The New York Knicks sent the Atlanta Hawks packing with one of the worst playoff losses recorded in ‌NBA history. In a playoff game when everything was clicking for the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns also found a way to impact the game despite his shooting struggles.

Towns scored just 12 points on 1 of 4 shooting from the field. But he was +35 in plus/minus. Towns recorded a triple-double, adding 11 rebounds and 10 assists in 28 minutes. When asked about impacting the game as a big man, Towns revealed how NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal’s inspiration affected the early years of his career.

“You know, you grow up, you're watching the Lakers win with Shaq and Kobe, and for me as a big man, I just wanted to dominate the game like Shaq, you know, especially in these moments,” Towns said, pointing to how his idea of impacting the game changed over time.

“So, when you get older, you realize that, you know, impact and winning is the most important thing…I just want to impact winning, and I'm very honored and blessed, all glory to God that I've been able to do that in this series.”

This was Towns’ second triple-double in this series. Previously, he came up big for his team in Game 4 when New York entered the series trailing 2-1 in the series. Towns recorded a 20-point triple-double with 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

But this is just the start of the journey the Knicks plan on taking. Tougher opponents stand in their way, but Towns is ready for the challenge.

“But you got to reset, you got to do it again. I always talk about the word consistency. We got to be consistent in being this version that we show tonight…the series is over. You got to go back, we got to reset,” he added.

With his recent elite all-around performances, Towns and company could be looking at a championship run.

Karl-Anthony Towns joins NBA elites after triple-double in Knicks’ win

Towns’ triple-double could not have come at a better time, both personally and for his team as well. After his Game 6, Towns now joins the elite club of NBA legends.

KAT is now the only player after Walt Frazier to record multiple triple‑doubles in Knicks playoff history, and he’s done all of them in the same series.

Moreover, he has also joined the great Wilt Chamberlain as the only 7-footer to record multiple playoff triple-doubles. Chamberlain recorded a total of nine in his career.

Towns is slowly learning the art of impacting and winning the game, and that has resulted in two triple-doubles in this series alone, and it probably won’t be the last time. When he takes on the winner of the Boston Celtics vs. the Philadelphia 76ers series, fans can hope he will record a few more.

How many triple-doubles do you think KAT can record in the Eastern Conference semifinals? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Nandjee Ranjan

Edited by

Surjo Roy