© Rick Osentoski/Imagn
The New York Knicks will hope to bounce back in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Friday night. But many Knicks fans are still wondering what went wrong in Wednesday’s brutal Game 1 collapse at Madison Square Garden, and a new video of star players Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby won’t make those fans feel any more at ease.
The video shows Anunoby and Towns express frustration with one another while still leading 123-118 with 34 seconds left in regulation. Anunoby walks up to Towns and seemingly tries to explain his point of view on an earlier play, but Towns brushes him off, incensing Anunoby. The argument continues before star point guard Jalen Brunson then joins the fray and seemingly tells both of them to calm down.
Immaculate vibes🤣 pic.twitter.com/PnRXGJaFmd
— Art Vandelay (@El_Jeffe_Dinero) May 22, 2025
Defensive Breakdown Led To Altercation Between New York Knicks Stars
Former Villanova star Allan Ray took to X to try to explain what he felt happened in the moment.
“Here is some context,” Ray posted. “After Kat switched on the screen, you can see him yelling at OG to pick up Nesmith…OG was sleep here on defense and too far back in drop coverage. When they go in the huddle Kat is mad… and OG is trying to plead his case. Brunson has to come in and stop the bickering.. The Knicks were still winning at this point..”
Things only got worse for Anunoby after that point. He had a chance to extend New York’s lead to three points with 7.5 seconds remaining, but he missed the first of his two free throw attempts. Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton then went down and hit a game-tying shot to send the game to overtime, and the rest is history.
Neither Towns nor Anunoby spoke about the moment after the game. But it was clear that things were already falling apart for the Knicks well before Anunoby’s free throw miss or Haliburton’s shot. Whether or not New York can refocus and lock in for Friday’s game could well determine the fate of its season.