'Disappointed' Towns says Knicks tabling extension...

Match Overview

Karl-Anthony Towns addressed lingering contract uncertainty following the New York Knicks’ 116-109 defeat to the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night. Reports surfaced prior to tip-off indicating the Knicks front office has shelved preliminary talks regarding an early contract extension, prompting a blunt reaction from the All-Star center.

Towns tallied 26 points and 14 rebounds in 37 minutes, but Boston pulled away with a decisive 14-4 run midway through the fourth quarter. The defeat snapped New York’s three-game winning streak and shifted focus directly to Towns’ long-term status with the franchise.

“I’m disappointed, honestly,” Towns said in his postgame availability. “That’s news to me. My focus has been strictly on winning basketball games and integrating into this system, so hearing that through the media isn’t ideal.”

Key Stats & Facts

• Game Box Score: Boston Celtics 116, New York Knicks 109
• Team Shooting: Celtics 47.1% FG (41/87), 39.5% 3PT (17/43) | Knicks 44.8% FG (39/87), 32.4% 3PT (11/34)
• Rebounding Battle: Knicks 48 (13 offensive), Celtics 42 (8 offensive)
• Turnovers & Points Off: Knicks 14 turnovers (leading to 19 Boston points); Celtics 9 turnovers (leading to 10 New York points)
• Contract Status: Towns is under contract through 2026-27 (with a $61.1 million player option for 2027-28) after signing a four-year, $224 million supermax extension originally with Minnesota.
• Double-Double Total: Towns secured his 38th double-double of the campaign, ranking inside the NBA’s top five this season.

Player Spotlight: Karl-Anthony Towns

Towns carried the offensive load inside for New York, shooting 9-of-17 from the field, 2-of-5 from three-point range, and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. Despite his efficiency, New York struggled to generate consistent offense down the stretch, posting a -8 plus/minus during his final eight minutes on the floor.

Towns Individual Totals vs. Boston

• Minutes: 37:12
• Points: 26
• Rebounds: 14 (4 offensive)
• Assists: 3
• Blocks: 1
• True Shooting Percentage (TS%): 66.2%

The center is currently averaging 24.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists on 53.2% shooting across 54 starts this season.

Standings Impact

The loss drops New York to 36-21, keeping them fourth in the Eastern Conference but widening the gap behind third-placed Milwaukee to 1.5 games. Boston improves to 42-16, consolidating second place behind the conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers (45-12).

New York maintains a 2.0-game cushion over the fifth-place Indiana Pacers (34-23). The Knicks conclude their two-game homestand on Saturday when they host the Philadelphia 76ers.