Karl-Anthony Towns hasn’t recovered from his thumb injury, but he is adjusting to life with it. After hitting just 1-of-10 3-point shots in three games since returning from a bone chip and sprained right thumb, the Knicks big man was 2-for-4 from long range in Monday’s 143-106 win over Memphis at Madison Square Garden.

Before losing to the Dallas Mavericks 4-1 in the Western Conference Finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves stunningly beat the 2023 NBA champion Nuggets in a massive Game 7 comeback. Aside from Timberwolves star guard Anthony Edwards ' heroics, Towns' shocking defensive performance set the tone for what the Knicks see in the 2024-25 season.