It didn’t even take one minute into the second quarter for Karl-Anthony Towns to pick up his third foul, too.
He was whistled for his latest as Tyrese Maxey tried to drive around the Knicks’ center, and Towns was forced to join backup center Ariel Hukporti on the bench. Mike Brown decided to use a lineup of Jose Alvarado, OG Anunoby, Miles McBride, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges, with both Brunson and Towns on the bench.
Operating without Brunson and Towns has been a risk for Brown. A highly criticized one, too, back in the first-round series against the Hawks. These next few minutes will test the Knicks, especially with Maxey still on the court for Philadelphia.