Let’s get one thing straight from the jump: the phrase "Towns Was Supposed To Get The Ball At The End Of Game 4 And Other Knicks Tidbits" is a beautiful piece of Knicks fan folklore - but it’s also a time-traveling typo. Karl-Anthony Towns wasn’t in a Knicks uniform for that infamous 2024 blowout in Indiana. But here’s the thing: the feeling behind that headline is as real as a midtown traffic jam. Whether it’s Jalen Brunson waving off a screen or KAT setting a ghost screen, the anxiety about who closes crunch time is baked into this franchise’s DNA.
So, let’s untangle the mess, look at what actually happened, and pivot to the 2025-26 Knicks - because that’s where the real juice is. Buckle up, Orange & Blue.
The Misremembered Classic: What Actually Happened in Game 4?
Let’s rewind to May 12, 2024. The Knicks were in Indianapolis, down 1-2 to the Pacers, and the wheels fell off spectacularly. Final score? 89-121. Ugly. The narrative you’re referencing? That belongs to Jalen Brunson, not Towns. Brunson poured in 26 points, but the game was over by the third quarter. The "he was supposed to get the ball at the end" chatter was about Brunson’s heavy usage and a stagnant offense - not a Towns takeover that never materialized.
So, Why Does the Myth Persist?
Because Knicks fans are emotionally scarred. The 2024 playoff run was a glorious, injury-ravaged disaster. The 2025 rematch against Indy ended in Game 7 heartbreak at the Garden. And now, in 2026, the fanbase is desperate for a closer who can get a clean look when the game hangs in the balance. Towns is the new shiny toy - acquired in September 2024 - and fans naturally project their fantasies onto him. The "Game 4" headline is just a cheap hook for a much deeper worry: Who is the alpha in the fourth quarter?
| Player | 4th Quarter PPG | FG% (Clutch) | Usage Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Brunson | 8.4 | 44.2% | 31.5% |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 5.1 | 38.7% | 22.1% |
| Mikal Bridges | 3.8 | 41.3% | 18.9% |
KAT’s Reality Check: The 2025 Postseason That Stung
Let’s talk numbers. In the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals loss to Indiana, Towns averaged 20.9 points and 10.7 rebounds. Solid. But here’s the cruncher: his three-point shooting fell off a cliff in the elimination Game 7. He looked hesitant, not aggressive. For a max-contract big man, that’s a problem. The Knicks didn’t trade Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo for a guy who fades in the biggest moments.
📊 KAT shot just 23.1% from three in the 2025 ECSF Game 7 elimination loss - The Knicks are 0-2 in playoff series with Towns as the starting center.
The Fix for 2026: It’s Not About Iso-Ball
The Knicks don’t need Towns to be a back-to-the-basket banger every possession. They need him to be a screening monster for Brunson, a floor-spacing threat who punishes switches, and a rebounding vacuum when the Pacers (or whoever) go small. The blueprint is there: use Towns as the release valve, not the primary engine. If he’s slipping screens at the top of the key and hitting that 3-ball at a 38% clip, the late-game offense becomes a nightmare for defenses. If he’s stationary at the elbow waiting for a post-up, we’re in for another frustrating spring.
The 2026 Knicks Master Plan: Bridges, Brunson, and the New-Look Bench
Here’s the good news: the front office isn’t sitting still. Mikal Bridges re-signed for four years and $156 million in July 2025 - that’s your two-way wing who can guard the other team’s best scorer and hit open threes. Tyrese Martin is on a two-way deal as a developmental flier. But the rotation needs a proven backup point guard and a physical rim protector behind Towns. The defense was leaky in those late playoff games, and that’s where games are won.
A Sub-Head: The X-Factor No One Talks About
Keep an eye on Josh Hart in 2026. He’s the heart-and-soul guy who does the dirty work - but he shot under 30% from deep in the 2025 playoffs. If he regresses to the mean as a corner shooter, the Knicks’ spacing improves dramatically. That’s the quiet key to unlocking both Brunson’s driving lanes and Towns’ pop-out threes.
