The New York Knicks saw their season come to an abrupt end after a 125-108 defeat to the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and Karl-Anthony Towns didn’t hold back in addressing the sting of elimination.
Speaking to reporters postgame, Towns admitted the pain of falling short after a season defined by major changes and rising expectations.
“You make the moves to win,” Towns said. “So it hurts. It hurts to not bring an opportunity to the city for a championship.”
The Knicks, who had added Towns in a major offseason trade to pair with Jalen Brunson, reached the Conference Finals for the first time in over two decades but were outmatched by a surging Pacers team that shot over 54 percent from the field.
“We got a bunch of great guys in that locker room,” Towns continued. “The plan now is to put ourselves in this position again and succeed next time.”
Towns finished the game with 22 points and 14 rebounds, but New York was undone by a decisive third-quarter surge from Indiana and 17 turnovers that turned into 34 Pacers points.
Jalen Brunson, who scored 19 points but struggled with ball security, echoed the frustration.
“Sucks, man. Simple as that. It sucks,” Brunson said.
Asked about the duo’s first season together, Brunson emphasized the strong bond built with Towns despite the disappointment.
“I think we definitely grew,” Brunson said. “It’s a lot of fun playing with KAT, man… he’s one of the best teammates. Just sucks we couldn’t get it done tonight. But I got a lot of faith in him.”
Towns returned the praise with a heartfelt response.
“JB’s one of those teammates, when he steps in the building, he raises everyone’s energy,” Towns said. “It’s a blessing and an honor that I get to play with Jalen Brunson.”
Despite the defeat, both players emphasized their belief in the team’s foundation.
“I’m okay with that. I don’t really care what people think about us on the outside,” Brunson said. “I know what we got.”
As the Pacers move on to face the Thunder in the NBA Finals, Towns made it clear that the Knicks’ objective won’t change heading into the next season.
“We just got to find a way to win next time,” he said.
