The reversal in Indiana is even more of a redemption for Towns and the Knicks

TA/James L. Edwards III

Carl Anthony Towns has a tattoo behind his right ear, and you have to fold your ears to see the ink marks.

The one that says "4:/13" and has a dual meaning. First, it is a tribute to his favorite Bible chapter Philippians 4:13 - "I can do everything by the one who gives me strength." Another meaning is deeper. Five years ago, during the epidemic, Towns' mother Jacqueline Cruz Towns passed away. A young man suddenly lost his mother, his asylum. Towns' mother passed away on April 13, 2020. The date is 4/13.

"4:/13" is the intersection of two souls.

On Sunday, Towns was reminded of his mother's existence again and again. This is not just another important game where she was not on the sidelines to cheer him on. In the past, she always sat behind the bench. If she was not in that familiar position, Towns could always find her quickly, because her voice could always overshadow the noisiest noise in the crowd, and the passionate encouragement came into his ears just as the moon could always find the night. And the third match of the Eastern Conference Final on Sunday happened to be Mother's Day in the Dominican Republic. Towns' mother is a Dominican, and he has always proudly supported his own bloodline and even played on behalf of the country's national team.

(In this archived June 25, 2015 photo, Carl Anthony Towns' mother Jacqueline Cruz Towns put on makeup before the NBA draft. Her son was selected as No. 1 by the Minnesota Timberwolves.)

Towns' excitement when he switched to New York from Minnesota last offseason was due to his upbringing. His mother is a hardcore Knicks fan. The family grew up in New Jersey, not far from Madison Square Garden. For Towns, becoming a Knicks player is not only a career choice, but also an emotional honor: because that is his mother's love and roots.

This is why this game is so special. He didn't just save New York's season when he scored 20 points in the fourth quarter, scored three points in various positions, and helped the team pull back from almost being pulled open to 0-3 to 1-2. Every shot is a gift to my mother.

Downs said after the game that he also wore a wristband with a "4/13" stitched: "My mom's family sent me a message saying they would watch the game with several of my aunts. It's a great deal to play on such a day. Although I don't know if my mom expected me to perform like this tonight, I'm glad our team won the game on her day."

For most of this game, it seemed impossible for the Knicks to win. New York has been lagging behind Pacers by up to 20 points. Even if the score difference is not that big, the Knicks are behind double digits most of the night. They played in a mess and looked like a team ready to "go to the beach vacation." Even Towns was almost invisible in the first half. He only played for 13 minutes and was constantly in trouble with fouls. At the end of the half, he scored only 4 points, while the team fell behind with 13 points.

Downs' performance in the third quarter was not much better. He still scored zero points, but he made another foul. He only made an attack once in this quarter and played for 8 minutes. However, the Knicks were only 10 points behind in the fourth quarter, thanks in large part to head coach Tom Thibodeau's willingness to give it a try and try every means to save the season. He even activated Landry Shamet and Delang Wright, two players who had little playoff time. It was their efforts, coupled with Miles McBride's precise shots, and Josh Hart's desperate performance as always, that gave New York a chance again.

And at this moment, Towns finally "online".

He made consecutive three-pointers in the fourth quarter and could even make a shot when he fell. He broke through Indiana's Miles Turner and Tony Bradley and finished a layup with one kick. He made a move in the back and hit the board accurately.

Downs scored only 4 points and 7 rebounds as he entered the fourth quarter, but when he left the stadium, the statistics had turned into 24 points and 15 rebounds, and also brought a key victory to the team to save the season.

McBride said of Towns: "I feel like when he scored that three and started pointing to the audience to celebrate, I knew he found form. Seriously, he was a special player. He did what he should do tonight."

And this performance was the response after the second defeat. In that game, Towns hardly played in the fourth quarter. He only played 28 minutes in the game because the Knicks performed better when Mitchell Robinson was on the court. This is also the least match that Towns has played since December last year.

Tibodeau said: "Everyone has his own strengths and weaknesses. We have always emphasized that we should play smart, and playing smart means to play your strengths and cover up your weaknesses. You cannot reach this stage without great abilities. So, no matter what you are good at, we want you to devote yourself to it. Not only do you know what you are good at, but also what your teammates are good at. Guide them to do what they are good at. , help them make up for their shortcomings. In this way, you are playing team basketball and can truly improve your chances of winning. "

"We all know that KAT is a very talented scorer. He can score at three levels: outside the three-point line, breaking the ball with the ball, and playing singles with the basket, and playing singles with the basket. So, as long as he remains aggressive, it will be a huge benefit for us."

Downs has been repeatedly chewing on the meaning of this sentence for the past 48 hours.

Downs said: "My teammates put me in a great position and gave me a chance to succeed. I just wanted to seize the opportunity. Each of us was going all out and put ourselves in a position that could help the team get back to the game and win in the end."

"I saw an opportunity that belonged to us. That game was not going well for me, or for all of us. I just wanted to do everything I could to give us a chance to win. As I said, it was proof of my teammates' trust in me: they put me in a position where I can play my abilities."

New York needed Towns to come forward, he did; Towns needed a stage, he got it. The combination saved the Knicks’ season.

But the meaning is much more than that. Towns was able to commemorate his mother this night, paying tribute to his family and nation with a smile, while winning the competition under the global attention.

This is the most moving part of sports, it is a wonderful moment that cannot be written in the script.

For some people, that round orange basketball carries much more meaning than you can see on the surface.