New York Knicks

Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns took a team-high 20 shots but made only six efforts in Wednesday's Game 1 loss to the Mavericks, posting 16 points. Towns' inefficiency from the field ended up being costly for the team, as the Timberwolves suffered a narrow three-point defeat. Half of his misses came from downtown with nine attempts, and Towns was also limited to seven rebounds while registering two assists and one steal. With Anthony Edwards also struggling to score, the two Timberwolves stars combined for 12-for-36 shooting. Yet, the team was still close to walking away with the victory. We should see a much-improved effort from the star duo in Friday's Game 2.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (hand) underwent successful surgery on his left hand, which he injured in the Game 7 Eastern Conference semifinals loss to the Pacers. He will be re-evaluated in six to eight weeks. Brunson, who is expected to sign a lucrative extension this summer, finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging a career-high 28.7 points and 6.7 assists in 77 appearances. He also received MVP consideration. The 27-year-old should be good to go before training camp starts, barring a setback, and he's expected to be a top-10 fantasy option in all formats heading into the new season.

New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson is expected to sign a massive four-year, $156 million contract extension this summer, according to Steve Popper of Newsday Sports. Brunson fractured his left hand during Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Indiana. Across 13 postseason contests, the 27-year-old was phenomenal, averaging 32.4 points, 7.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.8 steals in 39.8 minutes per contest.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns registered his third double-double in four games against Denver on Sunday, leading the team to a 98-90 Game 7 victory. Towns was tied for most points on the team with 23 and grabbed 12 rebounds. He was limited to only 1-for-6 shooting from three-point range but finished 8-for-14 overall from the field and made a large impact all over the court. In 39 minutes, Towns was able to add two assists, two steals, and one block to his line. After years of misery in Minneapolis, Towns has finally made it to the Conference Finals, but he faces another tough matchup. Dallas has a lot of frontcourt depth, which will make it a challenging series for Towns.

New York Knicks forward Josh Hart (abdomen) was available for Sunday's pivotal meeting with the Pacers after suffering an abdominal strain on Friday night. However, while Hart should be recognized for his willingness to play through the ailment, he struggled to a degree, ending the afternoon with 10 points and shooting 3-for-9 from the field and 0-for-4 from deep. Hart did add eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Yet, it was apparent he wasn't fully healthy. With the Knicks eliminated from the playoffs, Hart will get some rest and prepare for the 2024-25 campaign. He appeared in 81 games for New York during the regular season, and although he isn't the most consistent on the offensive end, he'll see plenty of interest from fantasy managers.