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[Saba Sports News] Tensions on the New York Knicks’ bench were visible even before their Game 1 collapse in the Eastern Conference Finals.
A newly surfaced video shows Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby engaged in an animated exchange on the sideline with just 34 seconds left in regulation.
At the time, the Knicks were still clinging to a 123-118 lead over the Indiana Pacers. The situation grew tense enough that teammate Jalen Brunson stepped in to break up the disagreement.
The dispute appeared to stem from Towns’ frustration over Anunoby’s defensive effort — specifically, that he didn’t close out tightly enough on Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith, who had just hit a momentum-shifting three-pointer before the timeout.
While the interaction wasn’t overly heated, it came during a critical stretch with the Pacers closing the gap and Madison Square Garden growing increasingly anxious. Things only unraveled further for the Knicks, who ended up falling in overtime.
Had the Knicks held on, the sideline moment might have been forgotten. But in the aftermath of the loss, it raises fresh questions about the team’s communication and composure down the stretch.