped the Knicks remain competitive, and he’s now extended his overall playoff double-double streak to five straight contests, showcasing his reliability on the boards and ability to generate points despite physical setbacks.
However, the 7-footer’s 3-point shooting has waned considerably, as he is just 1-for-7 from deep (14.3%) in the second round. This comes after he shot 12-for-25 from 3 (48%) in the Knicks’ six-game first-round postseason series victory over the Detroit Pistons.
Outside shooting inefficiency has been a point of concern for New York, particularly in Game 3, when it shot just 5-for-25 (20%). Conversely, Boston finished 20-for-40 from beyond the arc (50%), contributing to its runaway victory.
Through three conference semifinal games, Towns is averaging 18.7 points, 15.0 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.3 blocks and 0.3 triples per game, shooting 42.6%.
