The New York Knicks failed to bounce the Boston Celtics in the fifth game of their series at the TD Garden. It was a tough game for Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns as they dealt with foul trouble. And because of it, the Celtics are now a step closer to tying the series and forcing a Game 7 out of the Knicks. But the Knicks still have the edge in the series with 3 wins to the Celtics’ 2. And a win at Madison Square Garden tonight will see them qualify for the Eastern Conference Finals. So can KAT and Jalen help the Knicks set up a meeting with the Indiana Pacers to decide who will go to the NBA finals?
Let’s see what the injury report says.
New York Knicks Injury Report – Will Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson play tonight?
Jalen Brunson fouled out in the fourth quarter of Game 5. But even worse, he somehow managed to get called for 5 fouls in the quarter before that. It was a terrible display from him despite scoring 22 points and dishing out 6 dimes to his team. Similarly, KAT also narrowly avoided ejection with 4 fouls in 29 minutes of play. But these two have a shot at redemption tonight. The Knicks’ latest injury report has neither Karl-Anthony Towns nor Jalen Brunson on it. That means the star duo is AVAILABLE for Game 6 against the Celtics. And we’re sure they won’t pass up this chance to show their heated rivals that the last game was no more than a blip on their radar.
Dec 28, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) hugs New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) after their game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
But the Knicks aren’t completely injury-free heading into Game 6 against the Celtics. Backup forward, Precious Achiuwa, is QUESTIONABLE to appear in this game after spraining his right ankle. This is Achiuwa’s first tussle with an injury since March 6. And it could not have come at a worse time. But whether the 6-foot-8 forward plays tonight is up to him and head coach Tom Thibodeau.
Nevertheless, that’s it for the Knicks’ injury report for Game 6. There’s not much they need to worry about on the injury front. But here are a few things they need to keep in mind heading into the Celtics game.
Here’s what Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns need to keep in mind ahead of Game 6
Jalen Brunson has been New York’s workhorse, leading the series in time of possession at 10.0 minutes per game. But Boston’s revamped transition attack exposed him, especially in the last game. They’ve used push-the-pace looks and Derrick White’s hot 3s to force Brunson into tough isolations and double teams. But it can be argued that the burden on Jalen’s shoulders is too heavy.
Karl-Anthony Towns has struggled to find consistency in this series. He’s only made one three-pointer in this series. While shooting from beyond the arc isn’t necessarily his forte, KAT needs to do better against a team that scores three-pointers at will, like Boston. Towns did flash his scoring touch in Game 5, hitting a driving layup, short hook, and free throws on Jrue Holiday, but it sparked too little, too late. He needs to bring something different for Game 6.
Dec 5, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) react during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
But if Jalen Brunson can manage to set the tone early and push the ball only when the floor’s clear, he can use quick pick and rolls with KAT to force mismatches at the half-court. Being judicious with his breaks will allow him to control the chaos and leave the Celtics with a terrible choice: leave him an open layup or give Towns an opportunity to shoot.
And either of those options spells disaster for the Celtics. Well, they do have a third choice in risking a secondary break. But ultimately, even that option is not ideal. What we’re getting at is simple. The Knicks have an opportunity to put this series to bed with a few simple adjustments. And if Thibs makes the right ones — the Knicks may be gearing up for their Eastern Conference Finals since the turn of the century.
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