What happened: Karl-Anthony Towns is facing intense scrutiny for a scoreless fourth-quarter drought through the first three games of the NBA Finals. While the Knicks have surged to a 3-0 series lead, Towns has been noticeably passive in closing stretches.
Why it matters: His late-game disappearance leaves Jalen Brunson as the lone primary scoring threat in crunch time, a potential vulnerability despite the series advantage. Analysts have noted a significant drop in Towns' usage and aggression after halftime, contrasting with his strong starts.
By the numbers: Towns has recorded zero points in the fourth quarter of the series, shooting 0-for-6 in 29 total minutes. He has averaged 11.3 points in the first half of games before his offensive output disappeared late.
What to watch: The Knicks look to clinch the franchise's first title since 1973 tonight in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden. Towns will aim to break his scoring drought and help New York complete the sweep.