Karl-Anthony Towns credits late mother for calm feeling he had in thrilling Game 1 of NBA Finals New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns described feeling a sense of calm and peace during Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Spurs, which he attributed to the presence of his late mother. Despite the high stakes, Towns felt like a kid playing AAU games, finding comfort in this familiar feeling. His strong performance in the third quarter, including creating second-chance points and playing defense on Victor Wembanyama, helped the Knicks erase a deficit and secure a 105-95 win.

• Karl-Anthony Towns felt calm and at peace during Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Spurs.
• He attributed this feeling to the presence of his late mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns.
• Towns described the experience as feeling like a kid getting ready for Saturday AAU games.
• His play in the third quarter was crucial in erasing a 14-point deficit.
• He contributed 18 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block to the Knicks’ 105-95 victory.
• The Knicks extended their winning streak to 12 games with this playoff win.