Knicks’ Defense Collapses From Deep When Karl-Anthony Towns Is On Court—Pacers Shooting Nearly 50%

The New York Knicks are staring down a 2-0 series hole in the Eastern Conference Finals, and while their offense has sputtered in critical moments, the root cause of their collapse is unfolding on the other end of the court. Simply put: when Karl-Anthony Towns is on the floor, the Indiana Pacers are lighting them up from beyond the arc.

Through two games, the numbers are damning. The Pacers are shooting 47.7% (21-for-44) from deep when Towns is on the court. When he's off, that number plummets to just 30.4% (7-for-23). 

That 17 percentage point swing from the perimeter is no coincidence, it’s a reflection of defensive breakdowns that follow Towns’ presence in space.

Indiana's offensive design, pace, spacing, and five-out movement thrives on exploiting slower-footed bigs, and they’ve repeatedly drawn Towns into mismatches. 

Whether it's Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, or even T.J. McConnell, the Pacers are punishing the Knicks anytime Towns switches or hesitates in defensive rotations. The three-point barrage has become their sharpest weapon, and New York hasn’t found a way to plug the leak.

In Game 2, that strategic targeting became glaringly obvious. Towns registered a game-worst minus-20 in his 28 minutes, and it wasn’t just about missed shots. 

The Pacers shot 9-of-18 from three with Towns on the court and only 4-of-12 without him. Coach Tom Thibodeau responded by benching Towns for over six minutes in the fourth quarter, turning to Mitchell Robinson for a defensive spark.

Robinson, far more agile defending the perimeter and in pick-and-rolls, played a postseason-high 29 minutes. His presence helped tighten the gaps, and the Knicks mounted a late push with him anchoring the paint. 

Yet by the time Towns re-entered with just 2:25 left and the deficit unchanged at nine points, the damage was already done.

The dilemma for Thibodeau now becomes one of identity. Towns is an All-NBA selection, a 24.4-point scorer who also shot a career-best 42% from three this year. His offensive value is clear. But in this series, his inability to guard in space is directly contributing to Indiana’s most lethal weapon, the three-point shot.

Pascal Siakam’s 39-point Game 2 outburst included multiple scores directly facilitated by defensive lapses, whether in transition or off missed rotations. And when New York brought extra help on Haliburton, the Pacers kicked it to the corners, with players like Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard knocking down clutch threes.

The Knicks' starting five, including Towns, has now been outscored by 50 points this postseason, including minus-29 in the first two games of this series. That stat isn’t just a number, it’s a cry for a rotation change.

No decision has been made yet on whether Towns will continue to start or close in Game 3, but Thibodeau’s Game 2 choices suggest his patience is wearing thin. If New York can’t contain the three with Towns on the court, they may not get a Game 5.

As the Knicks head to Indiana, where the Pacers are unbeaten this postseason, they face more than just a hostile crowd. They face the tactical challenge of whether Karl-Anthony Towns’ offensive brilliance is worth the defensive bleeding he invites. And right now, that answer might define their season.