Karl-Anthony Towns has been under the microscope since his arrival to the Knicks before training camp. The trade for him was a signal to the team’s fan base and those around the league that New York was serious about making a deep playoff run. Expectations for the Knicks haven’t been this high in a while.

Brunson, who has taken 27 shots in each outing so far, leads the 2024-25 playoffs in scoring ( 35.5 PPG) and field goal attempts through two games. That’s impressive for a guy who made just four appearances for New York over the final month of the regular season because of an ankle sprain he sustained on March 6 against the Lakers.

The New York Knicks left no doubt about their plan for Game 3 in the opening minutes against the Detroit Pistons.