Last year, the New York Knicks had a tough time in the playoffs. Without Karl-Anthony Towns at the helm, the Indiana Pacers knocked them out in a seven-game series.
They were hit hard by injuries, with key players like Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby barely seeing the court because of various ailments. Julius Randle struggled, too, sitting out half the season with a shoulder injury. Other key players like Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart dealt with their own injuries.
Fast-forward to this year, and the mood is much brighter for the Knicks. They’ve entered the playoffs without any injury concerns this time around. Their official injury report for Game 2 is completely clean, as no players are sidelined.
NBA Playoffs 5/23 Play #1🃏:
— Gallery Props 🃏🚀 (@Gallery_Props) May 23, 2025
🏀:Karl-Anthony Towns Over 12.5 RA
• Towns has a 100% hit rate this playoff series (14 RA avg) against the Pacers,Finishing last game with 14 RA. He finished with 12 rebounds on 20 rebounds chances. H2H vs the pacers he has a 75% hit rate clearing… pic.twitter.com/JBj3PusOge
However, they’re currently facing an uphill battle in their series against the Pacers, being down 1-0 after a dramatic overtime loss in Game 1. The Knicks had a nine-point lead with less than a minute left, but unfortunately, they couldn’t hold onto it.
Something that Towns also acknowledged after the game. He mentioned that the team played well for most of the game but needed to tighten things up.
As the Knicks gear up for Game 2 at Madison Square Garden on Friday at 8 p.m. ET, the pressure is on to bounce back. They have a home-court advantage, and fans are hoping to see them rally and regain momentum against a Pacers team that is on a roll.
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Karl-Anthony Towns ‘Is Here To Make History’
After the Pacers staged an incredible comeback against the Knicks in Game 1, the vibe in the Big Apple was pretty gloomy. Fans couldn’t help but think back to Reggie Miller’s unforgettable performance 30 years ago.
Fans got a flashback of the game, which led to yet another painful loss at Madison Square Garden. It’s no surprise that both the media and fans started comparing the two moments.
However, rather than getting lost in the past, Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns was determined to focus on the now.
Towns made a powerful statement when asked about the similarity between the two timeframes.
“It’s our job to make history. We’re not here to repeat history, we’re here to make history,” KAT said.
Karl-Anthony Towns was asked about the long history between the Knicks and the Pacers:
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 22, 2025
"It's our job to make history. We're not here to repeat history, we're here to make history." pic.twitter.com/Xuq6MfhEDr
As the Knicks prepare to take the court again on Friday night, Towns’ attitude could be crucial for their success. The chance to turn things around and create their own history is right in front of them.
