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It was just three games.
Three regular-season games.
But, oh, what a three games it was: 30.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 46.7 percent from 3-point range in 36.5 minutes per contest.
That’s how Karl-Anthony Towns performed against the Pacers this season.
His NET rating was plus-10.5 (meaning the Knicks outscored Indiana by 10.5 points per 100 possessions with the court-spacing big man on the floor), and the Knicks won two of the three meetings. The 7-footer clearly matches up well against the Pacers, a potential major factor in this upcoming series.
Against the Celtics, he was frequently asked to defend All-Star wings Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum (before Tatum suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury in Game 4) on switches.
But Towns will likely spend a lot of time guarding Myles Turner, a shotmaking big man similar to himself. During the regular season, Turner posted solid numbers against Towns and the Knicks, averaging 19.5 points, 2.5 blocks and shooting 45.5 percent from 3 on 5.5 attempts. However, he did post a minus-7.9 NET rating.
Towns’ postseason has been a mixed bag after a terrific regular season. He’s averaging 19.8 points, 11.3 rebounds and 0.9 blocks. He’s only shooting 34.1 percent on 3.7 attempts from distance, both well down from the regular season, when he shot a blistering 42 percent on 4.7 tries.
But Towns was a major part of the Knicks closing out the upset of the Celtics with a big Game 6, producing 21 points and 12 rebounds.
He made only 1-of-6 3-point attempts, but the shots were there, which the Knicks had talked about needing to create throughout the series.
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Most importantly, Towns came out aggressive in that contest, attacking the basket and using his size, instead of settling for contested jump shots. It made a big difference after his Game 5 no-show.
“That helps set the tone for the game. I thought [he was] super aggressive at the start of the game,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He got established, and then the rebounding and his pick-and-roll defense was outstanding. We were able to play off that. It gives us another threat.”
Clearly, the Knicks are going to ride Jalen Brunson. But when others, like Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby produce, they are far more potent. In their eight playoff wins, Towns is averaging 21.2 points. In the four losses, he is managing 16.7 points.
“My teammates trusted me in positions to score, and I’m glad I was able to repay their trust with some buckets,” he said after Game 6. “So it’s really a testament to my teammates keeping me involved and allowing me to be aggressive and it’s because of these guys up here that we got the win.”
This series will mark the fourth time the teams have met in the Eastern Conference finals, with the Knicks winning in 1994 and 1999 and Pacers advancing in 2000.
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They faced off a year ago in the second round. Indiana rallied from a 2-0 series deficit to win in seven. The Knicks were significantly shorthanded last spring, and they made major changes to their roster.
“Obviously, they’ve added Mikal from last season,” Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton told reporters over the weekend. “Mitchell Robinson’s health. He wasn’t healthy last year. KAT’s obviously a huge addition.”
That was evident during the regular season, considering how well Towns performed against the Pacers. The Knicks hope the playoffs are a continuation of that trend.
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