NYK 105, CHI 99: Karl-Anthony Towns Dominates With 56 ESPN FP
Tyler Okonkwo
Student & Retail Associate ยท Houston Rockets fan
KAT Goes Supernova While Brunson Struggles: What This Means for Your Lineup
The Knicks squeaked past the Bulls 105-99 last night, and honestly, it felt like a game where fantasy guys on opposite ends of the spectrum were living in completely different universes. Karl-Anthony Towns absolutely went off for 50.2 Yahoo FP, while Jalen Brunson had one of his quieter nights of the season. This is the kind of game that reminds you why you can't just set lineups and ghost.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 56.0 | 50.2 | 28/11/2 | 19.9/11.8/2.9 | +8.1 |
| Jalen Brunson | 36.0 | 39.5 | 19/5/9 | 27.0/3.4/6.1 | -8.0 |
| OG Anunoby | 29.0 | 31.8 | 9/9/2 | 16.4/5.3/2.3 | -7.4 |
| Josh Hart | 32.0 | 30.3 | 11/9/5 | 11.9/7.5/5.2 | -0.9 |
| Guerschon Yabusele | 27.0 | 27.1 | 11/13/1 | 3.7/2.5/0.7 | +7.3 |
| Mikal Bridges | 30.0 | 26.9 | 11/2/5 | 15.7/4.2/4.0 | -4.7 |
| Nick Richards | 19.0 | 25.8 | 9/14/0 | 4.0/3.6/0.3 | +5.0 |
| Patrick Williams | 29.0 | 25.2 | 10/1/8 | 6.9/3.0/1.3 | +3.1 |
| Rob Dillingham | 24.0 | 23.8 | 8/4/4 | 4.0/1.4/1.8 | +4.0 |
| Jalen Smith | 20.0 | 20.5 | 12/5/1 | 10.2/7.0/1.3 | +1.8 |
KAT Had One of Those Nights
Karl-Anthony Towns went absolutely nuclear. 28 points on 10-17 shooting, 5 threes, 11 boards in 32 minutes. He was +8.1 on points alone compared to his season average of 19.9. This is the kind of performance that reminds you why KAT can still be a league winner on nights when everything is clicking. The efficiency was there, the volume was there, and the Knicks clearly wanted to get him looks.
Here's the thing though: this doesn't feel like a sustainable explosion. KAT's been hovering in that 18-20 PPG range all season. One elite night doesn't mean he's suddenly a 28-PPG guy. But if you're holding him, you ride this wave. If you're not, you can't just add him after one monster game. Stay the course with whatever you've been doing.
Brunson's Quiet Night Was Weird
Jalen Brunson put up 19 points with 9 assists but shot 7-19 from the field. That's not a typical Brunson line. The assists are always there, but for a guy averaging 27 PPG on great efficiency, 7-19 is flat out not what you want. He was -8.0 on scoring compared to his season average, which is significant for an All-NBA Second Team guy. The Knicks still won, so the offensive burden just shifted elsewhere (thanks, KAT), but Brunson owners probably felt that one.
This is a "don't panic" situation. One tough shooting night doesn't change the fact that Brunson is one of the league's most reliable scorers. Back him in your lineup next time.
The Deep Bench Had a Party
The real wild card story here is the Bulls role players going absolutely off. Guerschon Yabusele isn't someone you're probably rostering in most leagues, but he dropped 11/13 with three threes in 29 minutes. That's +7.3 on scoring. Nick Richards pulled down 14 boards in just 23 minutes and added 9 points. That's +10.4 on the glass alone. Patrick Williams went 10/1/8 with 8 assists off the bench in 27 minutes.
Look, the Bulls lost, so don't get too excited about any of these guys. But Nick Richards might actually be someone worth eyeing on the waiver wire. If he's maintaining 14 rebound nights and working in the paint like that, even limited minutes make him valuable in deeper leagues. He's buried on most rosters but last night showed he can produce when given opportunity.
Yabusele is more of a one-game anomaly. He's averaging 3.7 PPG. One big night doesn't change that.
The Real Story: Role Distribution
What actually happened here is the Knicks decided to feed KAT more than usual, which naturally meant Brunson got fewer touches. The beauty of the modern Knicks is they have enough weapons that any night could belong to different guys. OG Anunoby was steady with 31.8 Yahoo FP (though -7.4 on scoring), and Josh Hart was exactly what you want from him, efficient and pulling the glass with 9 boards.
The takeaway isn't that Brunson is cooked or KAT is suddenly your new franchise guy. It's that the Knicks have different gears and opponents see it too. If you're in a league where you can trade, knowing this flexibility exists is valuable information.
Who Got Snubbed
Mikal Bridges was quiet with 26.9 Yahoo FP, -4.7 on scoring. He's still doing everything else well, but he only shot 4-10. Not worried.
Rob Dillingham looked solid in limited minutes with 23.8 Yahoo FP, but he's still not someone you're building around.
The Bottom Line
One team played better last night and won. Fantasy-wise, you got a reminder that even the most consistent scorers have off nights (Brunson) and that role guys can step up when volume allows. Don't overreact to either. The Knicks are still the Knicks and KAT didn't suddenly become a 28-PPG scorer. Hold what you've got, stay patient, and know that in a 82-game season, last night is just one data point.