Karl-Anthony Towns: 'We decided to do something different and it didn't work'

New York Knicks player Karl-Anthony Towns lamented that the team's decision to change their approach led to their defeat in Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. The Knicks, who had enjoyed a 13-game playoff winning streak, lost 115-111 after committing crucial turnovers. "We didn't do what we had been doing for those 13 games. We decided to do something different and that doesn't work," Towns admitted during a press conference. He specifically pointed to ball handling issues, stating, "Giving away balls is a very clear way to lose a game, especially in the playoffs." Towns himself had a subpar performance, scoring 11 points and grabbing 8 rebounds, a significant drop from his averages of 19.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in the first two Finals games. The Knicks' 13 turnovers directly resulted in 21 points for the Spurs, exacerbating their struggles. While Knicks coach Mike Brown expressed frustration with the officiating and the disparity in free throws, Towns focused on the team's internal shortcomings. When asked about his coach's comments, Towns reiterated, "That didn't cost us the game. We lost balls, we didn't execute well, and we didn't do the things that led us to win 13 games in a row. That's how you lose a game."

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We didn't do what we had been doing for those 13 games. We decided to do something different and that doesn't work.