Karl-Anthony Towns gets real about Jalen Brunson after 'rough shooting nights'

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Jalen Brunson had another rough shooting night in the NBA Finals, but fellow New York Knicks teammate Karl-Anthony Towns is not bothered. After their 105-104 win against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2, Towns provided a different perspective on Brunson.

In Game 2, Brunson scored 20 points on 7-of-25 shooting, including 2-of-8 from the 3-point range and 4-of-5 from the free throw line. The Knicks guard also had five rebounds, six assists and five steals. Moreover, the Knicks star shot 12-31 from the field in Game 1, where he engineered a spirited comeback, scoring 13 points in the fourth quarter.

Brunson isn't shooting well from the field, but when it matters the most, he is landing the shots. If not, he gets the calls for free throw shots. Towns spoke positively about his teammate when asked about the rough shooting nights coming in.

"You call it 'rough shooting nights,' I see him hitting the free throw to give us the game, to give Mitch the chance to get the stop for us to win the game," KAT said about Brunson. "Last game, he hit some of the craziest shots I've seen to give us the game. So I don't know if you say a rough shooting night. I see Captain Clutch doing what he's always been doing since I got here. When it comes down to winning the game, number 11 can't be messed with."

MORE: Jalen Brunson fact-checks fellow Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns in NBA Finals presser

Karl-Anthony Towns receives early nods for NBA Finals MVP

The Knicks are just two wins away from winning the NBA Finals, while the Spurs are faced with a near-impossible task to overcome the 2-0 deficit.

The best picks for the NBA Finals MVP from the Knicks side would be either Jalen Brunson or Karl-Anthony Towns. While Brunson has proven to be a clutch player, Towns is giving reliable performances on both ends of the floor. The Knicks forward has posted a double-double in both NBA Finals games, 18 points and 12 rebounds in the opener, and 21 points and 13 rebounds in Game 2.

Inside the NBA crew, consisting of Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal, shared their thoughts on the Finals case.

The former Phoenix Suns legend picked Towns for the NBA Finals MVP, while highlighting the tough time he had in the past. 

“He’s been criticized in Minnesota,” Barkley said on Inside the NBA. “He’s been criticized in New York. The MVP of the Finals is going to be Karl-Anthony Towns. He has played two of the best games I’ve ever seen a big man play. He was great in Game 1. He was great in Game 2. That man earned his flowers.”

Shaq talked with respect to the game of the Knicks star, finding him deserving of the honor.

“He’s playing with pace. He’s playing smart. He’s playing inside. He’s outside. He’s controlling the offense with the pass sometimes. And listen, he is just playing unbelievable basketball right now. And I agree with you. If it ended today, he would definitely be the Most Valuable Player,” O’Neal said.

KAT would probably get the most votes if the NBA Finals ended today. Let's see if he can maintain this performance in Madison Square Garden.

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