Josh Minott fires back at Karl-Anthony Towns’ ‘physicality’ after Nets push Knicks to the brink
josh minott put a pointed spotlight on Karl-Anthony Towns’ “physicality” in the immediate aftermath of the Brooklyn Nets’ one-point loss to the New York Knicks on Friday. The Knicks escaped with a 93-92 win in Brooklyn, but they labored for long stretches against a shorthanded Nets group that leaned on aggressive defense. The remarks landed as the game itself did: sharp, direct, and hard to ignore, as both teams walked away with fresh fuel from a night that nearly flipped.
What happened in Brooklyn, and why the comments hit hard
The Knicks “narrowly escaped embarrassment” in the 93-92 finish, facing a Nets rotation described as comprised primarily of rookies, two-way players, and a two-day signee. Despite that, Brooklyn’s pressure and physical approach kept New York uncomfortable through much of the night, with the Knicks scoring just 14 points in the first quarter and Towns going scoreless in that opening period.
New York steadied late. Towns and Jalen Brunson rebounded from slow starts, and Towns found his rhythm in the second half to help shut the door on a Brooklyn comeback in the final minutes.
Josh Minott: “He don’t like physicality”
After the game, josh minott, a Nets forward, explained Brooklyn’s defensive focus and didn’t mince words about what he believes bothers Towns.
“I played with KAT for two-and-a-half years [in Minnesota]. I know him like [the back of my hand], and he don’t like physicality, ” Minott said. “I love KAT, but he don’t like physicality. That’s my boy, too. I hope this angers him. But we were just real connected on bringing that physicality to him. He started snapping in the second half. He’s a really talented player. But we were gonna do everything in our power to stop him. ”
Minott backed up the talk with a team-leading scoring night for Brooklyn, finishing with 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field and 6-of-9 from three. Towns answered on the other side with 26 points and 15 rebounds on 7-of-16 shooting and 11-of-13 from the free-throw line.
Key numbers from Karl-Anthony Towns’ season, and what stood out Friday
Friday’s finish also served as a snapshot of Towns’ larger season: productive overall, but with clear friction points. Through 66 appearances in the 2025-26 campaign, Towns has averaged 20. 1 points and 11. 9 rebounds, with shooting splits of. 491/. 365/. 851.
He has been adept at drawing fouls on drives, attempting a career-high 9. 0 free throws per 100 possessions. At the same time, he has struggled to convert around the rim, shooting a career-low 60 percent within four feet. That figure is listed as the NBA’s worst among 20 big men who have played over 1, 700 minutes this season.
What’s next after the near-upset
As of 11: 45 p. m. ET on Friday, the Knicks’ five-game winning streak has pulled New York within two games of Boston with 12 remaining, as New York tries to catch the Boston Celtics for the Eastern Conference’s second seed. Brooklyn, meanwhile, leaves the one-point loss with a clear identity from the night: aggression, pressure, and the willingness to challenge star comfort levels.
Whether the comment becomes lasting bulletin-board material or fades into the next game’s noise, josh minott has already set the tone for the next time these teams collide: expect the same physical edge, and expect Towns to hear about it again.
