New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives to the basket as Memphis Grizzlies forward Tyler Burton (5) defends during the second quarter at FedExForum. Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns takes game to new level in win over Grizzlies

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Apr 1, 2026 11:42 PM ET

To get the New York Knicks back on track, Karl-Anthony Towns had to take his game to a level it had yet to reach this season.

As the Knicks beat the Memphis Grizzlies 130-119, Towns stepped up with Jalen Brunson out of the lineup. He enjoyed his most dominating and complete game all year, scoring 20 points in 29 minutes while also bringing down 11 rebounds.

Add in dishing out 11 assists, and Towns recorded a triple-double, his first of the 2025-26 season.

Often a double-double machine, Karl-Anthony Towns reached his first triple-double of the season

Despite needing until April 1 to put up a triple-double, the fourth of his career, Towns still led the NBA in double-doubles with 56 entering the game.

KAT DROPPED HIS FIRST TRIPLE-DOUBLE OF THE SEASON

20 PTS (8-12 FGM)
11 REB
11 AST@nyknicks win on the road! pic.twitter.com/NdmSOScj8h
— NBA (@NBA) April 2, 2026

And in addition to doing it all, he was even efficient scoring-wise. Towns connected on 8-of-12 shots from the field for a 66.7% clip.

Towns has had an overall solid season, but faces pressure to do more

While some have argued Towns has been too inconsistent during his second full season in New York, at least based on what the Knicks need, he's now averaging 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists with a 49.6% shooting mark from the field and a 36.8% number from three.

Towns' triple-double led to the Knicks 49th win of the season, snapping a three-game losing streak. The win moved the team's record to 49-28, which is good enough to be the third seed in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks are 2.5 games back of the rival Boston Celtics for the No. 2 spot in the conference.

Relying on Towns to stay at the top of his game, the pressure is now on the Knicks to build on one win and start playing their best with the postseason on the horizon.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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