Karl-Anthony Towns dominates despite brutal outside shots

Karl-Anthony Towns is waiting for his famous shot to shine with his new team, but that didn't stop the center from cracking the box in an impressive pre-season game.

Towns, making his home debut with the Knicks and acknowledging the pressure is mounting at MSG, made just one of his seven 3-point attempts, including a blown-up 3-pointer, in Wednesday's loss to the Wizards, 117-94. Points throw that caused a short groan from the audience.

But the fans' fear turned to ovation when Towns was subbed off for the final time in the fourth quarter after scoring 25 points and 12 rebounds despite the erratic jumper.

The center got to the foul line – knocked down 10 of 11 from there – and showed off his game-playing skills with a post-up hook shot, a backdoor pass to Jalen Brunson and a number of other moves with the ball.

“There will be tough nights where I don’t shoot well, especially at the Garden,” Towns said. “Obviously the pressure is different. Show my teammates and the fans mental toughness even when things aren't going well. I'll either continue on defense or just find the right rhythm sooner rather than later in the game. For me it's just about staying mentally strong, continuing to fight through the adversity and making a few shots when we needed to take the lead. I’m just glad I was able to learn a little bit through a game like this.”

Towns, who played 28 minutes, was the Knicks' best player in the third quarter as the home team secured the emphatic victory with a 19-9 run.

“He maybe pushed a little bit the first time here,” Tom Thibodeau said. “I like the look he has. Just be patient. At the end of the day it will work itself out. And it did. He stuck with it. He wasn't deterred. I thought he would have done a little more playmaking and that would have led to easier baskets. …He made his way to the basket. He came to the line. He got a couple of layups. He is a very talented goalscorer. He can score in many different ways. He can score from the 3-point line. He can score from the jump. He can score back to the basket. So if things don't work out in one area, go back to setting up the game. This opens the word to everyone.”

Patrick Ewing was again not an official member of the Knicks at Wednesday's preseason opener, but Thibodeau outlined the job description of the newly created role of “basketball ambassador.”

“It will be invaluable for us to work with me and share his thoughts. “He'll be here sometimes and sometimes he'll be remotely, watching the games and giving feedback,” Thibodeau said. “I also work with team president Leon (Rose) in the front office and (general manager William) Wesley. I think it can help from that perspective too.

“And I think the fact that I'm obviously a Hall of Fame player, one of the all-time great Knicks, the perspective of a former player, talking to our players and understanding that New York went through everything here has. His career obviously speaks for itself. Every year he was here and healthy, you felt like you had a chance to win it.”

Brunson, the newly crowned team captain, replaced Julius Randle as the final Knicks player announced in the starting lineup for home games.

“NO. 11, Jalen Brunson,” the announcer bellowed.

The lineup order was as follows: Towns, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Brunson.

In another sign of status, Hart's locker was moved to Randle's long-time spot, Bridges took Hart's old spot, and Towns went to Donte DiVincenzo's former locker (which used to be Carmelo Anthony's primary spot).

Mitchell Robinson, out indefinitely with an injury related to his multiple foot/ankle surgeries, is “just doing rehab stuff,” Thibodeau said when asked if the center was on the court.

Robinson did not travel with the Knicks to training camp in Charleston, S.C., but instead stayed near the training facility in Westchester. A source said Robinson could return in December or January, but noted the situation was uncertain.

Robinson was not on the Knicks' bench during preseason training on Wednesday.