Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns vows to shoot through three-point slump

MIAMI – Karl-Anthony Towns isn’t blinking in the face of his shooting slump.

The Knicks’ All-Star big man said he will continue shooting from deep despite a cold start to the season under new head coach Mike Brown.

“I thought I took a few shots that were good, that felt good. It just didn’t go in,” Towns said after shooting 1 of 7 from three in Monday’s loss to the Heat. “The numbers will always be good, the averages will always be equal. I have confidence in my shot.”

Towns finished with 22 points and 16 rebounds on 7-of-20 shooting, but missed his first six threes before finally connecting with 22.4 seconds left — a late score that cut Miami’s lead to one before the Knicks ultimately fell by two.

The talented Knicks big man now has more games with one or fewer threes (7) than games with two or more (6).

“I’m going to keep shooting, keep being aggressive,” he said after the fourth straight loss on the road in New York. “Continue to find ways to impact winning and hopefully help us win games.”

Towns believes he’s the best shooting center of all time, and his resume matches that statement: the only big man to win the NBA’s three-point contest (2022) and a career 40% shooter from deep. But he’s only at 34.8 percent this season, which would be his lowest mark since his freshman year.

“I thought we made some good shots. We just didn’t make them,” he said. “It’s unfortunate. I can only speak for myself.”

The Knicks collectively shot 9 of 36 (25%) from three while playing without Jalen Brunson (ankle) and OG Anunoby (hamstring).

“Most of the looks from the three-point line, I’ll take them any day of the week,” Brown said. “They looked good by a few of our guys and we usually knock them over. They didn’t come in today.”

Brown noted that New York typically gets closer to 40 attempts per game.

“A few of them were rushed and contested,” he said. “But we had some in the second half that I thought were wide open and normally go downhill. That’s just not the case.”

BROWN: “I MUST BE BETTER”

Brown was also blamed for burning through his coach’s challenge in the first half – a move that cost the Knicks critical time.

“It was a bad challenge for me. I need to be better,” he said. “As much as I tell these guys to be better, I have to be better.”

Brown challenged an offensive foul on Josh Hart off a dribble early in the game.

“It was a bad challenge for the simple fact that I couldn’t use it in the second half because I missed the shot in the first half,” he said. “I have to be better at this. … Ultimately, we have to leave the officials alone.”

Hart didn’t remember the sequence with much clarity.

“I don’t know,” he said. “They called a foul, so yeah. That’s how it is.”

MCBRIDE LAUNCHES 1ST DUNK OF THE SEASON

Miles McBride delivered the highlight of the night – a one-handed transition dunk against Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. in the fourth quarter.

“I needed it,” he said. “But it would have been much better with a victory.”

McBride has four dunks in 2023, 12 in 2024 and 10 in 2025. Monday’s slam was his first of the 2025-2026 season.

“I love that you all remember [my dunks]. I’m hoarding them,” he said. “But it feels good. I have to continue to attack the basket with strength.